Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

The motion before the chamber speaks to the Morrison-McCormack government's plan for regional Australia. I can assure the chamber that our government has a plan for regional and rural Australia, including in my electorate of Mallee. Last year, the government delivered the most significant budget in Australian history, in the middle of a global pandemic. It was also the most significant budget regional Australia has ever seen. Last night, we went further and in this year's budget we've doubled down on our commitment to regional communities.

As the member for Mallee, which is the most regional electorate in Victoria, I have been listening to my communities. That's why I'm focused on, firstly: greater access to health care; better roads, infrastructure and connectivity; the workforce that we need; building the skills for tomorrow; thriving regional industries and small businesses; our environment; and planning for the future. These are my priorities for Mallee, and this budget is delivering for Mallee and for all of regional Australia.

We're investing $65.8 million to increase the rural bulk-billing incentive for doctors working in rural towns and remote areas. Doctors working in our towns along the Mallee Track will receive a 30 per cent increase in their bulk-billing rates. This measure will reward regional doctors for their contribution to regional communities. We're also providing a further $206 million to extend telehealth services, bringing our total investment to $3.6 billion to date. In Mallee there have been 417,879 telehealth consultations, through Medicare, since the start of the pandemic. Investments in telehealth represent extraordinary value for money in Mallee.

In this year's budget, the government is making record investments in aged care and mental health. We're committing an additional $17.7 billion for aged care on top of our existing investment. This will mean the creation of an additional 80,000 home-care packages over the next two years, bringing the total to 275,000. Our National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan is committing $2.3 billion for prevention, early intervention, treatment, workforce and support for the vulnerable.

The Morrison-McCormack government is securing Australia's recovery with a record investment in infrastructure as part of this year's budget. In Mallee, our roads are crucial to our economic survival and the health of our communities. We're committing an additional $15 million to the Calder Highway between Melbourne and Mildura, on top of the $60 million that is already committed on that corridor. We're providing an additional $1 billion for our $3 billion Road Safety Program. The government is continuing its support for local infrastructure projects that improve our communities and regional towns.

In March this year, I wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer to inform them of several priority projects in each of the 12 local government areas in my electorate. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Treasurer have listened to my call for an extension of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and have committed to another round of the Building Better Regions Fund. Mallee councils will share in $37.3 million under the third tranche of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which is more than they received in rounds 1 and 2 combined. Several priority projects in each council can be delivered with this funding, and the BBRF has been increased to $250 million this round to support even more infrastructure projects.

Our government is building the skills of tomorrow and delivering for our thriving regional industries and small businesses. We're committing $1.5 billion to extend the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy for an additional six months. There are 2,155 apprentices currently being supported in Mallee under this 50 per cent wage subsidy, and I expect this number will grow. More funding is being provided to the successful JobTrainer Fund, which supports free or low-fee training places in areas of skills need. Around 33,000 people will be supported to develop the skills needed to work in aged care. Our government is also extending the instant asset write-off measure for a further 12 months, a measure that has been hugely popular in Mallee. This means around 20,900 businesses in Mallee can write-off the full value of any eligible asset they purchase. This government has a plan for Mallee communities and is delivering on our commitments.

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