Dana Wortley (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As the minister pointed out, last night the Treasurer delivered a budget that aims to put the opportunities that flow from a strong economy within reach of more Australians. It is a budget that aims to get more people into work and to train them for more rewarding jobs. We know Australia emerged strongly from the global recession, with hundreds of thousands of jobs created, while around the world we saw record unemployment and the enormous social consequences it triggered. As the Treasurer pointed out last night, our public debt is a tiny fraction of that carried by comparable economies and our fiscal position is the envy of the developed world.

Today we have sat in this chamber and heard those opposite—and I was listening earlier to Senator Nash and, just now, to Senator Macdonald—talk about regional Australia. I would like to point out a few facts. The 2011-12 budget will invest a record $3.7 billion over the next 12 months in renewing and extending road, rail and aviation infrastructure across regional Australia—a sum far greater than anything ever provided before. Compared to what was spent in the last full year of the Howard government, we will be providing more than twice as much regional infrastructure funding.

The latest budget figures should make the National Party feel particularly uncom­fortable about their record in government because they again confirm that, when it comes to regional infrastructure, Labor governments deliver more than coalition governments. The choice for regional Australia is clear: a record infrastructure budget under federal Labor or cuts and the shelving of nation-building projects such as the NBN with Mr Abbott and his mates in the Nationals.

Other areas of interest include the mental health package. There was a fantastic contribution there. The mental health reform package, of $2.2 billion over five years, will improve the lives of thousands of Australians with mental illness and their families, providing more intensive support services and better coordinating those services for people with severe and persistent mental illness who have complex care needs. It targets support to areas and communities that need it most, such as Indigenous commun­ities and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas that are underserviced by the system as it is today. It will help to detect potential mental health problems in the early years and support young people who struggle with mental illness. Given the impact of mental illness on individuals, their families and the community, the Gillard government believes mental health reform should be a priority. That belief is reflected in the funding provided in what is a very responsible budget.

The budget also builds on the government's strong record of lifting educational standards. Over three years, $200 million will be invested to support students with disabilities in their classrooms and to improve their learning outcomes. This package applies to students with a disability in our government, Catholic and independent schools and includes new services such as speech and occupational therapy delivered at schools, additional hours of in-class support and access to specialist equipment.

From 2012, students from years 9 to 12 will be offered a new national trade cadetship as an option under the Australian Curriculum. This cadetship will be delivered through local trades training centres and other eligible venues. Up to 50,000 additional structured work experience places will also be provided to students.

All Australians, regardless of their background or where they live, should have the opportunity to gain a university education. Labor is investing a further $1.4 billion to meet the growth in university enrolments. We will see 480,000 under­graduate places funded this year. A fund will be created to upgrade infrastructure at regional tertiary institutions and to assist universities to support, attract and retain students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Jobs are another important issue. Training a bigger workforce is vital for the strength of the economy and the living standards of our community. The 2011-12 budget invests in education, apprenticeships, jobs and training. This government is delivering the skilled workers our economy needs while ensuring more Australians benefit from our growing prosperity. (Time expired)