Turnbull Government delivers for all South Australians in the 2018/2019 Budget

The Turnbull Government is sticking to our plan to build a stronger economy to benefit all Australians.

Senior Cabinet Ministers for South Australia, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham said this year’s budget includes measures to better the lives of all South Australians.

“Under the Government’s economic plan record jobs are being created, investment is rising and the budget is strengthening. This means that we can guarantee the essential services Australians rely on,” Minister Pyne said.

Minister Birmingham said that South Australians should feel secure in the Turnbull Government’s plan for the future.

“Our record of responsible budget management means that under our plan, all South Australians can plan for their future with confidence,” Minister Birmingham said.

The Government’s plan will:

• Encourage and reward working Australians with lower, fairer and simpler taxes, starting with low and middle income earners;

- The Government’s income tax relief will benefit over 700,000 South Australians next year and 10 million across Australia next year alone, with 4.4 million Australians receiving the maximum relief of $530 per year.

• Back businesses to invest and create more jobs, building on our legislated tax cuts for small and medium enterprise, supporting businesses to compete globally, delivering infrastructure that industry and workers rely on; and targeting incentives to promote research, development and new technology;

– Our plan for a stronger economy will support more jobs for South Australian families and their children, and set South Australia up for the future.

– Our rolling $75 billion transport infrastructure plan will connect our nation, reduce congestion, help get goods to market, and keep our roads safe. The Commonwealth is working with South Australia to provide $5.2 billion for vital infrastructure, including $1.8 billion for new major projects, such as:

• $1.4 billion (in addition to the Commonwealth’s existing $1.6 billion commitment) for North-South Corridor projects, including $177 million for the corridor from Regency Road to Pym Street;
• $160 million for the Joy Baluch Bridge duplication; and
• $220 million for the Gawler Line electrification enabling faster and more reliable rail.

“This is in addition to the $90 billion naval shipbuilding plan, the largest single investment in any one state or territory in the history of the Commonwealth which will create more than 5000 direct jobs and thousands more across the supply chain," Minister Pyne said.

“The Turnbull Government is also investing $1.3 billion to build the new shipyard and submarine yard out at Osborne and nearly $800 million on other defence infrastructure right across South Australia, creating jobs, investment and a sovereign defence industry right in our own backyard.”

• Guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on including record funding for hospitals and schools, a comprehensive approach to aged care so older Australians live healthier, more independent and safer lives, and guaranteed funding for disability services;

– Under the fully funded hospitals agreement, South Australian public hospitals will receive $7.9 billion over the five years to 2024-25, delivering an additional $1.3 billion in funding compared to the previous five years. This is an increase of 20 per cent. In 2016-17 in South Australia, there were 1.3 million more bulk billed GP attendances compared to 2012-13.

– The Turnbull Government’s support for students and families means that in South Australia we will deliver a record levels of support including: $16.2 billion in funding for our schools over the next ten years; and a new, simplified Childcare Subsidy on 2 July 2018, with 61,480 South Australian families who stand to benefit from these changes.

– Australians with a disability will be supported through a fully-funded National Disability Insurance Scheme. Once fully implemented in 2020, 34,242 participants in South Australia will benefit from the certainty and flexibility of support it provides.

• Keep Australians safe by investing more in security at airports and strengthening our intelligence and security services so they can respond to new and challenging threats. We will also protect our unique environment with smarter biosecurity systems and continue to safeguard our borders.

• Ensure the Government lives within its means with a forecast return to modest budget balance in 2019-20, increasing to a projected surplus of $11 billion in 2020-21; no longer borrowing to pay for essential services; and the lowest average real growth in payments of any Government in the last 50 years

The key 2018/2019 budget measures for South Australia include:

• $1.8 billion for new key road and rail projects including:

- North-South Corridor ($1.2b)

- Regency Road to Pym Street ($177m)

- Gawler Rail Line Electrification ($220m)

- Joy Baluch Bridge ($160m)

• South Australian public hospitals will receive $7.9 billion over the five years to 2024-25, delivering an additional $1.3 billion in funding compared to the previous five years.

• $16.2 billion in funding for our schools over the next ten years; and a new, simplified Childcare Subsidy on 2 July 2018, with 61,480 South Australian families who stand to benefit from these changes.

• The Government’s income tax relief will benefit over 700,000 working South Australians.