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OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN DELIVERS FOR WIDE BAY HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY
Home Media Releases OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN DELIVERS FOR WIDE BAY HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed the Morrison Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, saying it will create jobs, rebuild our economy and secure Australia’s future.

Under the Liberal and Nationals Government’s plan, taxpayers in Wide Bay will receive a tax cut backdated to 1 July this year.

People in receipt of the age pension, disability support pension, carer payment, family tax benefit, family tax benefit lump sum, double orphan pension, carer allowance, Commonwealth seniors health card, pensioner concession card and veteran card will also receive a $250 payment in December this year and another in March 2021.

“This means more money in the pockets of local households to assist with the cost of living, but also to help generate economic activity and create jobs,” Mr O’Brien said.

The Budget announcements build on the Morrison Government’s unprecedented investment in the health and economic response to COVID-19.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Government has provided $257 billion in direct economic support to cushion the blow and strengthen the recovery.

The 2020-21 Budget commits a further $98 billion including: $25 billion in direct COVID-19 response measures and $74 billion in new measures to create jobs.

“We’re supporting Australians to get back to work and businesses to rebuild, grow, and create jobs,” Mr O’Brien said.  

In Maryborough, the Liberal and Nationals Government is investing $28,500,000 in the Rheinmetall Nioa Munitions projectile forging plant with $15,675,000 allocated in 2020-21.

“This project is creating jobs right now through the construction stage, both on-site and through local supply chains. Once operational, it will be a significant employer in Maryborough boosting the regional economy,” Mr O’Brien said.

“DTM Timbers will also receive $170,715 towards its $3,500,000 laminated timber value-add project.  The Morrison Government’s $1,750,000 commitment to this project is helping to support jobs in Maryborough.

“In Gympie, the 2020-21 Budget provides a final payment of $497,970 towards Nolan Meats $9,959,412 processing expansion project. The Morrison Government’s $4,979,706 contribution will help create an extra 200 local jobs.

“Sun Coast Macadamias in Gympie will receive $80,000 towards its $200,000 project to improve operational efficiency. The Australian Government has committed $100,000 to the ERP project.”

This Budget is also investing a record amount in skills and training to make sure Wide Bay job seekers have the skills they need to get a job.

“We are also further assisting first home buyers and the construction sector by extending the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme to another 10,000 places and providing an additional $1 billion of low-cost finance to support the construction of affordable housing,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The Morrison Government is investing in our sovereign manufacturing capability to ensure we have an internationally competitive and resilient manufacturing sector, and in the process create more high-value jobs.

“Further, our incentives to encourage businesses to invest in their business will create more economic activity and jobs.”

Tax relief for Wide Bay businesses includes allowing 99 per cent of businesses to deduct the full cost of depreciable assets in the year they are installed.

The Morrison Government is also delivering record infrastructure investment, expanding our record 10-year infrastructure pipeline to $110 billion, and supporting a further 40,000 jobs nationally.

The Budget also includes a $2 billion investment in road safety upgrades to save lives and an additional $1 billion to support local councils to immediately upgrade local roads, footpaths and street lighting to create jobs now.

In Wide Bay, the Budget includes funding for local councils through the Financial Assistance Grants program with contributions made to the following councils in the 2020-21 financial year to be spent on the council’s priorities.

Councils will also receive funding from the Morrison Government’s Roads to Recovery program with contributions made to the following councils in the 2020-21 financial year to improve local road networks:

The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program has also been extended and councils in Wide Bay will receive the following allocations in the 2020-21 financial year to spend on local priority projects.

The Budget confirms the Morrison Government’s $800 million commitment to the four-lane Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra Section D project, with $134,000,000 allocated from the Australian Government for the 2020-21 financial year.

“The long-awaited and long overdue Bruce Highway and Wide Bay Highway intersection upgrade at Bells Bridge, which was announced in 2017 but has stalled under the Queensland Labor Government, has an allocation of $11,200,000 from the Morrison Government with $4,700,000 to be spent in 2020-21,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Also, the overdue overtaking lanes at Tinana which were announced in 2018 and stalled under the Queensland Labor Government will finally start with a $14,046,955 allocation in the Budget.

“There is an allocation of $1,980,000 from the Australian Government towards the Tiaro bypass but I am continuing my work with Denis Chapman and the LNP for a much needed four-lane bypass to improve safety and relieve congestion along this section of the Bruce Highway. 

“The Coondoo Creek bridge on the Tin Can Bay Road will be completed with a payment of $2,600,000 in the 2020-21 Budget. The Morrison Government is contributing $5,000,000 towards the State project which the Queensland Labor Government should have funded and completed long ago.”

The Budget includes funding for Black Spot program projects including $108,000 to upgrade the intersection of Albert Street and John Street in Maryborough, $107,500 for the intersection of Fort Street and Albert Street in Maryborough, and $755,500 for the intersection of Cedar Pocket Road and Gap Pocket Road at Cedar Pocket.

In this Budget Noosa Council will receive a payment of $1,735,004 towards the $6,361,680 replacement of the Orealla Bridge, $250,000 for the $954,576 Tablelands Road bridge B project at Cooran and $463,661 for the $1,527,322 upgrade of the Wahpunga Lane bridge at Kin Kin.

This financial year the Fraser Coast Regional Council will receive $220,540 towards the $735,135 Boar Creek bridge project on Forestry Road and $380,147 for St Mary’s bridge at Tiaro.

Gympie Council will receive $700,000 towards the $2,300,000 upgrade of Doyles bridge on Kandanga Creek Road at Kandanga Creek.

The 2020-21 Budget includes funding to complete the following projects:
•        The Maryborough Showgrounds & Equestrian Park 5 Year Strategic Plan, $15,000
•        Cooloola Coast Voluntourism and Research Tourism Strategy, $10,307
•        The installation of new lighting on the main arena at Gympie Showgrounds (stage 1) $92,414
•        The Upper Mary Street precinct revitalisation project $801,215
•        Final Stage 3 – Rufous Street Masterplan Development, Peregian Beach Digital Hub, $2,073,100
•        Tourism Noosa Industry Leadership Program, $12,728
•        Maryborough Independent Riders fit-out, $5,000
•        Maryborough’s Portside Cultural Precinct $98,750
•        Noosa Tigers oval drainage project $192,000
•        Tewantin Noosa Cricket Club lighting upgrade $35,000

The 2020-21 Budget confirms funding from the Morrison Government for the following projects:
•        Maryborough Softball, sports lighting installation, $140,000
•        Murgon RSL Sub-Branch, drop-in centre, $450,000
•        Gympie Avenues Lifestyle, Sherwood Hall refurbishment, $40,000
•        Hope Reins, Building a New Heart for What We Do, education and activity centre, $140,000
•        Sunshine Butterflies, construction of the training room and pick up/ drop off shelter, $42,539
•        Cooroy Badminton Hall amenities upgrade, $20,000
•        Murgon Creative Country Association, purpose-built cultural centre, $1,596,514
•        NOOSA Alive! creating a destination festival, $60,000

More community, sporting and service groups throughout Wide Bay will also be eligible to receive funding in the Morrison Government’s 2020-21 Budget with another round of the popular Stronger Communities program, and the upcoming round of the Building Better Regions Fund will have a focus on projects to boost local tourism to support local small businesses and help create local jobs.

Mr O’Brien said the Morrison Government’s Economic Recovery Plan for Australia will create jobs, rebuild our economy and secure Australia’s future.

“This is the most important Budget in 75 years. It is a big picture, macro-economic budget using all the levers and gears of Government to keep the wheels of our economy turning and people in jobs,” he said. 

“But there’s more to be done. I will continue to provide strong and effective representation to ensure Wide Bay’s families, households and businesses receive the support, services and infrastructure needed to build our region.”

WELCOME TO WIDE BAY

In the spirit of Australia, I acknowledge all citizens who contribute to making our nation the greatest on earth.

I acknowledge our defence force personnel, past, present, and emerging, for their service to our nation, and particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Australia.

I also acknowledge the Australian taxpayers who, through their hard work, pay for the infrastructure, health, education, and emergency services that keep our proud nation healthy, safe, and prosperous. 

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