What is in the budget for Glen Innes
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By Craig Thomson
Glen Innes should benefit from Federal Government initiatives announced in Tuesday night’s budget that boost infrastructure spending in rural areas.
The Government will implement its National Stronger Regions’ initiative which will provide funding of $1 billion over 5 years, to fund priority infrastructure in regional communities.
Grants of between $20,000 and $10 million are available to local governments and incorporated not for profit organisations.
Minister for Agriculture and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said councils and community groups will be able to apply for grants for community infrastructure.
“We have got delivery for the National Stronger Regions’ fund with announcements of projects for Armidale and Glen Innes,” he said.
“There will be an upgrade of the Youth Accommodation and Support Centre at Armidale and Glen Innes with a Federal Government contribution of $500,000.
“We will also under the Community Development Grants Programme, allocate $500,000 for the Kolora Aged Care Facility.”
It was also announced in the budget that from July 2017, farmers will be able to claim an immediate, total deduction for any spending on fencing and water infrastructure.
“Sheds and silos can be written off over three years and fencing can be written off over one year,” Mr Joyce said.
“We have also made changes to depreciation for farm capital investments and this will be a great stimulus.
“For example, if a local farmer wants to buy a new quad bike and it is under $20,000, from 7.30 Tuesday night that investment is fully tax deductable.”
But Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs Joel Fitzgibbon said that any assistance given to the New England electorate has to be taken within the context of harsh cuts.
“Any assistance given to Mr Joyce’s electorate is dwarfed by $14.8 million dollars in cuts to Local Government assistance grants for councils over the next 4 years,” he said.
The Federal Government has also tried to generate some savings by being tough on stay at home parents.
As part of the Government’s plan to get mothers into work, some stay at home parents will lose access to childcare rebates, with those families whose income is above $65,000 per year no longer eligible for any childcare assistance.
Mr Fitzgibbon said that the Government’s childcare measures are not without merit.
“But the problem is they are being paid for by cuts to the family tax benefit, paid parental leave and by denying people who have made the legitimate and understandable decision to remain at home and look after their children,” he said.
University of New England Business School Professor John Rice said the budget was aimed at the Liberal National party’s core constituency to shore up support for an election.
“I think the Government are thinking about the next election and in that context this budget makes a lot of sense,” he said.
“In their first budget there were some things that caused the government to pay a bit of a political price, this budget is steadying the ship with measures that will help some people rather than hurt them.”