Today, Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison was the guest of honour at a Shoalhaven Business Chamber Luncheon hosted by the Federal Member for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis. The post budget roadshow luncheon was complimented with visits to local businesses. Budget 2017 has delivered for this region said the Federal Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis, making it an even more attractive and vibrant region for tourists, local families and business operators. “The Needs-Based Education funding model for Gilmore Schools will see each and every facility receive a funding increase totalling $256 million, great news for the 21,532 Gilmore students,” she said. “Schools, in every sector, in every local community in the electorate of Gilmore will be receiving significant increases in funding. “$13.8 million for works on the Far North Collector Road, which is an essential first step for later construction of the New Nowra Bridge. “The fully funded NDIS will directly help an estimated 3,887 people in the electorate of Gilmore. “4,000 Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) clients in the electorate of Gilmore - will benefit from the investment in this year’s budget to modernise DVA's Information Communication Technology (ICT) system to provide easier access to DVA services and improve processing times for claims, reducing stress and helping with earlier intervention. “The Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) will be reinstated to the former part pension recipients, who lost entitlement to the PCC due to the reforms to the assets test which came into effect on 1 January 2017. “This change will help these people in accessing discounts and concessions offered by providers and give these people access to Commonwealth hearing services. “Budget 2017 is great news for both Gilmores economy and for local families who love this region,” said Mrs Sudmalis. Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison said “the Turnbull Government believes that if we invest in small business and drive economic growth, Australians right here in Gilmore will benefit through more and better paid jobs.” “We have already delivered significant tax cuts to small businesses that will have them only paying a 25 per cent tax rate, and in this Budget, we have extended our instant asset write-off program for businesses with turnovers up to $10million, and committed to rewarding the State Government if they reduce red tape, which I know is a significant burden for small business owners,” he said. “We are guaranteeing the essential services that people in Gilmore rely on, including Medicare and the PBS, we are fully funding the NDIS to give certainty that critical service for those with disabilities in this region will be there for them. We are committing to proper needs-based funding at our 52 schools in this region alone. These are three critical issues for people from Kiama to Tuross Head.” “The Financial Assistance Grant program and the return to indexation will see local councils including the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Kiama Council’s receive a share of $12.3 billion from 2016-17 and 2020-21, with the first two quarterly payments from the 2017-18 financial year paid this year. “Australia is well positioned to benefit from the turnaround we are seeing in the global economy, and while some Australians may feel frustrated at not getting ahead in recent years, I believe better days are ahead for the nation if we continue to make the right choices - choices to grow the economy to secure more and better paid jobs, to guarantee essential services that Australians rely on, to put downward pressure on the cost of living, and to live within our means.” said Mr Morrison Media Release
