Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Let's call it nil then, for the sake of splitting hairs. It raised no money. They were unable to raise it. That is the difference between our prudent economic management in running the economy and providing jobs and growth, as opposed to those on the other side, who should never, never be allowed anywhere near the economy. The Australian Labor Party will happily discard the hopes and aspirations of hardworking Australians, Australians who have paid taxes their entire life and have budgeted for their retirement so that they are no longer a welfare burden on the taxpayer. They are people who make contributions to our society, like nurses, teachers, police officers, Defence personnel. In retirement they will be worse off under a Labor government.

People are right: they deserve better. In my electorate they deserve better. I want to give you some statistics for the benefit of Hansard. 63,095 taxpayers live in Wright. Our plan is to address bracket creep, which means that around 95 per cent of all taxpayers are projected to face a marginal tax rate of 32.5 per cent or less. Many initiatives in the budget, for example the More Choices for a Longer Life package, will support no less than 22,700 people aged over 65 and their families in my electorate. We have extended the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses, which will affect over 2½ thousand businesses. I was very proud to be able to lobby the government to maintain the National School Chaplaincy program. They do an amazing job. That is $247 million. My heart goes out to all of the unsung heroes in that space.

We have committed $200 million for a third round of the Building Better Regions Fund. Last year our community benefited from this fund with $15,000 for research into horticultural practices in the Lockyer Valley and $80,000 supporting the Scenic Rim for their Eat Local Week activities. Funding for other rounds of the highly successful Stronger Communities program is under way. It has been such a great program backing local schools, P&Cs, local sporting clubs, charities, historical societies and showgrounds. I look forward to making sure my community is connected with more money from those funds.

This budget also includes $29.7 million for sports infrastructure grants, which help sporting clubs do a fabulous job, especially in the regional communities like my electorate. There is a 56 per cent funding boost to the Local Sporting Champions program.

There is a funding increase of 34 per cent for Queensland public hospitals. You will hear those on the other side saying that we are cutting funds to hospitals. Go and have a look! The cheque gets bigger and bigger every year.

Opposition members interjecting—

You hear those on other side squealing in disbelief—it's like taking a baby suckling from the sow's teat—as they suggest that we are cutting money from hospital funding. No-one in Australia should be able to trust Labor, because the reality is we are spending more in hospitals and more in schools. The way you would work out whether or not we are spending more is to have a look at what we spent last year.

Opposition members interjecting—

You should hear the outcry from the other side of the chamber!

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