Gladys Liu (Chisholm, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

This year's budget provides responsible and practical help for households, to ease the cost-of-living pressures they are facing now. It also focuses on creating more and better-paying jobs, boosting our defence and national security and guaranteeing essential services like health, education, aged care and the NDIS, all while keeping taxes low. The last two years have been tough for our country, but Australia and our economy remain resilient. We have overcome the biggest economic shock since the Great Depression, and our recovery leads the world. This is not luck. The Morrison government's economic plan is working for Australia and for the people of Chisholm.

The centrepiece of this year's budget is comprehensive cost-of-living relief. Around 67,500 taxpayers in Chisholm will benefit from tax relief of up to $1,500 this year. The government's tax plan has already benefited 77,600 locals in Chisholm. In addition to the one-off cost-of-living tax offset, the government is also providing a one-off cost-of-living payment of $250 for Australians most in need. In Chisholm these payments will be delivered to 16,001 pensioners, 3,402 disability support recipients, 914 carers, 6,764 jobseekers and 14,885 eligible self-funded retirees. Together with the recent pension increases, this will see the 16,001 pensioners in Chisholm receive more than $500 in additional support over the next six months, when they need it most. Since we were elected in 2013, pensions have increased by $179.20 per fortnight for singles and by $270 per fortnight for couples.

This budget also continues our support for jobseekers and young people. Australia currently has a record high of 220,000 in trade apprenticeships. In Chisholm, we already have 1,355 apprentices, and new measures in the budget will lead to more opportunities for apprentices and trainees, with expanded wage subsidies. Around 4,900 businesses in Chisholm will also have access to a new 20 per cent bonus deduction for training and upskilling employees while at the same time reducing their tax bill.

A strong economy enables us to guarantee the essential services Australians rely on. I'm proud to be part of a government that has funded just over two million free or subsidised medicines in Chisholm through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. I'm proud to be part of a government which is guaranteeing record funding for the NDIS, supporting the 3,063 participants in Chisholm. I'm proud to be part of a government increasing funding for preschools in Chisholm and making child care more affordable and accessible, directly benefiting over 7,430 families living in Chisholm. I'm proud to be a part of a government providing record investment in aged care, helping the 29,819 senior Australians living in Chisholm.

This is a responsible budget, and it's a necessary budget in these times. It delivers for the people of Chisholm.