Gloucester Soldiers Memorial Hospital to benefit from the Rural Health Infrastructure Program announced as part of the 2018-19 NSW budget.
Member for Upper Hunter, Michael Johnsen MP has welcomed the budget, saying he believes it will benefit the people of the Upper Hunter Electorate, both directly and through broader funding to State.
“Much of what was announced in this budget was confirmation of previously announced funding, coming from such funding programs as the Resource for Regions and the Fixing Country Roads, and which represents over $160 million in Restart NSW funding programs for our Upper Hunter Electorate,” Mr Johnsen said.
“This is a service delivery budget that aims to ease the pressure on individuals and families, to strength and provide for businesses, and offer new opportunities for the rural and regional NSW, and the wider state.
Some of these include:
- $6 billion over four years for 170 new and upgraded schools, including $500 million to air-condition up to 1,000 public schools in 2018-19, and provision for employing about 900 science and maths teachers;
- $285 million skills and training package which will also enable 100,000 fee-free apprenticeships;
- Caravan registrations are to be cut by 40 per cent, benefiting travellers and retirees;
- A record 750 new paramedics as part of $1 billion funding for ambulance services;
- Subsidies will be extended to all three year olds who are enrolled in a community preschool;
- $18.5 million will be allocated to recruit up to 253 additional frontline Tafe teachers to meet increased demand for trade qualifications across the State;
- $632.3 million for national parks and to encourage tourism;
- $3.75 million to support an 1,000 student places in the Clontarf Foundation;
- $315 million for the NSW Government Road Safety Program.
- $84 million for the New England Highway including the Scone bypass.
“Locally, we have specifically seen budget measures for $3.5 Million for the Muswellbrook Hospital Upgrade Redevelopment, $12.5 Million for Social Housing building and upgrades, and $3.4 Million for Water Monitoring,” Mr Johnsen said.
“Upper Hunter will also benefit from $5 million budgeted for the Rural Health Infrastructure Program, which will see upgrades and refurbishments for Scone, Gloucester and Dungog Hospitals in areas such as emergency departments, bathrooms, waiting areas, wards and treatment spaces at smaller rural hospitals.
“The Nationals in Government have also further enhanced the highly successful Service NSW Centres with two new initiatives designed specifically to allow individuals and families with cost of living, including a “one-click energy switch” which allow consumer to find and switch to the best energy deals in the market, and a new cost-of-living service, which is a one-stop-shop available online or over-the-phone, to promote easy access to available rebates and concessions across government,” he said.
Other state-wide announcements include:
- The NSW Government will invest $285 million to deliver 100,000 free apprenticeships, as part of a skills and training package that will allow the State to develop a skilled workforce that meets the needs of industry and fuels continued job opportunities for the people of NSW.
- A new $100 Creative Kids rebate will allow young people to experience cultural and learning activities outside of school and help ease cost of living pressure for parents.
- The NSW Government has also announced a suite of measures to support small business including reductions to payroll tax and red tape in the construction sector.
- NSW will be the first state in Australia to provide access for all children to attend two years of preschool, saving families an average of $825 a year and boosting access to early childhood education.
- Vulnerable children and families, those at risk of homelessness and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault will be better protected and supported with a $6.8 billion investment in the FACS cluster that will help them improve their lives and build their future.
