The 2014 Federal Budget boosts regional road funding, maintains tax concessions for off-road diesel and rejects the Commission of Audit recommendations to cut rural financial counselling and some research programs. Source: ABC Rural
According to the ABC the main issues for regional Australia are ongoing funding for research and development and the increase in fuel prices.
The Federal Government has slashed funding for community Landcare grants in the Budget, and is still in the process of working out how groups can apply for remaining funds.
Anthony Watson, who owns a sawmill in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, was generally happy with last night’s Budget including the co-payment for health care.
Mary Nenke lives in rural Western Australia and says the extra excise on fuel will disproportionately affect rural people.
“Everything we get into the community has freight on it and everything we send out of the community has freight on it so it becomes a compounding cost to rural Australia,” she said.
Mary is relieved the diesel fuel rebate will remain.
Judy Sedgwick runs a sheep station near Longreach in western Queensland and is prepared to wear the increased fuel costs as long as the extra revenue is spent on road improvements.
Judy said the incentives to hire people over fifty could be of value to older Australians.
