FEDERAL BUDGET 2023

Here’s what Labor’s 2023 Budget means for our community:

 

MEDICARE

We’re strengthening Medicare – tripling bulk billing incentives, delivering cheaper medicines for 6 million Australians, and making it easier to get health care at pharmacies.

This will help around 44,893 people in Sydney visit a GP with no out-of-pocket costs. More than 30,799 Sydney residents be able to buy 2 month's worth of their medicine for the price of a single prescription.

 

PAY RISE FOR AGED CARE WORKERS

We backed a wage rise for some of our lowest paid workers, and this Budget invests $11.3 billion to raise wages for aged care workers. Aged care workers look after our loved ones, it’s time we look after them. Aged care workers will earn an extra $7000 - $10,000 a year on average.

 

ENERGY BILL RELIEF

We’re giving over 5 million households up to $500 to help with their electricity bills. We’re also investing more than $1.6 billion for energy saving upgrades for homes, businesses and social housing.

 

SCHOOLS

6 schools in Sydney are receiving funding for upgrades under Labor’s Schools Upgrade Fund.

TAFE

We’re delivering an extra 300,000 fee-free TAFE places, on top of the 180,000 places we’ve already announced. That means more early childhood educators, aged care and construction workers.

 

WOMEN’S SAFETY

We’re investing $589.3 million for initiatives to stop family and domestic violence. We’re working with victims and survivors of sexual violence to improve the criminal justice system, and investing $6.5 million to strengthen sexual assault and consent laws.

 

HOUSING

We’re boosting rent assistance for around 5,630 households in Sydney for the first time in 30 years. Our Home Guarantee Scheme will also make owning a home easier for Australians by expanding eligibility requirements for the scheme. We’re also providing an extra $67.5 million to help tackle homelessness.

 

PAYMENTS

We’re delivering more support for the people who need it, with $4.9 billion to increase the base rate of several working age and student payments including Jobseeker, and Youth Allowance by $40 per fortnight. We’re increasing Rent Assistance by 15 per cent, benefitting about 1.1 million households. We’re lifting the cut-off age for children on the single parent payment, providing these families in Sydney with an extra $176.90 a fortnight. Plus, we’re increasing Jobseeker for over 55s by $92.10 per fortnight.

 

THE ARTS

We’re delivering a record investment in the arts – investing almost $950 million to save some of our most cherished cultural institutions, boosting funding for our 8 national arts training organisations, attracting international investment to Australian screens, promoting Australian productions, and more.

 

We’re investing $7.7 billion over 5 years in the ABC and SBS to sustain our national broadcasters.

FIRST NATIONS

We are committed to delivering the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full. Later this year,  you will have the chance to vote YES to recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution, and establishing a Voice to Parliament. In this Budget, we are investing in better health, education, and housing for First Nations communities.

 

VETERANS

$328.1 million will be spent to retain more than 480 DVA staff to deliver frontline services, clear the claims backlog, and train volunteers supporting veterans’ mental health.  Over 2,400 Sydney veterans and their families will benefit from this investment.

 

NBN

We’re investing $2.4 billion to fix the NBN. Thanks to this, 12,648 premises in Sydney have access to higher internet speeds.

 

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE

More than 7,200 families in Sydney will benefit from Labor’s Cheaper Child Care when it starts on 1 July, saving up to $1,700 per year.

 

NDIS

We want to rebuild trust in the NDIS, while ensuring sustainability of the scheme for future generations. We’re investing $73.4 million to better support participants to manage their plan, which will help around 2072 NDIS participants in Sydney.

 

ENVIRONMENT AND WATER 

This budget is bringing to life our ambitious nature positive plan.

We’re protecting more of what’s precious

With $121 million to establish Environment Protection Australia, to restore trust to a system that badly needs it. We’re also establishing Environment Information Australia to provide consistent, reliable data about our environment.

We’re managing nature better for the future

  • By doubling the funding to our national parks, including Kakadu and Uluru
  • By investing $45 million for critical repair work to Sydney Harbour properties like Cockatoo Island.
  • By doubling funding for the scientists who look after our Great Barrier Reef

We’re restoring more of what’s damaged

  • With $439 million to support and repair World Heritage Sites, Ramsar Wetlands and protect threatened species.
  • With a $200 million program to revive Australia’s urban rivers
  • With funding for our new nature repair bill and stronger laws to protect nature.