Tonight, the Treasurer and I released the Albanese Government's third Budget.
It’s a Budget that is responsible, affordable and suited to the times.
It’s a Budget that strikes the right balance between providing cost of living relief without adding to inflation.
And it's a Budget that demonstrates that the Albanese Labor Government is a government that cares deeply about our city as the National Capital.
This Budget is the result of months of hard work, and is the culmination of hundreds of individual decisions, but I just wanted to pick up a couple of highlights and let you know how this Budget is delivering for Canberra.
COST OF LIVING RELIEF FOR CANBERRANS
In the Treasurer's Budget speech, he announced that we’re providing a tax cut for all Australians, as well as rent and energy bill relief, to help reduce cost of living pressures in the ACT.
Here's how these policies stack up for Canberrans:
* 79% of taxpayers in the ACT will receive a larger tax cut compared to the previous government's plan.
* Nurses, teachers, and truckies are some of the most likely to benefit with more than 95% of those taxpayers getting a bigger tax cut.
* $300 in energy bill relief for all 196,000 ACT households
* $325 in power bill relief for 18,000 local small businesses
* And a 10% increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance for 7,300 Canberra households.
I've heard from many Canberrans that they'd like to see an extension of the deeming rate freeze — and I've listened. I'm pleased to be able to tell you that the 2024-25 Budget delivers an extension of the freeze, which will benefit 14,500 Canberrans on income support payments.
ALMOST $250 MILLION TO REVITALISE THE AIS
For more than 40 years, the Australian Institute of Sport has been a much-loved venue for athletes, for Canberra locals and for visitors to the ACT.
It’s played host to school excursions, sporting matches, community sports team training sessions, and concerts, but we know in recent years it’s fallen into disrepair due to inaction from the Liberals and Nationals.
That's why the Albanese Government is investing almost $250 million into the AIS so it can once again become the vibrant community hub that Canberrans know and love.
In addition to this funding, we're also investing $10 million to develop a masterplan for the AIS and Bruce precinct.
$4 MILLION LIFELINE TO THE CANBERRA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
This Budget contains great news for Canberra musicians and music lovers — we are proud to be investing $4.1 million in the Canberra Symphony Orchestra to make sure it can keeping dazzling audiences for decades to come.
Ensuring the Canberra Symphony Orchestra is adequately funded means they can keep bringing music to the Canberra community and beyond, while training and mentoring the classical musicians of the future.
The CSO have brought so much joy to Canberrans for almost 75 years and this funding will set them up for the future.
EXTENDING THE LIGHTRAIL TO WODEN
This $50 million investment will create jobs, build opportunity and unlock economic growth across Canberra's south.
So will the $27.1 million of additional funding in the Budget for the duplication of William Hovell Drive, and the $900,000 for the planning of the Belconnen Transitway and Gungahlin District Road Improvements.
To top it off, Canberrans will benefit from a share of the $100 million Active Transport Fund that will upgrade and deliver new bicycle and walking paths to support zero emissions travel.
This is all part of Labor's vision to build a more liveable, connected and thriving Canberra.
I was born and raised in Woden — which is why I was excited to be there last week to announce that Labor is partnering with the ACT Labor Government to extend the Canberra Metro light rail from Commonwealth Park to Woden.
Want to hear more about how this Budget delivers for Canberrans?
There are many great announcements in this Budget, so if you have more questions about it then join me and the Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne MP for a Budget Briefing next Monday night.
We're really looking forward to answering all of your questions.
Date: Monday 20 May
Time: 5PM – 6:15PM
Location: Ainslie Football & Social Club
52 Wakefield Ave, Ainslie ACT 2602, Australia
This is a Labor Budget that delivers for every Australian and every Canberran.
I am proud to be a senator representing our wonderful city and having the privilege of being the Minister for Finance, Women and Public Service. If you have anything you would like to raise with me about the Budget or another issue, then don't hesitate to get in touch.
Newsletter update for National Cabinet discussing Gender-Based violence
The urgent National Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to discuss gender-based violence has just wrapped up.
Men’s violence against women is an issue that I have received a lot of correspondence on in the past few weeks and I know continues to be an issue on the minds of many Canberrans.
I wanted to assure you that the government is doing its job and is taking action. Today the Prime Minister made some important announcements which I have summarised below for you:
- The Albanese Government will invest $925.2 million over five years to permanently establish the Leaving Violence Program
We want women to know that if they want to leave a violent relationship, they will be supported to do so.
The new Leaving Violence Program will provide payments of up to $5000 along with referral services, risk assessments and safety planning.
The payment amount will be indexed annually to keep in pace with the rising cost of living, ensuring recipients are given the best support when leaving violent relationships.
- All governments will work together to strengthen accountability and consequences for perpetrators
This will involve work across governments and jurisdictions, with all states and territories agreeing that system responses need to be strengthened, with a focus on high-risk perpetrators and serial offenders to prevent homicides.
As Minister for Women, I’ll work with states and territories to improve information sharing about perpetrators across systems and jurisdictions.
And Police Ministers and Attorney Generals will develop options for improving police responses to high risk and serial perpetrators.
All of this work will be undertaken this year, with Premiers and Chief Ministers reporting back to National Cabinet later this year.
- The Albanese Government will work to combat toxic male extremist views about women online.
We’ll run targeted campaigns in the places that these harmful views appear.
The campaign will run from mid-June to May next year and will counter the corrosive influence of online content targeted at teens that condones violence against women.
It will raise awareness about a rise of misogynistic influencers and content and encourage conversations within families about the damaging impact of the material.
- The Albanese Government will ban deepfake pornography
Creating and sharing non-consensual sexually explicit material using AI technology will be subject to serious criminal penalties.
This content is deeply harmful towards women and girls and there should be zero tolerance for it.
- The Albanese Government will reduce kids’ access to pornography and inappropriate material
We need to make sure our laws keep up with the digital age – which is why we’re piloting age assurance technology to protect children from harmful content, like pornography and other age-restricted online services.
The pilot will identify available age assurance products to protect children from online harm and test if they work.
The outcomes will inform the existing work of Australia’s eSafety Commissioner under the Online Safety Act – including through the development of industry codes or standards – to reduce children’s exposure to age-inappropriate material.
National Cabinet also agreed to strengthen prevention efforts through targeted, evidence-based approaches and to be informed by an expert led rapid review of best practice approaches. This will allow further and effective action on preventing gender-based violence, building on the considerable work under way.
We will continue to listen and learn from those with lived experience of violence.
We recognise they have intimate first-hand knowledge of services, systems, and structures that are meant to support. They know from experience the weaknesses and strengths of interventions in practice.
For some of us, this is deeply personal. But for all of us, this is incredibly important.
I can assure you that the determination around the National Cabinet table today was equal to the determination around the nation.
We are listening and acting with urgency to put an end to this crisis of violence against women and children.
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If you or someone you know needs support or assistance, there are several services available that are just a phone call away.
1800RESPECT
Call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
Chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au
Or text 0458 737 732
No to Violence
ntv.org.au
Men’s Referral Service
1300 766 491
13YARN
Call 13 92 76 (24 hours/7days)
https://www.facebook.com/SenKatyG
