The change in pace from the Labor’s first federal budget has prompted different reactions from everyone, as the government works to maintain election promises while combating the inevitable inflation heading our way. 

An attempt to ward off the impact of the rising cost of living while keeping inflation low has proved challenging, and in the new budget manifested as cheaper childcare and increasing leave for parents to rebuild the workforce, as well as reducing the cost of medicines. 

Depending on your demographic, these changes resonated differently for everyone. 

The Western branch of Business NSW has acknowledged the government’s commitment to fiscal repair, improving the country’s projected deficit by $41.1 billion from the last budget. 

“In a challenging economic environment, there is no doubt this Budget makes the hard decisions to kick off the process of getting us back in the black,” Western Regional Director of Business NSW Vicki Seccombe said. 

“More than 9 out of 10 businesses have told us they are struggling with staff shortages, and it’s something we expect to remain in the short to medium term,” she said. 

The budget aims to improve this landscape with an increase to the permanent Migration Program from 160,000 to 195,000 for this financial year, and investing $42.2 million to accelerate visa processing and 180,000 fee free TAFE places.

However the Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (Nationals) said that regional Australia is the biggest loser of the budget, particularly concerned with the halting of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

“The slashing of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) is a devastating loss for communities throughout my electorate. This program injected more than $46 million into the Parkes electorate since it was established, funding projects that are making a real and tangible difference in many of our communities,” Mr Coulton said. 

Projects that took place under the fund in the Western Plains include upgrades to a Coonabarabran nursing home, Gilgandra street upgrades, and upgrades to local oval facilities, an early learning centre and an economic resilience strategy for Cobar.

The planned expansion of the Macquarie Homestay, which provides much-needed accommodation for those from around the western plains who need to stay in Dubbo for medical reasons, has been dealt a blow by the cancellation of the BBRF.

Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King announced just days before the budget that the BBRF would be cut ahead of Round 6 of the funding. 

“The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) found the BBRF grants favoured National Party electorates and were not awarded on the basis of merit, but on the basis of rules that were not made clear to all applicants,” Ms King said. 

Regions are still set to benefit from new funding programs including the Growing Regions Program, regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, Investing in Our Communities Program and the Priority Community Infrastructure Program.