Federal Member for Indi has backed some cost-of-living measures in last week’s federal budget but slammed the government for ignoring regional areas and not addressing housing crises across the country.
The Federal Government last week handed down its first full budget in office, following last year’s mini-budget, which included minor cost-of-living relief to power bills and people on government assistance.
Medicare was also boosted, allowing more doctors to bulk-bill.
Dr Haines said she welcomed measures on the cost of living, and programs to help households access low-cost loans for energy-saving improvements, and a program to support farmers as they act on climate change.
However, she said housing, which was the biggest concern across the electorate of Indi, wasn’t addressed.
“I welcome the funding increase for social and affordable housing. Now the challenge for the government is to make sure this funding actually makes a difference on the ground, and fast,” Dr Haines said.
“I will be speaking to the minister to see how projects in Indi can make the most out of this expanded funding pool.”
Dr Haines said the budget showed just how important it was for the Housing Australia Future Fund legislation to be passed so building could begin on more social and affordable housing.
She said 30,000 people across Indi would benefit from the tripling of bulk-billing incentives, but said more could be done to support people doing it tough as prices rose with inflation.
“The government has said the energy bill relief will be different from state to state and it’s not clear what this means for Victorians. I will be seeking more information about what this means for Indi residents,” Dr Haines said.
“The $40-a-fortnight increase to JobSeeker is below the increase that the Australian Council of Social Service and other sector leaders called for and will still leave thousands of people in Indi living below the poverty line.”
Dr Haines welcomed $1.3 billion of funding to establish the Household Energy Upgrades Fund, as well as $300 million towards making the agriculture sector more sustainable.