My Local Plan
We’ve faced some challenging times but by working together we’ve achieved a lot locally.
My plan is helping local families with the cost of living and investing more into health and aged care.
I’m delivering Australia’s first Regional Deal, investing $173 million for local health, infrastructure and community projects in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.
In these uncertain global times, now is not the time to risk our economy and local jobs with a weak Labor-Greens-Independent government.
Together, let’s keep building a strong economy and a stronger future.Â
Keith Pitt
Federal Member for HinklerÂ
I'm focused on what matters to Hinkler
- Restoring Paradise Dam to its original 300 gigalitre capacity to safeguard local water security and grow agriculture production with a $600 million investment.
- Delivering the Hinkler Regional Deal for Bundaberg and the Fraser Coast, including key local projects like the RFDS pilot training facility in Bundaberg, the Hervey Bay Airport upgrade and the opening of the palliative care hospice in Hervey Bay which has now been completed.
- Upgrading Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road and Pialba-Burrum Heads Road intersection, including sections of duplication to four lanes.
- More than 2.8 million free or subsidised medicines for people in Hinkler and more than 2,800 new or amended medicines and medications listed on the PBS since 2013.Â
Helping local families with cost-of-living pressures
Supporting local families with their household budget pressures, like cutting the fuel excise in half, saving you 22 cents per litre. We’re also making a one-off payment of $250 for around 34,863 local pensioners and carers and increasing their regular payments. And we’re creating an extra 50,000 Home Guarantee Scheme places to help first homebuyers buy their own home.Â
Securing our economic recovery to create well paid local jobs
Our economic recovery plan lowers taxes for families and small business and invests in skills, infrastructure and manufacturing. Around 51,000 local low and middle income earners will receive up to $1,500 in further tax relief this year, including a $420 tax offset. And we’re investing in extra skills and training places.
Building better local roads, dams and infrastructure
We’re investing in the infrastructure this region needs including up to $600 million to restore Paradise Dam, $7.7 million to provide the missing link from Urraween Road to Boundary Road in Hervey Bay and upgrading intersections like Goodwood Road and Woodgate Road to make them safer for you.
Better access to quality health, aged care and education
Investing in better services and a stronger Medicare by delivering more than 380,000 local Medicare telehealth consultations since 2020 and 2.8 million free or subsidised medicines in the last year. Funding for public hospitals in Queensland continues to increase, up 133 percent. And we are investing record funding in aged care to support 36,000 seniors living locally and helping make childcare more affordable.
Protecting our local lifestyle and environment
I’m proud that we’re investing in our local communities, with better facilities and public spaces and a healthy local environment that families can enjoy now and into the future. This includes $40 million for the Hervey Bay City Centre redevelopment project, community groups and sporting organisations have upgraded facilities thanks to the Stronger Communities Programme and local schools have upgraded canteens, classrooms and received new equipment.
Affordable Childcare
From 7 March 2022, families with two or more children aged five years and under in care had their CCS rate increased by 30 percentage points for their second child and younger children, up to a maximum rate of 95 per cent. More than half of eligible Australian families will receive the maximum 95 per cent subsidy.
This will make a real difference in the lives of local families. There are around 1,260 families in Hinkler that have two or more children in care and could benefit from the increased subsidy.
The changes will also see this governmentâs total investment in child care grow to $11 billion a year to build on the Child Care Package we introduced in 2018 that is still keeping out-of-pocket costs low.
From December 10, 2021, the $10,655 annual child care subsidy cap was removed providing more support for local families.
This measure will be applied retrospectively for the whole 2021-22 financial year so families who have already hit the cap will receive a refund on any excess fees paid.
You can find out what your family might pay for education and care at:Â https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/
Cheaper Fuel
To provide targeted relief for cost-of-living pressure we’ve cut the fuel excise by 50 percent which means youâll save 22 cents a litre every time you fill up your car.
A family with two cars who fill up once a week could save around $30 a week or around $700 over the next six months. Thatâs more money in your pocket.
We’re already seeing this relief flow through at the petrol bowser but the ACCC is monitoring petrol pricing to ensure these savings are being passed on.
Helping you buy your home sooner
We’re continuing to support people buy their first home with the expansion of the successful Home Guarantee Scheme with 35,000 guarantees each year, up from 10,000.Â
I know the housing situation locally has been difficult recently, however this expanded program will support people to buy a home with a deposit as low as five percent and help single parent families with a deposit as low as two percent. Â
A new Regional Home Guarantee will support 10,000 places each year â starting on 1 October 2022 â for non-first home buyers and permanent residents to purchase or construct a new home in regional areas, subject to the passage of legislation.
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