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BUDGET 2025 DELIVERING FOR BALLARAT
The Albanese Labor Government’s 2025 Budget provides more cost of living relief for people in Ballarat while Building Australia’s Future.
This is a Budget for every Australian.
Tonight’s Budget delivers new help with the cost of living for everyone, including:
· More tax cuts for every taxpayer.
· More energy bill relief for every household and small business.
· More bulk billing to help Australians see a GP for free and even cheaper medicines.
· More cuts to HECS debts and historic funding for schools.
· More help to get Australians into a home of their own.
Locally, this budget provides $1.1 billion to upgrade the Western Freeway between Melton Caroline Springs, a notorious bottleneck for people travelling between Ballarat and Melbourne.
This includes $100 million for planning and early works to upgrade the intersection of the freeway with Brewery Tap Road in Warrenheip.
$2 billion will also be invested to transform Sunshine Station into a hub for regional rail services and to connect to the future Melbourne Airport Rail Link.
This Budget builds on the strong foundations we have laid, helping to secure our nation’s future at a time of global uncertainty.
We know Australians have worked hard and made sacrifices, and the Albanese Labor Government remains focused on delivering for households.
The economy is turning a corner – with lower inflation, rising wages and low unemployment. We’ve achieved all this the Australian way – looking after each other and working together.
Now is the time to keep building.
We’re providing relief now and investing in the future by strengthening Medicare, investing in housing and education, advancing reforms to make our economy stronger, and building a Future Made in Australia.
This year, Australians will face a clear choice.
Labor’s plan to Build Australia’s Future or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut the things Australians rely on.
That’s the choice Australians face: build or cut.
Quotes attributable to Member for Ballarat Catherine King:
“This Budget is firmly focused on cost of living relief, and the tax cuts, additional energy bill relief and cheaper medicines are an integral part of that.
“We’re also investing in every stage of education from early childhood, to fairly funding our public schools, to making free TAFE permanent.
“There are also significant investments in infrastructure that will really benefit people living in and around Ballarat.
“Fixing the Western Highway between Melton and Caroline Springs was in the too hard basket for the Coalition for over a decade, but with a $1.1 billion investment, our government is getting it done.
“The $100 million for Brewery Tap Road in Warrenheip will be a welcome relief for our community, who know only too well how dangerous this local intersection is.
“Upgrades to the Sunshine Station precinct and a new dedicated line will improve rail services substantially for Ballarat people.
“This Budget is delivering real cost of living relief now, while also investing in our future.”
25 March 2025
