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Treasurer Scott Morrison’s 2017-18 budget has received mixed reviews across central Victoria when it was handed down tonight.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the real winners were regional Australians, whereas Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said it was a budget that did little for Bendigo and central Victoria.
The Bendigo District RSL received the expected $1.7 million to finalise its Soldiers Memorial Institute upgrade and Kyneton Showgrounds received $250,000.
Ms McKenzie said $10 million had also been allocated for the Calder Highway upgrade, along with big investments in roads, rail and future growth opportunities in regional Australia.
“We’ve struck the right balance in delivering Australians’ needs and wants and ensuring we also get back to surplus so that we can do more,” she said.
She said key investments were $1 billion in infrastructure funding for Victorian projects, including $550 million for the regional rail fund, and the unfreezing of Financial Assistance Grants for councils.
Ms Chesters said the budget was a shock for Bendigo and central Victoria.
“Again they’ve completely forgotten we exist,” she said.
Ms Chesters said the government was taking a sledge hammer to the most vulnerable in the community, with crackdowns on people on newstart and disability pensions.
“I’m really quite shocked at how cruel they are in going after our most vulnerable with punitive crackdowns on people on newstart and disability pensions,” she said.
Ms Chesters said it was a budget that looked after the top end of town.
“Bendigo workers and families will be the ones doing the heavy lifting when it comes to increasing revenue,” she said.
“It is the second year in a row that people on high incomes will receive a tax cut but people on $40,000 a year will pay more tax.