Alison Penfold MP welcomes Coalition plan for a fairer, freer, and better Australia

Federal Member for Lyne, Alison Penfold, has welcomed Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s Budget in Reply speech, saying it sets out a serious plan to restore aspiration, reward hard work and back regional Australia.

“I welcome that Angus Taylor has put forward a plan that speaks directly to many of elements of my pre-budget submission that I put to and what have been ignored by the Treasurer”

“Take the $5bn for enabling infrastructure and services – this was built up from local discussions with builders in Taree with my predecessor, Dr David Gillespie, and which I’ve fought hard for since my election.”

Ms Penfold welcomed the Coalition’s Tax Back Guarantee, which would index income tax thresholds to inflation, so Australians are not pushed into higher tax brackets simply because they receive a wage rise.

“We are getting rid of the inflation tax on peoples wages,” Ms Penfold said.

“This is about fairness, aspiration and letting hard working Australians keep more of what they earn.”

“The Coalition’s Plan of Putting Australians First is a commitment to leave no Australian left behind. And I will fight for the people of Lyne, whether it be to help younger people reach their aspirations of buying a home, or fighting to stop Labor’s tax on older people with taking away their private health insurance rebate.”

Ms Penfold also backed the permanent $50,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses with turnover under $10 million.

“Small businesses are the backbone of communities like ours,” she said.

“This gives local businesses the certainty to invest, grow and employ more people.”

Ms Penfold said the Coalition’s housing and migration plan recognised the growing pressure population growth was placing on regional communities and local infrastructure.

“Communities across regional Australia are feeling the strain on roads, health services, childcare, water infrastructure and rental markets,” Ms Penfold said.

“For too long governments have failed to properly plan for the impacts of rapid population growth, particularly in regional areas already dealing with stretched infrastructure and workforce shortages.

“You cannot continue increasing population without making sure communities have the infrastructure and services needed to support that growth.

“In Question Time yesterday, I held the Prime Minister to account that since his government came to office, their unsustainable migration program has brought in some 1.4 million migrants and delivered 70,000’s less houses than he committed”

“That is why linking migration levels to housing supply and infrastructure capacity is common sense.”

Ms Penfold also welcomed commitments to strengthen fuel security, lift defence spending to at least three per cent of GDP, deliver AUKUS and establish a Future Generations Fund to pay down debt and invest in nation-building infrastructure, including in the regions.

“Regional Australia helps generate the wealth of this country and deserves a fair share of the investment,” Ms Penfold said.

“This is a plan for an Australia where families can get ahead, building wealth and prosperity and a chance to get ahead are within reach of the many, businesses have confidence to invest, and future generations inherit opportunity instead of debt.

“It was refreshing to see a policy agenda focused on fairness, aspiration and economic responsibility, in stark contrast to the unfair and deeply disappointing Budget handed down by Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night.”