Black spot joy, tax, jobs gloom

By CASEY NEILL
A DANGEROUS Cockatoo intersection was a rare winner in last week’s Federal Government 2012-13 Budget.
Bailey Road between Paternoster Road and McBride Street will receive a $525,000 upgrade including sealed shoulders, a guardrail with rub-rail, raised reflective pavement markers and edge lines.
La Trobe MP Laura Smyth said it was a project recommended by a panel of independent road safety experts and would be delivered in the next financial year.
Ms Smyth said Federal Government had allocated more than $4.3 million to fix 17 black spots across the electorate since 2007.
“This investment is helping to make our local roads even safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with 12 of these projects already completed,” she said.
“And the good thing about our Black Spot program is that anyone can suggest an intersection or section of road they believe should be considered for a safety upgrade.”
Nomination forms are available from her Berwick office or via www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au.
Ms Smyth said the 2012-13 Budget would also deliver much-needed cost of living relief to thousands of La Trobe households.
“This budget is all about making sure all Australians share in the benefits of the mining boom and our strong economy, not just the fortunate few,” she said.
She said the budget would deliver new cash payments of almost $11 million to 10,300 local families with kids in schools, and more than 12,000 local families would benefit from increased family payments.
Ms Smyth said 712 La Trobe young people, single parents, and unemployed people would receive extra money to help pay the bills.
“The Gillard Government is also finding room to deliver reforms which make for a stronger community and a fairer society,” she said.
“Big reforms like the National Disability Insurance Scheme, a big new investment in dental health and Aged care reform.”
But Liberal Casey MP Tony Smith said the budget provided no plan to build a stronger economy, repay debt, or create secure jobs.
“Instead, all it delivers is more borrowing, more taxes, record debt – and the world’s biggest carbon tax,” he said.
“Labor’s carbon tax will act as a wrecking ball on our local economy.
“It will jack up prices, force energy bills higher and heap more pressure onto our local businesses.”
Mr Smith said Treasurer Wayne Swan would seek to increase the nation’s credit card limit to a record $300 billion – four times higher than in 2008.
“On Labor’s own figures, net government debt will climb to a record $145 billion in 2013-14 – an increase of almost $40 billion since last year’s budget,” he said.
Mr Smith said last year’s budget promised 500,000 new jobs over two years but the Federal Government now expected to miss its target by 300,000 jobs and unemployment was forecast to rise to 5.5 per cent.