BY DAKOTA TAIT
Labor says its new budget is a show of confidence in the Hunter, with key infrastructure projects here to stay despite the Treasurer's financial overhaul.
Jim Chalmers told Parliament on Tuesday night, the Federal Government's latest blueprint is carefully designed to make savings, while addressing cost-of-living concerns and boosting the country's productivity.
$100 million in funding for hydrogen projects at the Port of Newcastle, $55 million for a new terminal at Newcastle Airport, and $500 million to investigate high-speed rail from Sydney to Newcastle have all made the cut.
At the University of Newcastle, $16 million is being spent on a new clean energy research centre, as well as funding for 967 more university places for teachers, nurses, and engineers over the next two years.
$28.7 million has been allocated to revive GP Access After Hours services across the region, and money's also been put aside for an election commitment to develop Urgent Care clinics to help ease the pressure on the Hunter's hospitals.
The price of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has been slashed, meaning savings as much as $12.50 a script for more than 3.5 million people by January.
Works are set to go ahead on the New England Highway bypass at Muswellbrook, and $10 million's also been allocated to upgrade the Muswellbrook town centre.
Labor's also set to follow through with a commitment to upgrade Mandalong Road at Morisset, and there's $10 million each toward a mine grouting fund for Lake Macquarie and to dredge the Swansea Channel.
Energy prices are expected to surge by 50 percent over the next two years, but there's no immediate relief on that front outside of investment in renewable and clean energy projects.
The Federal Government is also pledging to work with industry to build a million homes over the next ten years, with a focus on shortages in the regions.
