Hunter Housing Providers Call for More Investment into Rent Assistance and Dwellings Ahead of Federal Budget Release

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A Hunter-based community housing provider is calling on the Federal Government to make a serious commitment to end the housing crisis felt across the Hunter and Australia when it delivers it's budget tonight. 

Recent data out of Communities and Justice NSW indicates the expected wait time for a one bedroom studio in Newcastle is between two and five years. 

Two, three, and four bedroom properties have a wait list between five and ten years. 

As of June last year, there were more than 1,700 applicants on the waitlist for social housing in Newcastle, with 111 in high need of a home. 

Home in Place Executive Manager of Business and Public Affairs, Martin Kennedy, said they're hoping to see a commitment made to increase rent assistance, in a bid to ease pressure on the private rental market, and in turn, the social housing sector. 

"You can't allow something as fundamental as secure housing to be something that only well-off people can afford. Having that sort of arrangement is completely corrosive to society and to the economy, and that's the direction we're headed in," he said. 

"It's incredibly important that we put this right." 

The organisation is also hoping the budget will include a boost to the Housing Australia Future Fund. 

Mr Kennedy said it's obvious more houses need to be built in order to cater for a growing number of struggling Hunter residents. 

"The current level of 30,000 dwellings is better than nothing, but it would be good to see it increased." 

Major PBS Shake-Ups for Community Pharmacy

BY DANEIE GEDDES

Labor's plans to double prescription dispensing periods to 60 days in next month's budget has raised concerns for regional and rural communities. 

It's feared the plan could create severe medicine shortages and delays, with regional communities like the Hunter at the forefront of it's impact. 

With many Hunter residents already facing challenges in accessing medical support, the decision looks to make those challenges even more difficult. 

National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey says millions of patients will be worse off.

"I don't want to see a stand-off in any community in Australia where some patients get double the medicine they need, while others get nothing," he said. 

A new poll shows 8 in 10 Australians reject Labor's plans to double prescription dispensing periods.

"The research is crystal clear, Australians do not support a policy if it means pharmacy shelves are bare and patients miss out on vital medicine they need. We are calling on the Federal Government to reconsider," Mr Twomey said. 

National Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Anthony Tassone, says medicine shortages are not the only concern. 

"It will have a direct flow-on effect to jobs, trading hours and services pharmacies provide to the community."

However, Doctors Reform Society Spokesman, Dr Robert Marr says residents in regional communities like the Hunter should not be concerned. 

"There's nothing to be frightened about. It will save people from the country and everywhere from having to go to the pharmacy twice a month when you can just go once every two months," he said. 

He's reassuring rural residents, the plan is a great advancement for community pharmacy and said the concerns will have more of an impact on pharmacy income than patient health. 

"It's a great cost-saver for patients and for the government, the only people that loose out is pharmacists who won't get as much money from forcing people to go every month," Dr Marr said. 

At this stage the plan is set to go ahead in next month's budget, while many residents and pharmacists continue to rally against its introduction. 

Major Hunter Project Wins Funding In Federal Budget

BY IAN CROUCH

A long-awaited infrastructure project in the Hunter has been the big winner out of last night's federal budget.

$1.6 billion dollars has been allocated to the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.

It's 80 percent of the cost, with the state government to be asked to contribute the rest.

However there's no clear timeline on when construction will start.

Elsewhere, $20 million dollars is going towards road projects on the Buckets Way, another $20 million for Clarence Town Road and $140 million for the Tenterfield to Newcastle corridor.

$4.7 million over 5 years was confirmed for The University of Newcastle to fund research into PFAS chemicals.

Federal Labor MPs in the Hunter have slammed the budget, saying the government's main budget priority is getting re-elected.

Tax cuts of $1080 dollars a year for more than 10 million taxpayers earning up to $126,000 was the big sweetener, along with a predicted surplus of $7.1 million.

However, there was no money for the Glendale Transport Interchange or the Singleton Bypass.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivering the 2019 Federal Budget