Supporting those who need it most
Spreading the benefits of the boom
The Government is spreading the benefits of the mining boom to all Australians. This will begin to roll out next year and will include:
- families on low and middle incomes receiving up to $600 a year in additional family payments; and
- a new Supplementary Allowance for eligible income support recipients, providing $210 a year for singles and $350 for couples.
In this Budget the Government will also help families with their costs of living through:
- a new Schoolkids Bonus providing $410 for primary school students and $820 for secondary school students each year.
Helping families on low and middle incomes with the cost of living
The Government is spreading the benefits of the mining boom, helping families on low and middle incomes and others in need, by providing:
- $1.8 billion in additional support to families; and
- $1.1 billion for a new Supplementary Allowance to low–income individuals in receipt of eligible allowances and payments.
This builds on the increased income that Australians will receive in coming months through the Clean Energy Future package, including the tripling of the tax free threshold and $6.3 billion of increases to Government payments.
The first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme
Australia's disability support system is underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient. The Government is addressing this by providing $1 billion to roll out the first stage of an NDIS in launch locations from mid–2013.
An NDIS will fundamentally change the way disability care and support is provided.
Living Longer. Living Better: aged care reform package
Through the comprehensive $3.7 billion Living Longer. Living Better package, the Government is delivering long overdue reform of the aged care system. There will be an additional 40,000 home care packages over the next five years, and $1.2 billion to improve the recruitment, wages and training for aged care workers.
Dental health for low income Australians
For some people, the cost of dental treatment means they go without the care they need. The Government is investing $515.3 million over four years in a dental health package that includes:
- $345.9 million for a public dental waiting list blitz; and
- $169.4 million for investments that will increase capacity of the dental workforce, expand dental services for rural Australians and promote good oral health for all Australians.