Llew O’Brien speaks on how federal budget 2022 helps Wide Bay

The Wide Bay MP has said this year’s budget had delivered an array of support to the struggling housing sector for Gympie and Maryborough, saying most responsibility lay with the State Government.

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien has defended the Federal Government's latest budget as helping to fix the ongoing homelessness and rental crisis.

Mr O’Brien said an array of funding provided by the budget would give a helping hand to those struggling to make ends meet in an area where he said significant responsibility lay with the State Government.

Tuesday night’s federal budget has come under fire from organisations including Mission Australia, Professionals Australia and the LGAQ.

Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister called its measure “inadequate” in a statement released by the organisation.

Professionals Australia CEO Jill McCabe said in a separate statement the budget failed to address key pressures being faced by people.

“It doesn’t reduce the cost of groceries, power, rent, education, health, and of course housing,” Ms McCabe said in the statement.

Mr O’Brien said “the Queensland Government is responsible for the provision of social housing, and while the states are responsible for the provision of day-to-day housing and homelessness services, in 2021-22 the Australian Government is providing $5b Commonwealth Rent Assistance to help eligible Australians in receipt of welfare payments pay their rent, and around $1.6 billion through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement to the states”.

He said decisions around social housing were made by the State Government.

Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister has been among a chorus of people calling this year’s budget help for the housing situation inadequate.

These included their construction, allocation, refurbishment and handling complaints.

“The Australian Government is also doubling the Home Guarantee Scheme, including a new Regional Home Guarantee which is open to non-first home buyers,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This will enable more Australians to purchase their own home.”

St Vincent De Pauls, the Salvation Army, and Community Action Inc were all approached for comment regarding the Wide Bay’s housing and rental crisis, and the federal budget.

No responses were received by deadline.

While the housing crisis and the budget’s response to it drew criticism, there were some budget items welcomed with open arms.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig was pleased with the Government’s decision to direct another $811m into improving regional mobile phone coverage.

He said the “deplorable” state of the service across the region was made clear in the January and February flood disasters.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig was pleased more funding to fix mobile phone black spots in regional areas was included in the federal budget, after this year’s flood crisis showed the state of the Gympie region’s network was “deplorable”.

“Obviously the devil is in the detail … but we feel particularly given the recent flood events that the western areas of Gympie, and Gympie itself, will be a prime candidate for a necessary upgrade,” Mr Hartwig said.

“Every level of government is currently aware of the deplorable state of the communications around the region.”

In a released statement about the budget Wide By MP Llew O’Brien said this year’s expenditure “focused on creating jobs, supporting regional communities and protecting our nation, our sovereignty and our freedom”.

“We are boosting defence, strengthening borders and national security, supporting jobs growth, and easing cost of living pressures,” he said in the statement.

“As the Treasurer said last night, we live in uncertain times.”

He pointed to a new $420 tax offset, a $250 cost of living payment for eligible pensioners, carers, veterans, job seekers, eligible self-funded retirees and concession card holders, and a helping hand of $1500-$3000 to people receiving the low-and-middle income tax offsets as other budget aids.

“Wide Bay households have been hit hard by the floods, first in January and again in February,” he said.

“The effects of the widespread loss of crops and stock, combined with rising petrol prices, is flowing throughout the economy.

“These Coalition Budget initiatives are designed to provide some relief to ease pressures on households.”

Other Wide Bay budget items

* Upgrade to Normanby Hill Veterans Memorial, $1.8m

* Lower Mary River water storage project, $18m

* Maryborough Softball support, $140,000

* Tandur Rd Bridge replacement, $227,500

* Cooroy Belli Creek Rd Bridge replacement, $270,000

* Lawnville Rd Bridge replacement, $151,089

* New amenities at Goomeri Showgrounds, $93,500

* Kingfisher Bay jetty upgrade, $466,450

* New amenities for Kia Ora Pony Club, $35,000

* Upgrades to Maryborough athletics ground, $51,586

* New lighting at Gympie Showgrounds, $51,622