Local infrastructure projects and tax cuts to benefit Macarthur region

Hume federal Liberal MP Angus Taylor says tax cuts in the federal budget are a “big win” for small business in the Macarthur region.

• Budget 2019: Infrastructure funding in Sydney’s west

Hume federal Liberal MP Angus Taylor says tax cuts in the federal budget are a “big win” for small business in the Macarthur region.

Mr Taylor said the region is also set to benefit from infrastructure investment in roads including $370 million for The Northern Rd and $17 million for safety improvements to Appin Rd.

Mr Taylor told the Macarthur Chronicle the funding would cover the stage five of The Northern Rd while councils were also set to benefit from increased funding for local roads.

“It’s about half-a-billion in infrastructure across the (Hume) electorate just for this year,” he said.

Hume federal Liberal MP Angus Taylor. Picture: Gary Ramage

“That includes increased money for the councils to focus on local roads because while we have done a lot of work on big projects those smaller roads also need attention.

“Wollondilly and Camden Council will receive almost $1 million each.”

Mr Taylor said the small business tax cuts, from 27.5 per cent to 25 per cent, would benefit many small business owners and their employees.

“The big story for me in this budget is tax cuts for small businesses,” he said.

“This is a budget for the hardworking small businesses and families across Hume.

“We’re a small business electorate and almost 17,500 business will benefit.”

But Macarthur federal Labor MP Dr Michael Freelander said the budget delivered “nothing” for the Macarthur region.

Dr Freelander said the “vitally important” rail link from Macarthur Station to the Western Sydney Airport should be a priority for both the federal and state Liberal governments.

Macarthur federal Labor MP Dr Michael Freelander.

“This is an election budget and the government has spent a lot on infrastructure in their marginal seats in Victoria and also in Queensland and unfortunately Macarthur has missed out,” he said.

“It’s an absolute tragedy that they will not commit to funding the rail link from Macarthur to the Western Sydney Airport.

“Everyone agrees that the rail link is absolutely vital but this government and the Berejiklian state government refuses to commit to it.

“Labor is already committed to the link between Leppington and the Western Sydney Airport and Macarthur to the airport... the coalition government isn’t.”

Mr Taylor said the federal government was committed to building the rail line.

“There’s $3.5 billion in the budget for the rail, we’re starting in St Mary’s and we’re working our way south and we’ll keep working our way south, that’s the plan from the federal government,” he said.

“The whole aim of this was to make sure the airport was rail ready by the time it opens and to continue to build those rail links.

“The federal and state government’s are absolutely committed to the full north-south rail corridor.”

Dr Freelander said he was pleased to see the government follow on from Labor’s promise to cut taxes and match the opposition’s commitments.

He said local schools, hospitals and preschools had been ignored

“The Turnbull-Abbott-Morrison government has again not reversed their disastrous 2014 cuts to public hospitals so our hospitals again miss out,” he said.

“We’re also missing out in terms of funding for our schools, we have some of the poorest most disadvantaged schools in the country yet there’s no commitment to full needs-based funding.”