Making Australia Stronger — Delivering Our Commitments

Introduction

The 2005-06 Budget implements a range of election policies that are designed to keep Australia strong.

Government is dedicated to achieving a prosperous Australian community, which is safe and secure, and where all members of society have opportunities to contribute to the economy and share the rewards of this Government’s responsible economic management. Its approach continues to be based on improving productivity and workplace participation.

The election commitments outlined in this document testify to the determination of this Government to furthering these goals. As promised, the Government will:

• Consolidate our approach to national security, by strengthening Australia’s counter-terrorism capability, and by providing the resources for a proactive and innovative regional engagement strategy to combat terrorism;
• Protect Australia’s borders, by enhancing our ability to battle people-smuggling and illegal entry;
• Provide extra assistance to families, by lifting the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part B, assisting families with child care costs through the 30 per cent Child Care Tax Rebate, and by improving the access of grandparents to Child Care Benefit;
• Further recognise senior Australians, by providing more help to self-funded retirees, through the new Seniors Concession Allowance, and older Australians on income support, through the new Utilities Allowance, and by increasing assistance to carers;
• Improve opportunities for Indigenous Australians, with a focus on education, economic development and mobility programmes;
• Enhance education initiatives, including measures to extend youth allowance to New Apprentices, the A Billion Dollar Investment in Our Schools package and the establishment of the Australian Technical Colleges;
• Enhance health care initiatives, including investing in after-hours GP services, increasing support to Australians living with cancer and Australians living with dementia, implementing initiatives to tackle mental health problems, in addition to increasing the private health insurance rebate for older Australians and lifting the Medicare rebate to 100 per cent of the schedule fee for GPs, the funding of which were reported in the Pre‑Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2004;
• Invest in Australia’s water future, through the establishment of the $2.0 billion water fund; and
• Reduce impediments to home-based businesses, by reducing tax through the new 25 per cent Entrepreneurs’ Tax Discount, and by extending the Simplified Tax System to small businesses that account on an accruals basis.

These and the other election promises outlined in this document complement the Government’s other budget measures, and build on policies already implemented by the Government to create a safer, stronger, richer and fairer Australia. Through measures such as these, the Government confirms its commitment to creating opportunity, and improving the living standard of all Australians.

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