The October 2022 budget has been touted as largely a “bread-and-butter affair” but some unexpected areas have managed to secure a slice of the economic pie. Here are 10 measures you might have missed in Labor’s first budget.
1. Beef Week
If comments from the Coalition may have had the nation quivering at the theoretical end of the Aussie barbecue as we know it, the federal government’s commitment of $12.3m over the next three years to sponsor regional trade events should be cause for calm. Beef Australia 2024, Casino Beef Week, the second Dairy Symposium and LambEx are among the major conferences to win big in the budget.
2. Scam crackdowns
In a sign of the times, Labor has committed $12.6m over the next four years to crack down on scams and online fraud. The funding includes $9.9m over the next four years for the establishment of a “national anti-scam centre” by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Separately, the federal government has promised $5.5m for the office of the Australian information commissioner to investigate the Optus data breach.
3. ‘Jet zero’ planes
The real winner in the October budget may be plane puns. The federal government will funnel spending into establishing a “jet zero”-style council to encourage emissions reduction in the aviation industry. It’s part of $139.9m over three years to support the sector – including upgrading Hobart airport and border facilities at Newcastle and western Sydney’s international airports.
4. Dog detectors
Labradors in training and fans of Border Security rejoice – the federal government has committed $11.7m over the next four years for expanded detector dog capability at Australia’s borders. From 2026 an additional $3.3m a year has been promised to train up sniffer dogs well into the future.
5. Climate change health risk
In a frank acknowledgement of the health risks posed by the climate crisis, Labor is committing $3.4m over the next four years then $700,000 a year to establish a “national health sustainability and climate unit”. The body will coordinate climate change responses across the health system.
6. Toy libraries
Free haircuts and expanding toy libraries are part of $12.7m committed to the Department of Social Services over the next four years to “improve access to services that enhance community wellbeing”. It’s the first budget that has raised “wellbeing” as a measurable factor. The bulk will be funnelled into community playgroups and toy libraries, including new First Nations and intergenerational playgroups, while $400,000 will be rolled out to Short Back and Sidewalks, which provide free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness.
7. Solar power for renters
Renters may finally be able to address their ballooning power bills. A $102.2m community solar banks program will improve access to clean energy technologies among underrepresented communities including social housing, apartments, rentals and households traditionally unable to access rooftop solar. The four-year funding commitment has been redirected from savings found in Labor’s government spending audit.
8. Targeting anti-vaxxers
In a sign the pandemic isn’t behind us, $41.8m has been allocated for “communication activities” to drive uptake of the Covid vaccine, with specific focus on those with “lower access to mainstream media” and Australians at risk of severe disease. It’s part of $355.8m in funding for the distribution of Covid vaccines, with particular emphasis on administering the fourth dose to vulnerable communities.
9. Supporting seafood workers
Commercial fishers and seafood workers read on. The Seafood Industry Australia’s Stay Afloat program is receiving $1.5m over the next two years to roll out 50 hubs in Australian fishing communities to provide mental health and wellbeing support.
10. LGBTIQA+ health services
To address barriers to healthcare in the LGBTIQA+ community, $1.3m has been committed over a two-year period to fund peak community organisations consulting with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual Australians. Additional funding will also be provided to QLife to recruit volunteer peer support workers.
