Ballarat residents and industries will benefit from a number of measures in last night’s federal budget.
The Government announced a $1.9 billion investment to increase the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 10 per cent, helping an estimated 6,660 Ballarat households.
65,000 people in the Ballarat electorate will also receive a tax cut from July, with the average tax cut locally reportedly being $1,435.
An additional $18.7 million will go towards the Ballarat Intermodal Freight Hub.
The precinct, to be built at the Ballarat West Employment Zone, will connect freight companies with the broad-gauge rail line, the Ballarat airport and key roads.
$27.8 million of federal government money has gone towards the project.
Millions will also go towards local roads, with an increase in funding to the Roads to Recovery program.
Over 5 years, the City of Ballarat Council will receive almost $13.5 million through the program, with the Hepburn Shire Council receiving $8.5 million and the Moorabool Shire Council receiving almost $11.3 million.
There’s also money for measures to support local women escaping family violence.
A social security payment of $5,000 for victim-survivors has been funded through the federal budget, with $1 billion going towards crisis housing nationally.
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, says the measures add to the over $3 billion provided across three budgets for prevention, housing and services.
“With the tragic events with Samantha, Hannah and Rebecca, what happened here in Ballarat has really not just happened to our community, but really shone a spotlight on family violence across the entire country,” she said.
