Torquay will get its urgent care clinic, while the Barwon Heads Road upgrade has officially been funded, as Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his fourth budget on Tuesday night.
The Treasurer has also promised a tax cut for all taxpayers if Labor is re-elected this year, worth an extra $5 a week from July 2026, and growing to an extra $10 a week from 2027.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Corio Richard Marles said the tax cuts will mean a great deal for Geelong locals.
“This budget is completely focused on the challenge of cost-of-living,” Mr Marles said.
“It will deliver another set of tax cuts which will mean when it’s all said and done, the average tax payer will be $50 better off a week.
“A $50 cut in your tax payment is a really significant amount per week and that’s the total amount of tax cuts that Labor will deliver when you include these tax cuts.
“Today inflation is much lower, the economy is now growing.
“We see wages growing and we’ve kept unemployment low and this is so important for the people of Geelong.”
Previously announced election promises for local projects have also been funded, including Torquay’s urgent care clinic which was announced by Corangamite MP Libby Coker earlier this month.
The funding forms part of a funding boost for Medicare across the country, the budget revealing an almost $660m commitment for 50 clinics across the country.
“For nine out of 10 visits to a GP it’ll be bulk billed,” Mr Marles said.
“There will be no gap fees, you won’t have to pay a cent and that’s really important in Geelong because we need to have many more bulk billing GP’s in Geelong.”
State Shadow Minister and Member for Polwart Richard Riordan has long been sceptical of commitments to healthcare on the Surf Coast.
Earlier this month, following the announcement from Ms Coker, the Liberal MP said we’re set be let down again by a broken promise.
“Seriously Labor this promise is a farce! State Labor promised a hospital in Torquay in 2018 and 2022 and cancelled it in 2023,” Mr Riordan posted to social media.
“In what Universe should anyone believe Federal Labor will deliver a half-baked hospital service?”
