By Max Hatzoglou
Brimbank council has described last week’s federal budget as “another missed opportunity” to support the western suburbs of Melbourne.
Mayor Jasmine Nguyen said the budget left the issue of inequality in Melbourne’s west unsolved.
“Whilst Brimbank City Council welcomes the numerous initiatives of the 2022-23 federal budget that will help alleviate the cost of living, the budget is unfortunately another missed opportunity to address some of the inequities in Melbourne’s west,” Cr Nguyen said.
“The City of Brimbank suffers from relatively high levels of disadvantage, including poorer health outcomes, a low average household income and high unemployment rates, especially amongst our youth.
“This means that a high proportion of our residents are significantly affected by the rising cost of living.”
Brimbank council welcomed certain measures in the federal budget, despite some of them only providing relief for a limited time.
These measures included the halving of the fuel excise, the cost of living payment to welfare recipients, the tax offset to low- and middle-income earners, and the Home Guarantee Scheme to support first home buyers.
Cr Nguyen also mentioned there was minimal support to fund infrastructure for the rapidly growing west.
“Besides funding for the Western Interstate Freight Terminal in Truganina, and the associated funding for the rail connection to this Terminal, there is very little in this budget to fund the infrastructure required to develop and sustain Melbourne’s booming west,” she said.
“This represents another missed opportunity by the government.”
Brimbank council advocated for a number of matters ahead of the election including the government to play its role in providing the necessary funding for the Sunshine Priority Precinct, as identified under the proposed North-West Melbourne City Deal that was conceived in 2019.
Council had also been advocating for more funding towards upgrading the Calder Freeway.
“Council will continue to advocate to the government, opposition and minor parties with the aim that our key asks will be met with election commitments ahead of the polls this May,” Cr Nguyen said.
