Australia s international borders could remain closed for more than a year if health experts deem it too dangerous to open up.
The federal budget assumes the borders, which have been closed since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, will open in mid-2022.
But Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said this could be brought forward or pushed back depending on the advice of health experts.
The federal budget assumes the borders, which have been closed since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, will open in mid-2022. Pictured: Sydney s Coogee Beach in November We will open the international borders when it s safe to do so. And that means basing our decisions on the medical advice, he told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
Labor has accused the Morrison government of using the federal budget as a shameless political fix without a proper job creation plan.
While Treasurer Josh Frydenberg made employment the centrepiece of his third budget on Tuesday, the federal opposition believe he missed an opportunity.
Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government had delivered another marketing exercise that failed to address key issues. It is a shameless political fix, rather than the genuine reform needed to make Australia s economy stronger, broader and more sustainable, he said.
Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government had delivered another marketing exercise that failed to address key issues
The Hon David Littleproud MP
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management
• Significant investment confirms the Australian Government is backing the agricultural industry to reach its ambitious goal of $100 billion by 2030
• $400.1 million will be invested in biosecurity to build a more secure and resilient Australia and maintain our clean and green reputation
• The government is also delivering on recommendations from the Bushfire Royal Commission
The Morrison-McCormack Government is backing Australian farmers to help secure Australia’s recovery, committing around $850.0 million in funding to drive competitiveness, growth and resilience in agriculture and back-in the industry’s goal of $100 billion by 2030.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the initiatives announced in the 2021-22 Budget align with the themes identified through the Government’s Delivering Ag2030 plan, including:
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Subscriber only A MAJOR road project and air travel are the key outcomes of the Federal Government s 2021 budget for Sunshine Coast residents. Specific funding allocations for projects across regional Queensland were thin on the ground in Treasurer Josh Frydenberg s billion-dollar spending spree today, with our region one of the few to score a mention in the voluminous treasury documents made available to journalists during the annual lock-up in Canberra. The Treasurer set aside $160m for the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade, saying the money was a new commitment under the $2b set aside for Queensland infrastructure projects designed to increase support jobs and livelihoods across the state.
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Mackay and Whitsunday residents hoping for generous gifts from the 2021 Federal Budget will be disappointed, with no specific new offerings outlined in the hefty papers.
But residents will benefit from a pre-budget announcement of $400m for the Bruce Highway, from Mackay to Proserpine and Rockhampton to Gladstone, covering floodproofing, safety improvements and reducing congestion.
The budget papers did not show any specific allocations for the Peak Downs Highway or Urannah Dam.
However, the Federal Government’s $3.5bn National Water Grid Fund has earmarked $258m to fund new dams and irrigation projects.
Mackay Whitsunday residents are also set to benefit from the government’s pre-budget commitment to establish a reinsurance pool to cover cyclone and related flood damage in Northern Australia from July 1, 2022.