Securing Resilient and Prosperous Future for Regional Australia

The Albanese Labor Government is putting regional Australia at the centre of its plan for a prosperous and resilient future.

After a decade of Coalition neglect, the Albanese Government continues to deliver the infrastructure, skills, jobs and services that will stimulate regional economies and build thriving communities.

Targeted and responsible investments through the 2024-25 Budget will continue to provide regional families and businesses with immediate relief, while leveraging diverse opportunities to support building a better future.

Investment in Industries and Local Economies

Labor Governments have a strong record of boosting local manufacturing, harnessing economic opportunities, and making our regions more productive - which we are building on through the 2024-25 Budget.

We are putting regional industries and local economies at the centre of our Future Made in Australia plan, leveraging the competitive advantages outside of our big cities - from vast energy resources, advantages in new clean energy industries, world-leading agricultural sector and regional innovation.

Our record investments will stimulate regional economies and forge significant investment opportunities, and include:

• $8 billion over the decade to put Australia on the path to being a global player in hydrogen and unlock a new generation of opportunities for green industry and clean energy exports in our regions.
• $7 billion over the decade to strengthen Australia's critical minerals supply chains and support greater value adding to our resources through the new Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive, with $10.2 million establishing the Critical Minerals National Productivity Initiative.
• $1.7 billion over the decade for the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund, supporting Future Made in Australia priority sectors, many of which are based in regional Australia.
• $566.1 million over the decade for Geoscience Australia to progressively map the whole of onshore Australia by 2060, delivering high-quality data and information of regional and remote areas' resource potential - advancing the understanding of Australia's potential for critical minerals, alternative energy sources, groundwater, and other resources necessary for the transition to net zero.
• $835.6 million over the decade from 2024-25 will grow Australian solar manufacturing, driving economic and jobs growth across regional Australia, where a significant proportion of solar manufacturing is expected to be located.
• $549 million over eight years will support battery manufacturing to drive the development of domestic battery manufacturing capabilities, including in our regions.

Investment in Services

Aged care, primary care, and other key services were left in crisis after a decade of Coalition neglect, particularly in our regional and rural communities.

That is why the Albanese Government has made record investments to boost workforces, incentivise working outside of big cities, and to improve the reliability and affordability of services regional Australians rely on.

We are strengthening this through the 2024-25 Budget with our investments including:

• $1.8 billion over three years from 2023-24 to Services Australia to ensure the agency delivers quality services and customer payments to vulnerable Australians, with this funding to also strengthen the agency's emergency response capability.
• $227 million to deliver a further 29 Medicare Urgent Care clinics located across the country and boost support for clinics in regional and remote Australia.
• $116.2 million to strengthen and support the health workforce across Australia, including $17.4 million to boost the support of healthcare in areas of shortage, including in areas across rural and remote Australia.
• $73.8 million to support the continued delivery of the Royal Flying Doctor Service's essential primary health services to people living in remote communities.
• $45.9 million to extend funding for a number of mental health and suicide prevention measures, including a range of initiatives that will support the mental health and wellbeing of people living in regional, rural and remote areas.
• $56.1 million over four years from 2024-25 to support access to women's health services, including improving access for women in regional Australia.

Our investment responds to an ageing population and the need for a quality aged care system.

• $65.6 million will support the successful implementation of key Government commitments in aged care, including the 24/7 registered nurse and care minutes responsibilities.
• $37 million will respond to increased demand and ensure quality services for those seeking aged care system supports through the My Aged Care contact centre.
• $48.4 million will ensure the sustainability of veterans' in-home care and support services, facilitating access to these services for the veteran community, particularly in rural and regional areas.

After deliberate underinvestment by the Coalition, the Albanese Government is narrowing the connectivity divide - because we understand the importance of keeping people in our regions connected to key services, and their family and friends.

• $68 million will support digital inclusion of First Nations people, including community WiFi in remote communities, recognising digital inclusion as a necessity, not just a 'nice to have.'

Investment in Places

Through strengthened partnerships with all levels of government, the Albanese Government is delivering high-priority infrastructure, transport and road safety, housing and energy efficiency projects that meet the needs of regional and rural communities, and have long-term benefits.

Our regions are great places to live, work and invest - which is why we are supporting communities outside of our big cities through the 2024-25 Budget, including:

• Substantial investments in priority transport projects across regional Australia through the over $120 billion infrastructure investment pipeline, including $541.7 million to new projects that will deliver critical road upgrades in northern Australia, $137.5 million to the Nelson Bay Road - Williamtown to Bobs Farm project in New South Wales, and $80 million to the Lyell Highway - Granton to New Norfolk project in Tasmania.
• We are also investing $540 million to improve the reliability of the Australian Rail Track Corporation's interstate freight rail network, including $150 million to upgrade the Maroona to Portland Line in Victoria, and $100 million to upgrade the line between Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and Tarcoola in South Australia.
• A progressive increase to Roads to Recovery funding from $500 million to $1 billion per year, Black Spot funding increase from $110 million to $150 million per year, and the $200 million per year Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.
• $2.1 billion will improve housing in remote Northern Territory communities, with funding to be matched by the Northern Territory Government and deliver up to 2,700 houses over ten years and a comprehensive repairs and maintenance program.
• $1.9 billion in concessional loan financing for community housing providers and other charities delivering new social and affordable dwellings will support delivery of the Government's commitment to build 40,000 social and affordable dwellings through the Housing Australia Future Fund and the National Housing Accord, including across regional Australia.
• Under the Future Drought Fund, $235 million will fund programs that focus on partnering with farmers and regions to help manage local drought and climate risks.
• $73.3 million will sustainably fund the National Emergency Management Agency to continue supporting communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. This investment also supports an ongoing presence in regional areas, with direct impacts for local communities.
• Keeping regional, rural and remote Australia connected through air services, an additional $50 million will improve safety of remote airstrips through the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program, and an additional $40 million will extend and expand the Regional Airports Program.

Place-based investments will deliver jobs and underpin essential community services.

• $35 million will upgrade Australian Defence Force bases in North Queensland. Major investments in Townsville's Lavarack Barracks and RAAF Base are expected to create at least 600 jobs during construction.
• $22.5 million will maintain and repair essential assets in the Indian Ocean Territories, Jervis Bay Territory and Norfolk Island, supporting these communities to have undisrupted access to essential goods and services.
• $41.7 million in critical infrastructure upgrades to support accommodation and facilities at RAAF Base Tindal in Katherine, Northern Territory.
• The Integrated Investment Program also includes investments of $14 ‑ $18 billion, boosting Defence capabilities, including workforces.

Investment in People

The Albanese Government is building on last year's Budget to better support Australians to live with security and dignity, while helping Australians learn the skills they need now and in the future to obtain secure, well-paid jobs and to achieve their aspirations.

Our investments through the 2024-25 Budget respond to cost-of-living pressures, strengthen the social security safety net, and better position regional Australians for the future, including:

• A tax cut for all 13.6 million Australian taxpayers, with nurses, teachers, and truckies in our regions some of the most likely to benefit from a bigger tax cut.
• Increasing the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by a further 10 per cent to help relieve rental pressures;
• Extending the higher rate of JobSeeker to those Australians with an assessed partial capacity to work of 0-14 hours per week
• Continuing the freeze to deeming rates for a further 12 months

The Government is investing in the women of regional Australia, and working to keep communities safe.

• $925.2 million will make permanent the Leaving Violence Program, which supports victim-survivors of intimate partner violence to make choices about leaving violent relationships.
• $55.6 million will drive structural and systemic change in workplaces, training, and across industry sectors through the Building Women's Careers program.
• $161.3 million will fund implementation of the National Firearms Register, dramatically improving the management of firearms across the country, and $14.2 million will deliver additional policing and other community support measures in Alice Springs, supporting the Northern Territory Government to tackle crime, keep women and children safe, and support young people in communities across the region.

Our investments are helping regional Australians build transferable skills to support career pathways, including across the industries of the future.

• $350.3 million will expand the availability of FEE-FREE Uni Ready courses, which will help build the skills pipeline and assist more students who aspire to university to qualify for entry. The Government will also cut the Higher Education Loan Program debt of all Australians, including people across regional Australia, with an indexation credit to ensure the measure has effect from 1 June 2023.
• $134.2 million will support workers through energy system changes, with comprehensive employment and skills services supporting access to new regional employment opportunities.
• $91 million will increase vocational education and training and apprenticeships in clean energy occupations, while also helping employers in regional areas to take on apprentices and develop technology and facilities in regional, rural and remote communities.
• $88.8 million will support 20,000 additional Fee-Free training places to increase the pipeline of construction workers to build more homes more quickly, including in regional Australia - building on more than 100,000 Fee-Free TAFE places in our regions already delivered.
• $44.4 million will deliver the Energy Industry Jobs Plan, supporting workers in closing coal and gas-fired generators.

The Government is also partnering with First Nations communities to deliver practical investments that address their unique challenges and opportunities, and deliver better outcomes.

• $777.4 million for the new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program will help close the gap in employment outcomes, including funding targeted to create 3,000 jobs in remote Australia, and establishment of a Community Jobs and Business Fund.
• $74.8 million will support First Nations education partnerships, policy development and program delivery, and $30.2 million will co-design and establish a network of Remote Training Hubs in partnership with central Australian communities and the Northern Territory Government, supporting people in remote communities to access on-Country training that meets community needs and leads to local, sustainable jobs.

Since we came to government, we have invested in a better future for regional people, the places they live, and the services they need.

We continue to strengthen the industries and local economies that provide jobs and underpin prosperity in our regions.

Through the 2024-25 Budget, the Albanese Government continues to deliver what regional Australians need now, while working with communities and industries to ensure our regions are well-positioned for the decades ahead.