Thousands of families, seniors and businesses in Blair will benefit from tax relief and increases to assistance and payments, said Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury and Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann.
During a visit to Raceview, Mr Bradbury said that the Gillard Government is spreading the benefits of the mining boom so that hardworking families and seniors, like those in Blair, can get the assistance they need.
"The Gillard Government's strong economic management means that we will bring the Budget back to surplus and make sure that families, seniors and businesses can share in the benefits of the mining boom," said Mr Bradbury.
"By spreading the benefits of the boom, we are delivering tax relief to businesses, including small businesses, through loss carry back and the $6,500 instant asset tax write-off."
Mr Neumann said that local families and seniors welcome the extra assistance.
"This is exactly the kind of support that families and seniors in Blair need," said Mr Neumann. "People hear about the mining boom, but they often feel like it is happening to someone else.
"The Gillard Government is spreading the benefits of the boom to deliver important assistance for families and seniors living in areas that aren't in the mining boom fast lane."
Measures include:
- Instant asset tax write-off for each business asset worth up to $6,500 and the first $5,000 of the cost of a new motor vehicle for 10,700 small businesses in Blair.
- Schoolkids Bonus, which provides parents with $410 for each child at primary school and $820 for each child at high school child, helping around 11,000 families in Blair.
- Tax cuts, which, from 1 July, will put an extra $300 or more in the pockets of 47,000 workers in Blair, with 3,000 local residents not having to pay any tax at all through the tripling of the tax free threshold.
- Increases in Family Tax Benefit Part A of up to $600 a year from next year, helping around 14,000 families in Blair.
- Increases to the age pension of $154 a fortnight for singles and $156 a fortnight for couples for more than 23,500 local pensioners in Blair since November 2007.
"The Gillard Government understands that seniors, businesses not in the mining boom fast lane and hardworking families need support – that's why we're delivering a strong economy so that we can continue to spread the benefits of the boom," said Mr Bradbury.