Tonight's Federal Labor Government Budget includes an $800,000 funding boost for the Golden Dragon Museum Redevelopment Detailed Design and Planning Stage.
The Golden Dragon Museum Redevelopment is urgently needed, and this was clearly demonstrated when the iconic Loong and Sun Loong were damaged in a shocking act of vandalism in May 2024.
The redevelopment of this site into a fit-for-purpose museum of national significance is focused on protecting, nurturing and celebrating the Chinese heritage of Bendigo and Australia.
Tonight’s Budget also delivers new help with the cost of living for everyone, including:
- More tax cuts for every taxpayer
- More energy bill relief for every household and small business.
- More bulk billing to help Australians see a GP for free and even cheaper medicines.
- More cuts to HECS debts and historic funding for schools.
- More help to get Australians into a home of their own.
Medicines will be even cheaper after Labor’s reduction of the co-payment for medications on the PBS to just $25, saving the Bendigo electorate $1,343,746 annually across 39,092 scripts.
The Budget’s $8.3 billion investment into bulk billing will bring an extra 275,100 bulk billed GP visits to the Bendigo electorate in 2030.
At least 17,105 students in the Bendigo electorate will see their student debts reduced by 20% under Labor. This will save University students and graduates in Victoria an average of $5,755 off their debt.
More than 66,000 taxpayers in the Bendigo electorate received a tax cut on 1 July. The announcement of 2 additional tax cuts in tonight’s Budget will see the average benefit for Victorian taxpayers reach $2530 in 2027-28.
The economy is turning a corner – with lower inflation, rising wages and low unemployment. We’ve achieved all this the Australian way – looking after each other and working together.
We’re providing relief now and investing in the future by strengthening Medicare, investing in housing and education, advancing reforms to make our economy stronger, and building a Future Made in Australia.
This year, Australians will face a clear choice.
Labor’s plan to Build Australia’s Future or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut the things Australians rely on.
That’s the choice Australians face: build or cut.
QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BENDIGO, LISA CHESTERS MP:
“I am so proud that our Labor Government Budget is helping to fund the next stage of the Golden Dragon Redevelopment project. Our much-loved dragons need a new home that is safe and secure.
“Labor understands that the cost of living is hurting households. We're taking action to help.
“We’re delivering this through tax cuts for every worker in the Bendigo electorate from Rochester to Kyneton.
“We're also reducing the cost for energy bills for every household and strengthening Medicare through making medicines even cheaper and locking in funding for the Bendigo Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.”
