Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has promised relief for Australian families during a media blitz ahead of Tuesday's budget, with a spray of other announcements made for business, apprentices and health.
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Despite drip-feeding the contents of the budget and billions of dollars worth of spending over the past few weeks, the treasurer says there will be a material improvement to the budget bottom line - "a very significant one".
"That's the fiscal dividend we are getting to the bottom line from having a strong economy," Mr Frydenberg told the Nine Network on Sunday.
While providing support for households, he believes he has got the balance right for his pre-election budget, and won't put additional pressure on the Reserve Bank to raise the cash rate earlier than need be.
"The measures to provide cost of living relief will be targeted, they will be temporary, they will be proportionate to the challenges Australian families face," Mr Frydenberg said.
While he was light on detail, he appeared to suggest there would be a temporary cut in fuel excise with the price of petrol now over $2 a litre.
But it is looking less likely that low and middle income tax offset will be extended for a third year, a tax break of up to $1080 when people make their tax return.
"That was always a temporary measure that was designed as a fiscal stimulus with economy being hit by the pandemic," he said, and again pointed out people will still get it when they make this year's tax return.
Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said the budget needs to help Australian families through difficult times and not just help the government through an election.
"I think across the board, the government will look to do something on cost of living pressures in this budget, not because they understand those pressures, but because we're six or seven or eight weeks from an election," Dr Chalmers told ABC's Insiders program.
Mr Frydenberg told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program there will be a $44 million program that provides $10,000 for employers who take on seniors with a disability
During another trip to Western Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an additional $365.3 million to support an extra 35,000 apprentices and trainees under the government's boosting apprenticeship program that is being extended by three months to June 30, 2022.
Mr Morrison said by backing apprentices in their training the government is boosting the pipeline of workers Australia is going to need for a stronger economy and a stronger future.
"Right now we have more apprentices in training ... than at any other time in Australia's recorded economic history and those records go back to 1963,' he told reporters.
Any employer who takes on an apprentice or trainee up until June 30, 2022, can gain access to 50 per cent of the eligible Australian apprentice's wages in the first year, capped at a maximum payment value of $7000 per quarter.
This reduces to 10 per cent in the second year, capped at a maximum payment value of $1500 per quarter, and then five per cent in the third year, capped at a maximum payment value of $750 per quarter.
But Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said the three-month extension doesn't go far enough.
"Business needs a two-year commitment to extend ... if we are going to see lasting benefits that boost skills and address chronic workforce shortages," Mr McKellar said.
Mr Morrison also announced a $375 million commitment to create a new cancer facility in Perth which will include 10 operating theatres, intensive care units, hundreds of overnight rooms, extensive cancer treatment facilities and onsite cancer research.
Australian Associated Press
