Senator David Fawcett

13 hours ago

2020/21 BUDGET DELIVERS SUPPORT FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSES The Morrison Government has been able to take decisive action and provide targeted, proportionate and effective support during the COVID-19 pandemic because we entered this crisis in a position of economic strength, as a result of our hard work since 2013 to restore balance to Australia’s budget. While there’s still a long way to go in recovering from this crisis, the 2020/21 Federal Budget delivered the $98 billion Economic Recovery Plan – which includes, among other initiatives:✔️$4 billion JobMaker Hiring Credit – providing up to $200 per week for businesses which employ Australians aged 16-35✔️Expansion of the Instant Asset Write Off to include over 99% of businesses ✔️$17.8 billion worth of tax cuts for 11 million Australians – backdated to July 1st✔️50% wage subsidy for businesses who employ apprentices and trainees ✔️Digital Business Plan - almost $800 million to enable businesses to take advantage of and transition to digital technologies ✔️$1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy – supporting our manufacturing industry to build our sovereign capability and help create jobs✔️$1 billion brought forward for defence industry for targeted capability and workforce initiatives✔️$1 billion JobTrainer to create up to 340,000 free or low-cost training places for school leavers and job seekersThe economic recovery in Australia is underway. Our Government’s record levels of economic support has helped save 700,000 jobs and seen 446,500 jobs created over the last 4 months.More information on the 2020/21 Federal Budget: ourcomeback.gov.au/ ... See MoreSee Less

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The Australian Economic Recovery Plan

ourcomeback.gov.au

Find out how the plan benefits you and Australia. This is our comeback.

Senator David Fawcett

3 days ago

RECORD SA HOSPITAL FUNDING IN 2020/21 BUDGETDelivering the essential health services South Australians need, the Federal Liberal Government is investing a record $1.6 billion in SA hospitals through the 2020/21 Federal Budget – a 60% increase since we came to government in 2013.The Australian Government is investing a record $115.5 billion in 2020/21, and $467 billion over the forward estimates, in Australia’s health system and hospitals.$41.5 billion is being invested in medicines funding over 4 years, including the creation of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) New Medicines Funding Guarantee – providing certainty of the listing of new medicines.More than $16 billion has been allocated to the COVID-19 emergency health response, including the extension of various COVID-19 related initiatives – mental health support and the implementation of a COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy among others. On top of this, Aged Care is receiving a $23.9 billion this year, and $5.7 billion has been dedicated for expanded Medicare-funded mental health services.This Budget delivers on the 4 pillars of our Long Term National Health Plan: Medicare, the PBS, mental health and medical research. More information on health funding in this year’s Budget: bit.ly/2SBJ9Fw ... See MoreSee Less

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Budget 2020-21: Record health and aged care investment under Australia’s COVID-19 pandemic plan

www.health.gov.au

The Australian Government is delivering a record $115.5 billion in 2020–21 and $467 billion over the forward estimates to deliver the essential health services Australians need under the Long Term National Health Plan.

Senator David Fawcett

4 days ago

2020/21 FEDERAL BUDGET DELIVERS SUPPORT FOR VETERANSThe Australian Government is investing more than $340 million to support veterans and their families through the 2020/21 Federal Budget, including $101.7 million to support their mental and physical health and wellbeing.Over 225,000 veterans and their families are also eligible for 2 additional Economic Support Payments of $250 each – the result of a $113.2 million investment – to be delivered in December and March. Veteran support investment through this year’s Budget includes, among other initiatives:☑️$101.7 million for the mental and physical health and wellbeing package, including: 🔘$94.3 million to increase funding to mental health and community nursing providers, training psychiatrists in veteran and military mental health. 🔘$2.4 million to provide GP-led care coordination for veterans with accepted mental health conditions. 🔘$5 million to expand the Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling Peer Support program, and expand digital mental health support in rural and regional areas.☑️$17.7 million to improve support to approximately 6,000 ADF members who transition annually from the ADF to civilian life, through the establishment of the Joint Transition Authority.☑️$64.1 million to improve claims processing resources, and better information sharing and data analysis between the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs and Defence Australia.☑️$25.9 million in response to the Independent Review of the TPI Payment, providing more support to severely impaired veterans that are renting, as well as streamlining administration arrangements. ☑️Eligibility for the New Business Assistance with NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) program expanded to include Veterans and their families – $5.7 million will support more Australians to become their own boss or strengthen their existing small business.Annually, the Australian Government invests a record $11 billion supporting 280,000 veterans and their families.More information on Veteran support in the 2020/21 Federal Budget: bit.ly/37K2JrO ... See MoreSee Less

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Budget 2020-21 | Department of Veterans' Affairs

www.dva.gov.au

Australian Government - Budget 2020-21

Senator David Fawcett

7 days ago

NEW MILESTONE FOR ADF’s LOYAL WINGMANAustralia’s Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program achieved another milestone this week, as the first of 3 prototype unmanned aircraft successfully underwent a low-speed taxi test down the runway.Defence Australia has invested $40 million into the project over 4 years, with involvement from more than 35 Australian defence industry businesses across 4 states.Before the first test flight can occur, as expected, by the end of 2020 at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia, the low-speed taxi enabled the test crew to verify the function and integration of the aircraft systems, including steering, braking and engine controls.Developed by The Boeing Company’s Airpower Teaming System for the Royal Australian Air Force, in Boeing’s largest investment in an unmanned aircraft outside of the US, the Loyal Wingman is the first military aircraft to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years.Boeing also developed the aircraft for the global export market – creating 100 new hi-tech jobs in aerospace engineering and design here in Australia, as a result of the project. BAE Systems Australia also have more than a dozen staff working on the project, to supply the aircraft's unmanned flight vehicle management solution and simulation capability.Further testing will now prove the platform and examine how autonomous unmanned aircraft like the Loyal Wingman can enhance the operational capability of existing manned aircraft such as Australia’s F-35, Super Hornet, Growler and E-7 Wedgetail.See an animation of the aircraft in flight here: bit.ly/2SyQQNe ... See MoreSee Less

Loyal Wingman completes first taxi test - Australian Defence Magazine

www.australiandefence.com.au

Boeing has confirmed that the Loyal Wingman aircraft recently moved under its own power for the first time.