TREASURER Josh Frydenberg handed down his third budget last night, with large cash splashes for infrastructure, childcare and aged care.
Bowman MP Andrew Laming said the budget had a particular focus on those who were unskilled or unemployed and seeking work, single parents, or those living with a disability.
"While the usual ALP critics may claim there is little in the budget for Redlands, it would be impossible to argue that there is not plenty here for the people of Redlands," he said.
"I was personally delighted that my signature policy contribution in 2018, which the Prime Minister announced at the 2019 federal campaign launch, to support 10,000 first home buyers to purchase a home with a reduced deposit, has been extended for a third consecutive tranche.
"This [First Home Loan Deposit Scheme] the is such an important piece of social policy that means a further 10,000 Australians (total 30,000) can now be home owners who would otherwise be renting."
Single parents with dependants will now have access to established housing under the new Family Home Guarantee scheme. The new initiative will see single parents able to purchase a home with just a 2 per cent deposit.
"This is about their children in particular, having a sense of place and no longer forced to uproot their lives at the whim of a landlord," Mr Laming said.
The Real Estate Institute of Queensland welcomed the extension of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, but was disappointed to see the scheme remained restricted to new construction.
"By doing so, it fails to recognise the entry barriers for many first-home buyers, particularly for young families whom new construction isn't an affordable or practical option over established housing options," REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella said.
"It points to a potential housing affordability issue for many first home buyers across regional parts of Queensland, particularly without other incentives in place."
Mr Laming said the budget was very much a women's budget with initiatives including $261 million over two years to bolster frontline family, domestic and sexual violence supports.
"$12.6 million over three years to fund additional Safe Places projects to build and renovate emergency accommodation for women and children suffering family and domestic violence expands on a previous $60 million commitment announced in September 2020," he said.
He said aside from immediate emergency support, a total of $164.8 million over three years by way of financial assistance will be available to help women re-establish themselves after leaving a violent relationship.
The government will invest $26 million over four years for the Family Violence Prevention Legal Services program. This will help to improve the quality, capability and safety of Indigenous and non-Indigenous family violence services across Australia.
