The federal budget is "not about individual electorates", according to Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, as the government's economic vision revealed no major projects for Wagga.
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Mr McCormack said the federal 2019-20 budget, released on Tuesday night, had "many references" to regional areas and was a "budget for the bush" and agriculture.
"The budget has never been about individual items for individual electorates," Mr McCormack told The Daily Advertiser.
"They come under things such as the Building Better Regions Fund, and there was another $200 million round funded last night.
"The Building Better Regions Fund has funded such things as the Multi-Purpose Stadium for Wagga, upgrades to main streets in Cowra, Parkes, Forbes and Gundagai - they are just some of the things that have come out of that program for the Riverina."
NSW Business Chamber Murray-Riverina regional manager Andrew Cottrill said the budget's specific items did not match the region's potential for growth.
"From a local perspective it was very disappointing there were no major infrastructure proposals identified specifically for the Riverina-Murray region," he said.
"This region has the potential to grow significantly, and we have a business and industry sector that is fully prepared, with the right support, to drive that growth.
"We urgently need infrastructure investment in road and rail infrastructure to complement state investments so this region can grow at its full potential."
The budget, with a surplus of $7.1 billion, will raise future infrastructure spending by $75 billion and included four major transport projects for Sydney.
Wagga City Council Mayor Greg Conkey welcomed the government's move to bring forward by 12 months the payments of its Financial Assistance Grants, which provide money directly to councils across Australia.
"As far as Wagga is concerned, the only additional funding has been the Roads to Recovery and that was $2 million," he said.
"That's certainly good news for the city and we could certainly do with it, and then some, because our road backlog is extensive
"There are additional blackspot and bridge programs, which we will have a serious look at to see if can apply for funding."
Cr Conkey said he was "disappointed" that Wagga was not included in the current detailed assessments for fast rail between Sydney and Wollongong and Parkes.
"It's vital that we have excellent transport links and the speed of the train services between Wagga and Sydney and Melbourne have not increased for decades," he said.
"I notice a lot of local people are concerned about the timetabling. To get to Sydney and Melbourne you have got to leave around lunchtime and that gets you in late.
"If you want to get back from Sydney and Melbourne, you have basically got to travel half the night."
Committee 4 Wagga chief executive Alan Johnston said he hadn't expected major grants from the budget for the region.
"We are a bit encourage by the skilled migration for regional centres," he said.
"That could work to our advantage in supplying new businesses for this part of the world."
The budget also included regional projects such as $1.6 billion to extend the Pacific Highway in the Hunter region, $12 million for new mental health beds in Albury and $360 million for regional highway duplication in Victoria.
Mr McCormack said he did not accept any argument that the Riverina had missed out in the budget.
"There is more money being spent on infrastructure in the regions than ever before; it's a record amount," he said.
"Feeder roads into the Newell Highway have been identified; we are spending money and it continues to be spent on inland rail and that goes right through Wagga.
"These are significant benefits for the Riverina and the Roads of Strategic Importance (will have) another $1 billion spent not on major highways but on secondary roads like in Riverina and the Central West.
"Yes, there is money, significant spending, on urban congestion but country people go to city areas as well and when we do we don't want to be sitting in traffic looking at brake lights in front of us."
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Mr McCormack said he was often asked about support for youth job training in the Riverina and the budget would fund 80,000 new apprenticeships across Australia.
"The Riverina will benefit...I know how often I have been to hospitality places or garages and no matter where you go people say 'we just need more apprenticeships'," Mr McCormack said.
"We announced a new apprenticeship scheme in Wagga last year and this builds on that.
"There are 1000 extra scholarships for regional universities and that's good too."
The budget added $20 billion in tax cuts over four years and workers earning between $48,000 and $90,000 will see an additional $550 tax cut after July 1.
Mr McCormack said dual-income families would see a "significant saving" of more than $2100 in tax cuts due to the current and previous budgets.
"That's money that they will get to keep," Mr McCormack said.
"In addition, there is more money for local councils to spend on the roads that they choose to spend it on.
"There is a package in there for mental health and particularly for rural suicide and I know that is going to be well received."
Mr McCormack said additional road safety spending and $2.2 billion for Roads to Recovery would be "welcomed by the councils right across the Riverina".
Mr Cottrill welcomed the budget's programs for instant asset write-offs for small businesses, $60 million to support exports and the youth skills package.
"As far as the skills package is concerned, we like the headline, but before we can confidently say it's a good program we'd need to see more detail," he said.
"The government announced that more than half a billion dollars would be set aside for 80,000 new apprenticeships.
"The incentive payment for employers is doubled to $8,000 for taking on an apprentice, while the apprentice will also receive a $2,000 incentive payment."
Lifeline (13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 and suicidecallbackservice.org.au), beyondblue (1300 22 4636 and beyondblue.org.au)