ALGA Analysis of the 2020-21 Federal Budget

Fact Sheet 3: 2020-21 Budget Overview

General overview and economic outlook:

• Estimated deficit of $213B
• Debt edging towards $703B
• Economy contracted in June by 7%

Budget Priorities:

• Jobs budget
• Driving economy out of a recession
• Rebuilding Economy
• Boosting consumer and business confidence
• Economic Recovery Plan for Australia

Of interest to local government:

Topic	Coalition Budget 2020-21 Measures
Financial Assistance Grants	In 2020-21 the Australian Government will provide $2.54B in FAGs funding. This includes $1.3B which was brought forward from the 2020–21 estimate and paid to states and territories on 25 May 2020. The remainder is $1,240.7B in 2020-21. Total payment is $2,603.9 Billion in 2021-22 (BP3 P69). Commonwealth estimated taxation revenue (on accruals basis) for 2020-21 is $424,643B (Budget Paper 1, 11-11 Table 3). The FAGs as a proportion of Commonwealth Tax Revenue in 2020-21 is therefore estimated to be 0.6%. This is higher than the 0 .55% estimate in 2019-20 because of expected lower Commonwealth revenue. In 2021-22 it is expected to be 0.63% (again due to declining Commonwealth revenue).
Remote Indigenous Housing	Qld will receive $100 million for remote housing in 2020-21 but no out years. (BP2 P147). NT will receive $137.2 million in 2020-21, $185 million in 2021-22, $110 million in 2022-23. (BP3 P43). Also an investment of $150M in Indigenous Home Ownership Program (Treasurer’s Speech P12).
Roads to Recovery	$1B over 2 years for Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI Program). This boosts the total funding for Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to $1.5B. This includes social infrastructure, improvements to road safety and bolster the resilience of local road network (BP2 P139). Roads to Recovery $591.7 million -2020-21 $499.5 million – 2021-22 $499.5 million – 2022-23 $476.7 million – 2023-24 (BP3 P50).
Bridges Renewal Program	$89.7 million – 2020-21 $108.5 million – 2021-22 $91.1 million – 2022-23 $91.1 million – 2023-24 (BP3 P46).
Black Spot Program	$137 million – 2020-21 $137 million – 2021-22 $117 million – 2022-23 $110.0 million – 2023-24 (BP3 P45). Also Infrastructure Investment – Road Safety and Upgrades – $2B over 2 years from 2020-21 (so 18 months left) to deliver small scale projects & can include cycleways. (BP 2 P134). $ to go to States/Territory Governments but States can pass on to local governments. Advice from Federal Department of Infrastructure – NSW – $540M, Qld – $522M, Vic – $340M, WA – $284M, SA- $168M, NT – $96M, Tas – $44M, NT – $6M.
Community Infrastructure	$1B over 2 years for Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI Program). This boosts the total funding for Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to $1.5B. This includes social infrastructure, improvements to road safety and bolster the resilience of local road network (BP2 P139). Extending the Stronger Communities Fund Round six- $28.1M over 2 years – small capital projects (BP2 P129). $207.7M over 5 years for Round 5 of BBRF including $100M for tourism related infrastructure (BP2 P68-69). $100M over 2 years for Regional Recovery Partnerships with States/Territories for 10 identified areas (BP2 P68-69).
Smart Communities (Digital)	Digital Skills for Older Australians – $28.3M over 4 years to extend the Be Connected Program (BP2 P153).
Stronger Regional Digital Connectivity	Further Regional Recovery Connectivity Program $30.3M over 2 years to support the delivery of reliable, affordable and innovative digital telecommunications (local telecommunications projects) BP2 P69. This additional funding means there is now up to $83 million available under the program for projects to improve connectivity outside of the National Broadband Network (NBN) fixed-line footprint.
Disaster Relief and Recovery	Further announcements will be made in response to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
Disaster Mitigation	Further announcements will be made in response to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
Circular Economy	Transforming Australia’s Waste and Recycling Industry – $249.6M over 4 years (BP2 P209) includes $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund, $35 million to implement Commonwealth commitments under Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan and $24.6 million on Commonwealth commitments to improve national waste data.
Health and Well Being	$1B over 2 years for Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI Program). This boosts the total funding for Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to $1.5B. This includes social infrastructure, improvements to road safety and bolster the resilience of local road network (BP2 P139).

Other measures of interest for local governments in the Coalition Federal Budget:

• Maintaining the timeliness of the Environmental Assessment Process – $36.6M over 2 years (BP2 P51)
• Murray Darling Communities Investment Package – $269.6M over 4 years (BP2 P52)
• COVID 19 Response Package – Relief and Recovery Fund $129.9M in 2020-21 – Various measures including $2.7M for Ag Shows (BP2 P61)
• Jobmaker Plan – Digital Business Plan – $796.5M over 4 years (BP2 P64)
• Supporting Regional Australia – $552.9M over 4 years, includes $207.7M over 5 years for Round 5 of BBRF including $100M for tourism related infrastructure, includes $100M over 2 years for Regional Recovery Partnerships with States/Territories, $51M over 2 years to assist regions reliant on tourism,  $30.3M over 2 years for regional connectivity, $13.7M over 4 years for data collection,  $5.7M over 3 years for Building Strong, Resilient Local leaders, $5M over 3 years to RAI   (BP2 P68-69)
  • The Regional Recovery Partnerships program ($100 million over two years) will help areas that have borne the brunt of COVID-19, as well as drought, last summer’s bushfires, or are primed to build on opportunities to diversify its economy. It will coordinate investments with other levels of government to support recovery and growth in 10 priority investment regions: The Snowy Mountains, Hunter and Newcastle, The Parkes region, Cairns and Tropical North Queensland, Gladstone, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday Regions, all of Tasmania, the Gippsland Region, Kangaroo Island, Western Australia’s South West Region
• COVID Package for child care, Victoria $314.3M in 2020-21 (BP2 P73)
• Employment Services Package of $143.7M over 4 years – various including young people, seasonal workers (BP2 P74)
• Apprenticeships Wage Subsidy of $1.2B over 4 years (BP2 P77)
• Supporting Mental Health $100.8M over 2 years (BP2 P96)
• Safer Communities Fund Round 6 – available to local governments – $35M over 4 years (BP2 P111)
• Social Cohesion $62.8M over 5 years – enhance engagement with multicultural communities (BP2 P112)
• Jobmaker – Investment in New Technologies $1.9B over 12 years – including micro grids in regional and remote communities (BP2 P118)
• Modern Manufacturing Strategy – $1.5B over 5 years; 6 priority areas (Resources technology and critical minerals processing; Food and beverage; Medical products; Recycling and clean energy; Defence; Space)(BP2 P120)
• Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility – $36.9M over 4 years (BP2 P122)
• Broadband Advisory Council establishment – $1.4M over 2 years (BP2 P125)
• Community Development Grants $102.8M over 3 years including to stadium Vic Park Qld, Mt Barker Indoor SA and Sports Precinct Goolwa  (BP2 P126)
• Job Maker Plan – Infrastructure Investments – across all jurisdictions – (BP2 P 130-139)
• National Water Grid $2B over 10 years – for the development and delivery of a 10 year rolling plan of water infrastructure investments including increasing water security and building resilience.   (BP2 P140)
• Perth City Deal $327.5M over 11 years (BP2 P142)
• Services to Territories $84.7M over 4 years (BP2 P143)
• Supporting Infrastructure Investment – $184.7M over 10 years includes research and evaluation, recycled material in road construction (BP2 P144)
• Closing the Gap $10.1M for dashboard (BP2 P146)
• Jobmaker Plan – Housing  $0.6M over 4 years – NHFIC (BP2 P162)