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Reaction to Budget split

THE 2020 State Budget was “like getting socks and hankies for Christmas – totally underwhelming, useful but not what you really want or need”, said State MP for Auburn, Julia Finn.

Reaction to last week’s State budget has been mixed with both Ms Finn and State MP for Auburn, Lynda Voltz, calling for more detail about proposed stamp duty changes and for homebuyers to be treated fairly.
Also cautiously optimistic about the plan to give residents four $25 ‘Out and About’ vouchers to revive local eateries and tourism, Ms Voltz said with so many “great eating options … why wait for a voucher”.
There some good news for motorists, with funding to buy land for an off ramp westbound on the M4 at Lidcombe and $10 million from Restart NSW to fix the Australia Avenue and Homebush Bay Drive intersection.
And while Ms Voltz also welcomed news on Friday that a site has been selected for a new high school next to Wentworth Point Public School, she said it was important to continue to push the Government for a timeline for the project.
Disappointed by the lack of funding for the promised Service NSW Centre at Merrylands, Ms Finn was pleased by cycleway extensions, including under the M4 to the cycleway along Duck River, but said the electorate also needed the return of express trains which were taken away from Granville Station in 2013.
“It might be faster to use the cycleway once it is extended than to catch the train in my electorate,” she said.
While still working through the details, Cumberland Council general manager Hamish McNulty welcomed new funding for the Fixing Local Roads program and to ensure Covid-19 safe council elections along with a commitment not to impose postal-only voting, and pointed to opportunities for the business community to access support and assistance.
He said that included $139 million in interest-free loans to replace flammable cladding on high-risk buildings in NSW; an extension of Covid-19 relief funding for community and mobile preschools in 2021; and $104.5 million for upgrades to arts and cultural assets that will support existing and create new jobs in the creative sector.