Budget Or Ballot Box Bribe?

The Fight For Dawson And Capricornia Is On

By Amanda Wright

The 2025 Federal Budget isn’t just about economics—it’s about the future of Australia. With a 3 May election now locked in, Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ final budget before polling day is under scrutiny. Labor is pitching it as a responsible plan to ease cost-of-living pressures, while the opposition brands it a desperate pre-election bribe.

For regional Queensland, the stakes are high. Has the budget delivered for Dawson and Capricornia, or have these electorates been left behind?

What’s in the Budget?

Treasurer Chalmers handed down the Budget with an unmistakable focus: cost-of-living relief, health, and tax cuts.

At the centre of the budget is a $17.1 billion tax cut package over five years, with staged reductions in personal income tax rates, ensuring every taxpayer takes home more. The lowest tax bracket will drop from 16 per cent to 15 per cent in 2026, then to 14 per cent in 2027, giving the average wage earner $268 extra in 2026-27 and $536 in 2027-28.

Cost-of-living relief also comes in the form of energy bill assistance, with a $150 electricity rebate for eligible small businesses and an extension of household energy relief, projected to cut inflation by 0.5 per cent in late 2025.

Healthcare receives a major boost, with $8.4 billion over four years dedicated to increasing bulk billing incentives, aiming to lift bulk-billed doctor visits to nine in ten consultations. Pharmaceutical costs will be eased by capping PBS medicine prices below $25 per script and investing $793 million in women’s health, covering new contraceptive options, menopause treatments, and endometriosis support.

Education reforms include a 20 per cent reduction in student debt, though this relief only affects the amount owed rather than increasing disposable income. Additionally, graduates won’t need to start repaying student loans until they earn $67,000, up from $54,435.

Infrastructure spending continues, with $7.2 billion allocated to Bruce Highway upgrades, although much of the funding is earmarked beyond the next five years, with completion not expected until 2032.

Despite these measures, critics argue the budget fails to address long-term issues, particularly in regional health, road infrastructure, and cost-of-living relief beyond short-term payments.

Coalition: Labor Has Abandoned the Regions

Sitting LNP MP Mr Andrew Willcox dismissed the budget as “short-term sweeteners” that fail to address the long-term challenges facing regional Australia.

He was particularly critical of the lack of new investment in Dawson, stating that the government had neglected major regional issues.

“There is nothing major in this budget specifically for Dawson. No commitment for flood-proofing roads, nothing for regional GP shortages.”

Mr Willcox was highly critical of the Bruce Highway funding, claiming the government had failed to follow through on essential upgrades.

“Along the 1600km stretch, Mackay to Townsville is rated the worst. We have the worst sections here in Dawson.”

He also rejected the tax cuts as inadequate, saying they would do little to help struggling households.

“The tax cuts will average about 70c a day for people and won’t kick in for another 15 months. The cost of living crisis is happening right now. This is an insult considering the cost of everything has gone up so much in the past three years,” he said.

“Another electricity rebate is really just Labor giving us back our own money to help pay for higher power prices they created with their renewables-only energy policy.”

“An elected Coalition government will provide relief from the get-go, cutting the fuel excise, saving Australians 15 cents for every litre bought”

“For a family with two cars, that’s an average of $1500 per year,” Mr Willcox said.

Labor: Budget Delivers for Dawson

Labor candidate for Dawson, Neil Wallace, said the budget was focused on cost-of-living relief while maintaining responsible economic management.

“This budget delivers a tax cut for every taxpayer, something the Coalition refused to do,” Mr Wallace said.

“2.2 million Queensland households will receive an additional $150 in energy relief, along with 216,000 small businesses. Bulk billing incentives have increased, leading to an additional 3.6 million bulk-billed GP visits across Queensland.”

Mr Wallace said Labor was committed to regional investment, pointing to the new Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay as a major win for local healthcare.

“Families in Dawson will now have access to a free, bulk-billed Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay. This is a major step forward in providing affordable healthcare for our community,” he said.

Mr Wallace also said the $7.2 billion Bruce Highway investment was a historic win for North Queensland.

“This is the largest-ever investment in the Bruce Highway’s history,” he said.

The Greens: A Budget for Billionaires, Not Battlers

Greens candidate for Dawson, Paula Creen, said the budget failed to address housing, healthcare, and inequality, describing it as a “big disappointment.”

“This is a budget that looks after billionaires and big corporations while struggling Australians get barely anything,” she said.

“The government could wipe student debt, freeze rents, and add dental care to Medicare, but instead, they choose to keep handing out tax cuts to the wealthy.”

Ms Creen said Labor’s tax cuts did not go far enough to help those earning lower incomes.

“The Greens want a tax on corporate super-profits to fund real cost-of-living relief, including rent freezes, free healthcare, and public housing investment,” she said.

Capricornia Coalition: Labor Has ‘Ripped the Guts’ Out of Regional Funding

Sitting Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, was scathing in her assessment of the budget, accusing Labor of gutting regional programs.

“This budget proves Labor takes the bush for granted. They’ve ripped the guts out of regional funding, cutting vital infrastructure programs,” she said.

Ms Landry said the Stronger Communities Program, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, and Growing Regions Program had been axed.

“These programs have built roads, bridges, and local facilities in Capricornia, but Labor would rather pour money into public service jobs in Canberra,” she said.

Ms Landry also said the budget had failed to fund a single major road upgrade in Capricornia.
“The Bruce Highway is falling apart, and Labor’s so-called record investment is all talk and no action,” she said.

She also criticised the lack of funding for childcare and regional health services, arguing that families in Capricornia were being left behind.

*Dawson candidates Amanda Nickson (Family First) and Michael Lockye (Trumpet of Patriots) could not be contacted for comment.

‍