Western Research Institute senior research consultant Alistair Maclennan said an income tax offset for low and middle income earners would benefit many workers living in areas around Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo. 

“I think that the two real items of interest to me relate to the changes to income tax and also to education,” Mr Maclennan said.

“If you live in the Central West, incomes are a lot lower than in greater Sydney regions.”

In terms of education, he supported funding for the Murray Darling Medical School.

“Evidence has shown rurally-trained doctors will stay in the region,” he said.

Mr Maclennan said young adults who want to leave home to further their education or find employment will also benefit from the 2018/19 Federal Budget.

“People in regional, rural and remote communities are going to find it easier to access youth allowance payments to study away from home because the parent income threshold is going to be raised,” he said. 

Western NSW Business Chamber regional manager Vicki Seccombe was also pleased the Murray Darling Medical School’s network would be established and she supported the income tax offset but said more needs to be done to support small business.

“Measures that put a few extra dollars into the pockets of hard working Australians are welcomed, as we know that money will flow through the economy,” she said.

“Small businesses will also welcome the continuation of the $20,000 instant asset write off for a further 12 months, which will help support growth and replace ageing assets.

“It was good to see additional funding for our farming businesses for improving GPS accuracy and more funding to better understand the skills and labour gaps that farm businesses face.”

Ms Seccombe said GST reporting will be simpler through a streamlined reporting system.

She said there are also more incentives for older workers, who could individually earn up to $300 a fortnight, or self-employed individuals, who could earn up to $7800 a year, without having any pension implications.