Boosting budgets where it matters

It is finally here, the Miles Labor Government’s 50 cent public transport fares started on Monday.

No matter how far commuters travel on buses or trains they will pay just 50 cents.

Commuters travelling from Woodridge Station to the City on a train five days a week will pay just $1 to get to work and back.

This will mean they will save more than $38 each week.

Our 50 cent public transport fares are a trial for six months to gauge what impact it has on our trains and bus networks and if there is a reduction in the number of cars on our roads.

Importantly, it will also take the pressure of Woodridge families feeling the pinch from global cost of living pressures.

Next month motorists will benefit from car registration fees being reduced by 20 per cent.

No matter if it is four cylinders, six cylinders or eight cylinders, motorists will save 20 per cent on their vehicle registration.

Drivers of a four-cylinder vehicle will save about $85 on a 12-month bill, bringing registration fees down to $338.75, excluding CTP.

For vehicles registered on a pensioner concession the reduction will be nearly $50 and will reduce registration fees down to $194.50, excluding CTP.

These reductions will apply in addition to existing concessions.

It is all on top of our nation leading cost of living concessions program.

For example, every household in the Woodridge Electorate, Logan and all of Queensland have received a $1000 credit towards their energy bill.

Concession card holders have received a $1372 credit.

That’s on top of the Federal Government’s $300 electricity rebate.

This will mean many households won’t pay anything for electricity for a year at a time when I know families are feeling the pinch from global cost of living pressures.

We also beefed-up the Fair Play Voucher program, making it available for all children aged five to 17 years of age and increasing the voucher value from $150 to $200.

I announced this in my budget in June and the uptake of the vouchers has been incredible.

All of those 200,000 vouchers were snapped up in two weeks, so we have added a further 100,000 vouchers to the program.

I know how important these measures are for Woodridge families because they make life that little bit easier under the current cost of living pressures.