The 2010-11 federal budget will build on the work done by the Rudd Labor Government to keep Australia out of the Global Recession, according to Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese.

“The best thing about the way the Rudd Labor Government has handled the Global Recession has been the protection of jobs,” said Mr Albanese.

“Our unemployment rate, which peaked much lower than most other nations, is heading down to 4¾ per cent by mid-2012.

“Through the Nation Building and Jobs Plan and the Building Education Revolution, we have worked hard to keep jobs in every local community in Australia, including here in the Inner West.”

While the budget has been described as no frills, Mr Albanese said there are a number of important initiatives:

• an additional $2.2 billion investment in the health system that takes the Government’s new investment in health reform to $7.3 billion over five years


• $523 million additional support and training for our nurses (including aged care nurses) – the backbone of our health system.


• a $950 million commitment to increase the capacity of emergency departments and require them to either admit, refer or treat and discharge patients within four hours.


• more young people will have the opportunity to boost their qualifications and skills following the announcement of up to 40,000 additional training places and support for 22,500 new apprentices.


• a new $652 million fund to support renewable energy as part of an expanded $5.1 billion Clean Energy Initiative.


• Marrickville Legal Centre will receive $55,385 to allow for the continuation of the Community Legal Centre – Family Relationship Centre pilot program which provides legal advice and assistance to separating families.


• $70 million to complete planning on the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal Project, a facility with the potential to create thousands of jobs in Western Sydney, take one million trucks off Sydney’s roads each year and transform the movement of freight across the Sydney Basin.