the Central Coast

Key points

To build a stronger future for the Central Coast, our Plan will deliver a strong and growing economy.

The Coalition will create 1.3 million more jobs across Australia over the next five years. Our Plan for the Central Coast is a key part of this national effort.

The Central Coast has one of the most enviable lifestyles in the country and is an increasingly important region for the NSW economy. It is a hub for small businesses and is at the heart of the state’s fastest growing population corridor.

That is why our plan is focused on building better local roads and faster rail services to and from Sydney, helping more residents into home ownership, providing tax and cost-of-living relief and developing a world-class multi-campus university precinct in Gosford.

A strong economy enables us to continue making record investments in the Central Coast’s health and essential services, including mental health services, the Health on the Streets program and investments to clean up and protect local beaches and waterways.

This plan builds on our strong record for the region. Our economic plan helped the Central Coast overcome the biggest economic shock since the Great Depression, with unemployment in NSW falling to around its lowest levels in nearly 50 years at 3.9 per cent.

We’ve delivered lower taxes to around 32,000 Central Coast small businesses and 132,000 individuals, invested in major infrastructure projects such as NorthConnex, upgrades to the M1 Motorway and improvements to local roads, invested in the Central Coast Medical School and Research Institute and delivered continuous mobile coverage and free Wi-Fi on the rail line between Wyong and Hornsby. Average electricity prices for households have also fallen by around 10-per-cent under the Morrison Government. But there is much more to be done.

A re-elected Coalition will continue to build a stronger Central Coast economy by:

• Investing a further $427 million in the Central Coast’s road infrastructure including the Wyong Town Centre upgrade of the Pacific Highway, the Tumbi Road intersection upgrade of the Central Coast Highway and an additional $40 million for the Central Coast Roads Package.
• Providing $1 billion for the Sydney to Newcastle (Tuggerah to Wyong) faster rail upgrade.
• Delivering $18 million towards a world-class multi-campus university precinct in Gosford which will be a centre of excellence in health, medical innovation and education.
• Providing lower taxes and cost of living relief for Central Coast families and retirees, with around 122,000 to receive tax relief of up to $1,500 this year, a one-off $250 cost of living payment for those most in need, and a 22 cents per litre cut in fuel costs for six months.
• Expanding eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and freezing deeming rates for payment recipients, including more than 125,000 NSW pensioners.
• Helping more Central Coast residents buy their first home by allowing them to use up to 40 per cent of their superannuation to get into the property market, and removing barriers for Australians downsizing to residences that better suit their needs and lifestyle, helping to free up larger homes for younger families.
• Making it easier to start and grow a small business on the Central Coast, including lower taxes for around 32,000 Central Coast businesses and support to save energy costs.
• Backing local manufacturers like SULO to expand manufacturing and secure local jobs.
• Continuing to invest in improving mobile blackspots and broadband.
• Expanding apprenticeship wage subsidies to create a skilled workforce and help young people on the Central Coast into well-paid, secure jobs.

A strong economy will allow us to continue guaranteeing essential services:

• Supporting Central Coast seniors and families with record funding for the local health system: cheaper medicines (including a $10 cut to the price of PBS-listed medications), Medicare, permanent telehealth, hospitals, aged care, local GPs, extending Health on the Streets and improving mental healthcare with a new Head to Health satellite centre.
• Investing in important local community and environment projects including Frost Reserve in Kincumber, Umina Beach Country Women’s Association Hall and Clean4Shore. We have also ensured the offshore PEP-11 project does not proceed on our watch.
• Record funding for schools across New South Wales.
• Providing fully flexible Paid Parental Leave for families, with eligible working mums and dads able to share up to 20 weeks of leave.

A strong economy will also enable us to invest to keep the Central Coast safe:

• Investing in local crime prevention by establishing a new Youth Hub on the Peninsula and protecting Australians online by implementing further world-leading online safety reforms.
• Record funding for defence – with funding restored above 2 per cent of GDP – and strong border policies to disrupt people smuggling and prevent illegal maritime arrivals.

In stark contrast, Labor has no economic plan for the Central Coast.

Over the last 30 years, Labor governments have, on average, delivered higher unemployment, higher interest rates and higher electricity prices. This would be devastating for the Central Coast.

Labor can’t say how they’ll pay for their promises and they can’t manage money. That means higher deficits and higher taxes.

Labor leader Albanese has argued for higher taxes on retirees, housing, families and inheritances. He was also a strong supporter of the carbon tax.

Labor’s economic and budget mismanagement also means the essential services the Central Coast relies on, such as health, education and road and rail infrastructure, would be put at risk.

Our Plan

1.Building better and safer local roads

The Morrison Government is investing further in the Central Coast’s road infrastructure pipeline to create jobs, drive economic growth and keep commuters and freight safe and moving.

Our additional investments build on our strong record since 2013, including major projects like NorthConnex, upgrades to the M1 Motorway and investments to fix local roads like Oceano Street in Copacabana and Lushington Street in East Gosford.

A re-elected Coalition Government will continue record investments in the Central Coast’s road infrastructure pipeline, with a further $427 million for projects that will bust congestion and create local jobs, including:

• $336 million for the Pacific Highway - Wyong Town Centre upgrade. The project will deliver two lanes in each direction between Johnson Road at Tuggerah and Cutler Drive at Wyong, and replace the Wyong River road bridge with two new road bridges. It will also integrate the rail interchange with bus services, taxi services and disabled and short-term parking, provide new signalised intersections at Rose Street, Anzac Avenue, North Road and Cutler Drive, upgrade the existing intersection at Church Street, and replace the Rose Street rail bridge. It is expected to support 955 direct and indirect jobs.
• $51.2 million for the Central Coast Highway - Tumbi Road intersection upgrade. This project will upgrade the Central Coast Highway between Wamberal and Bateau Bay, with the highway duplicated between the Tumbi Road intersection and Bateau Bay Road intersection. It is expected to support 145 direct and indirect jobs.
• $40 million to expand the Central Coast Roads Package, taking total funding to $126.5 million. Up to an extra 60 local roads will be improved, building on the 29 local road upgrades funded under the existing package.

2. Faster rail between the Central Coast and Sydney

The Morrison Government’s National Faster Rail Plan will achieve faster, more reliable journey times between major cities and key regional centres. This includes the rail corridor between Newcastle, the Central Coast and Sydney.

Newcastle to Sydney is the busiest regional passenger rail corridor in Australia.

Our faster rail project for the Central Coast is a real project with real funding that will improve life for local commuters.

By contrast, Labor has promised $500 million to start “planning” a high speed rail project which on any credible estimate is expected to cost $200-$300 billion. They will never deliver it.

A re-elected Coalition Government will invest $1 billion in the Sydney to Newcastle (Tuggerah to Wyong) faster rail upgrade. The project will double capacity on the existing 10-km rail alignment, including new dual track bridges over the Wyong River and upgrades to stations at Wyong and Tuggerah, providing faster, more frequent and more reliable services and supporting more than 4,000 jobs.

3. A world-class university precinct in Gosford

Our Government has been investing record funding in health and medical research to ensure Australia continues to be a global medical industry leader, to support a stronger economy through the creation of new jobs and to improve health outcomes for all Australians.

The Coalition has supported the development of the Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute, investing $45 million for world-class research into integrated care and population health and to train new doctors and nurses.

We are also backing the establishment of a world-class multi-campus university precinct in Gosford in collaboration with the NSW Government and the University of Newcastle. The stage one investment will support health and medical students, researchers and visiting experts as part of a larger multi-campus university project.

These projects will increase educational opportunities in the region, create centres of excellence in integrated health care research and education, build new ideas and create new jobs on the Coast.

A re-elected Coalition Government will back Central Coast local communities by delivering on our commitment of $18 million towards the development of a world-class multi-campus university precinct in Gosford which will be a centre of excellence in health, medical innovation and education.

4. Lower taxes and cost-of-living relief for families and retirees

The pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and extreme weather events are putting upward pressure on the cost of goods in Australia. This is having a direct impact on family budgets.

The Morrison Government is committed to additional tax and cost-of-living relief that will help Central Coast families and retirees pay their bills, buy their groceries and fill up their car.

These measures build on our substantial cost-of-living action to date, including tax cuts benefiting around 132,000 workers on the Central Coast and child care reforms that have reduced average hourly out-of-pocket costs in NSW by 14 per cent since 2018.

A re-elected Coalition Government will deliver lower taxes and cost-of-living relief for Central Coast families and retirees through:

• Tax relief for low and middle income earners. Around 122,000 taxpayers on the Central Coast will benefit from further tax relief of up to $1,500 this year, with the $1,080 low and middle income tax offset plus a new one-off $420 cost of living tax offset.
• Cost-of-living payments. The Morrison Government is delivering a one-off, cost-of-living payment of $250 for Australians most in need. On the Central Coast, these payments will go to around:
  • 43,000 pensioners
  • 6,000 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders
  • 4,000 carers
  • 11,000 disability support recipients
  • 12,000 jobseekers
• Cheaper fuel. Central Coast motorists will save at least 22 cents a litre every time they fill up their car for the next six months, with a temporary halving of the fuel excise rate. This could mean a saving of $30 a week for a family with two cars, or $700 over six months.
• Child care. The removal of the annual cap on the Child Care Subsidy and increased subsidies for second and subsequent children will benefit an estimated 82,000 NSW families in 2022-23.
• Cheaper medicines. We’ve made 960 new or amended medicine listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme since 2019 and more than 2,900 since 2013. We will cut the price of medications listed on the PBS from January 1 next year by $10 per script, building on our significant reductions to the PBS safety net from 1 July 2022 for concession card holders.
• Lower tax guarantee. $100 billion in tax relief to workers over the next four years and no new taxes on Australian workers, retirees, superannuation, small businesses, housing or electricity.
• Seniors Health Card. To help ease cost-of-living pressures on senior Australians, we are expanding eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. From 1 July 2022, the income test threshold for singles will be increased to $90,000 (up from $57,761) and for couples to $144,000 (up from $92,416). This change will support an extra 50,000 older Australians. At the Commonwealth level, all card holders are eligible for cheaper medications and health care. At the NSW state level, if you have a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card you may also be eligible for assistance with energy costs and the costs of ambulance services.
• Freezing deeming rates. Our plan to freeze deeming rates at current rates for two years will benefit almost 260,000 payment recipients in NSW, including more than 125,000 age pensioners. It will provide certainty of income support payments to ensure Australians with cash assets who rely on social security can maintain their quality of life and minimise cost-of-living pressures.
• Cheaper electricity. Average household electricity prices have already fallen by around 10 per cent under the Morrison Government, compared to a doubling in electricity prices when Labor was last in power. We will continue investing in more reliable and affordable power, including through new energy infrastructure.

5. Supporting more people into home ownership

The great Australian dream has always been to own your own home. The Coalition Government is committed to this goal with a range of support to make it easier to purchase a home of your own.

Over the last three years, the Morrison Government’s housing policies have supported more than 300,000 Australians into home ownership.

A re-elected Coalition Government will give first home buyers the ability to harness their superannuation to get into the property market. By 1 July 2023, the Super Home Buyer Scheme will allow first home buyers to invest up to $50,000 or up to 40 per cent of their superannuation (whichever is less) to help with the purchase of their first home.

It will mean Australians can buy their first home sooner by slashing the time taken to save a deposit.

Allowing your super to work for you to purchase your first home and then being returned to your super at a later date achieves the best of both worlds - home ownership and retirement security.

A re-elected Coalition Government will also provide up to 1.3 million more empty nesters the ability to access incentives to downsize their house. We will give Australians over the age of 55 the ability to invest up to $300,000, per person, in their superannuation fund outside of the existing contribution caps, from the proceeds of downsizing from their primary residence.

Pensioners who downsize their home will also be given greater flexibility by exempting the proceeds of the sale of the property from the assets test for longer.

By removing barriers for Australians downsizing to residences that better suit their needs and lifestyle, we are helping to free up larger homes for younger families.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• Establish the Super Home Buyer Scheme to allow first home buyers to invest up to 40 per cent of their superannuation, up to a maximum of $50,000 to help with the purchase of their first home.
• Expand support for first home buyers by more than tripling the number of low-deposit guarantees to buy a home (with as little as 5 per cent deposit) to 35,000 guarantees each financial year. From 1 July 2022, we will increase the cap for properties to $900,000 on the Central Coast.
• Expand home ownership opportunities for single parent families by increasing the number of low-deposit guarantees for single parent families to buy a home (with a deposit of as little as 2 per cent) to 5,000 each financial year.
• Support greater investment into affordable housing with an additional $2 billion in low-cost financing for social and affordable dwellings. This brings total low-cost financing to $5.5 billion, supporting around 27,500 dwellings.
• Give Australians over the age of 55 the ability to invest up to $300,000, per person, in their superannuation fund outside of the existing contribution caps, from the proceeds of selling their primary residence.
• Double the Assets Test Exemption (from 1 January 2023) to two years when pensioners downsize from their family home, giving them more time to plan for their future.

6. Backing small and family businesses on the Central Coast

The Coalition will grow small businesses and create more jobs on the Central Coast by keeping taxes at record lows, providing incentives for investment in skills and digital, slashing red tape, supporting them to export and saving them money through energy efficiency.

Around 32,000 Central Coast small businesses are already benefiting from our existing tax relief measures. These include around 11,500 small companies that have received a permanent reduction in the company tax rate, from 30 per cent in 2013-14 under Labor to 25-per cent from 2021-22 under the Morrison Government.

Our record also includes providing an economic lifeline for small businesses during the pandemic through JobKeeper and cash-flow boosts, simplifying Business Activity Statements, implementing Single Touch Payroll, providing wage subsidies for apprenticeships and holding big business to account for improving payment times to small business.

A re-elected Coalition Government will make it easier to start and grow a small business on the Central Coast, as part of our plan to help create 400,000 new small and family businesses across the country over the next five years. This includes:

• Technology Investment Boost. Around 32,000 businesses on the Central Coast will be encouraged to go digital with access to a new bonus 20 per cent deduction on expenses and depreciating assets such as computers, online sales platforms, accounting software, cyber security and cloud computing. The boost applies from Budget night until 30 June 2023, for expenses up to $100,000 per year.
• Skills and Training Boost. To help with the costs of training and upskilling their employees, at least 7,700 small businesses on the Central Coast will have access to a new 20 per cent bonus deduction for eligible external training courses. The boost applies from Budget night until 30 June 2024, and is uncapped.
• Extending the instant asset write-off. We will continue the instant asset write-off until 30 June 2023, supporting around 32,000 businesses on the Central Coast to write-off the full value of any eligible asset they purchase.
• Extension of loss carry back. Around 11,500 small companies on the Central Coast can offset losses against previously taxed profits to generate a refund for a further year in 2022-23, supporting cash flow and confidence, more investment in the local economy and jobs.
• Lower Tax Guarantee: There will be no new taxes on Australian small businesses under a re-elected Coalition Government.
• Energy efficiency: We will support small businesses to save money by investing in energy efficiency and reducing their energy bills. A new $60 million Powering Business program will offer grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses, and up to $50,000 matched funding for medium businesses, to support energy efficient equipment upgrades. An investment of $17.9 million in the Business Energy Advice Program will help businesses navigate the electricity retail market and adopt more efficient technologies.

7. Growing the Central Coast’s manufacturing industries

Our Modern Manufacturing Strategy is a key part of the Coalition’s plan for a strong economy and stronger future for the Central Coast.

Creating sovereign manufacturing capability and securing our supply chains will not only strengthen the Central Coast’s economy and create more jobs, but boost national resilience to global supply chain disruptions and security threats.

A re-elected Coalition Government will continue to back the Central Coast’s manufacturing industries:

• We are investing in cornerstone manufacturing projects including:
  • $11 million to upgrade SULO’s Somersby Plant as part of $20 million funding awarded to Pact Group Holdings to increase products made from recycled plastic.
  • $2 million for FMC Australasia to expand its Wyong manufacturing facility, supporting production of innovative and sustainable crop protection technologies.
  • $125,000 for Light Culture Australia to support factory equipment upgrades.
• Providing new opportunities for Central Coast manufacturers through funding we have committed to our $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy in the 2022-23 Budget.

8. Addressing mobile blackspots and improving broadband

The Coalition believes all Australians deserve access to fast and reliable telecommunications, regardless of where they live.

The COVID-19 pandemic, a growing digital economy and natural disasters have underscored the importance of high-quality telecommunications services across Australia.

The Coalition has a strong record of prioritising connectivity on the Central Coast, having delivered continuous mobile coverage and free Wi-Fi at 19 train stations between Wyong and Hornsby and funded an additional nine mobile base stations through the Mobile Black Spot program. The last Labor government did not deliver a single tower on the Central Coast.

A re-elected Coalition Government will:

• Work with the telco companies to explore options for improving mobile coverage at Gunderman, Spencer and Mangrove Mountain as part of our $811.8 million Connecting Regional Australia initiative. This program will improve regional connectivity and address mobile blackspots, including improving mobile coverage on up to 8,000 km of regional roads and adjacent premises, businesses and tourist hotspots nation-wide.
• Upgrade NBN’s fixed line network. This is a $4.5 billion plan, with around 20,000 Central Coast premises eligible for an on-demand upgrade from Fibre to the Node to Fibre to the Premises by 2023, delivering ultra-fast broadband of up to 1 Gbps.
• Upgrade NBN's Fixed Wireless and Satellite networks in a $480 million investment that will benefit around 4,700 Central Coast households and businesses. We’reincreasing fixed wireless coverage and speed, with bigger data limits for satellite users.

9. Guaranteeing essential health and aged care services

The Coalition is investing in a world-class health system that is improving access to affordable, quality health care on the Central Coast.

A re-elected Coalition Government will continue record investment in the Central Coast’s health and aged care services, including:

• More than $2.2 million to extend the highly successful Health on the Streets Program (HoTS) program for three years, delivered by Coast and Country Primary Care. HoTS provides healthcare services, assessments and support from a custom van which travels to rough sleeper hotspots and responds to community referrals. HoTS also provides screenings, health planning, mental health assessments, drug and alcohol assessments, sexual health assessments and appropriate interventions.
• $3.4 million over four years to establish a new Head to Health satellite centre to improve mental health services on the Central Coast.
• Supporting more GPs to work on the Central Coast. GP catchments that were granted Distribution Priority Area (DPA) status under the exceptional circumstances review process will have their status extended for 12 months from 1 July 2022. This builds on our investment in the $2 million Central Coast GP Incentive Fund.
• Central Coast hospitals. Commonwealth funding to Central Coast Local Health District hospitals is up by 102.6 per cent under the Coalition, from $135.6 million in 2012–13 under Labor to around $274.8 million in 2020–21. Our investment in hospital funding to NSW will grow from $4.3 billion in 2012–13 to an estimated $9.8 billion in 2025–26.
• Cheaper medicines. Our Government has made 960 new or amended listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) since 2019, and over 2,900 since 2013. We will continue our policy to list all medicines recommended by the medical experts, unlike Labor which stopped listing medicines in 2011 because they couldn't manage money.
  
  We will also cut the price of medications listed on the PBS from January 1 next year, as part of an annual $150 million saving for Australians. The $10 cut per script means the maximum price Australians will pay for PBS medicines drops from $42.50 to $32.50, a 24 per cent saving. This builds on significant reductions to the PBS safety net from 1 July 2022 for concession card holders.
• Guaranteeing Medicare. Under our Government, Medicare funding to the Central Coast has increased from $145 million in 2012-13 under Labor to $196 million in 2020-21. Central Coast GP bulk billing rates are at a record high of 88 per cent. We’ve introduced permanent and universal telehealth, which has already delivered more than 700,000 services on the Central Coast since March 2020.
• Better aged care. We’re continuing to roll out our $19.1 billion investment in once-in-a-generation reforms to aged care. We’re putting senior Australians first by improving quality, safety and choice.
• Live-saving devices for diabetics. Our Government is supporting a further 71,000 Australians with Type 1 Diabetes by investing over $270 million to cut the cost of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM). This means that every Australian with Type 1 diabetes will have access to a potentially life-saving CGM device, which could cost up to $5,000 a year without subsidy. From 1 July 2022, the maximum cost will be $32.50 a month.
• A record $58 million under the National Action Plan for Endometriosis to improve endometriosis diagnosis and primary care support, helping more women to find appropriate care and better manage the impact of endometriosis. As part of the plan, new specialised endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics will be established in every state and territory to improve diagnosis, care and treatment to support over 800,000 Australian women who have the disease.
• Over $53 million to make it easier for more Australians to become parents and to support the mental health of new parents. As part of this investment from 1 November 2022, the Morrison Government will subsidise the costs of storage of eggs, sperm or embryos for Australians who are wanting to have a child through IVF and who have cancer or are at risk of passing on genetic diseases. This will assist an average of 6,200 Australians per year, saving them approximately $600 per year. We will also provide over $25 million to fund 20 new Gidget Foundation Australia perinatal mental health and wellbeing services in every state and territory, to make sure new mums and dads have access to the mental health support they need.

10. Investing in education, skills and apprenticeships on the Central Coast

With unemployment at record lows, we have an historic opportunity to get even more people off welfare and into work, and to deliver businesses the strong pipeline of skilled workers they need to grow the economy and create an even stronger future.

That is why the Morrison Government is investing even more to equip the workforce of the Central Coast with the skills and training they need, from young people entering the workforce to mid-career workers seeking out new opportunities. We are also investing record funding in NSW schools and improving school standards and teacher quality.

A re-elected Coalition Government will continue to back Central Coast workers to get the skills they need by:

• Introducing new wage subsidies for apprenticeships to support the Central Coast’s future tradies, plumbers, tilers and chefs. We will provide an additional $2.8 billion to extend the successful Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidies, along with introducing a new streamlined Australian Apprentices Incentives System.
• Helping disadvantaged youth into jobs by establishing ReBoot, a program aimed at building life and employment skills in disadvantaged young Australians. ReBoot will support those aged 15-24 at high risk of becoming long-term unemployed. We’re helping them get back on a pathway to employment by providing tailored early interventions, from hands-on learning and mentoring to work experience and industry engagement.
• Continuing to provide record funding for NSW schools. Under our Government, NSW schools funding has increased from $4.1 billion in 2013 under Labor to $7.7 billion in 2022. Our investment will hit $10-billion in 2029.
• Continuing to strongly support innovative and proven pathways into teaching, such as the Teach For Australia program, as well as place more emphasis on prior real work experience when supporting mid-career professionals into teaching. This year’s Budget included $70 million for a practical plan to improve initial teacher education and upskill existing teachers.

11. More flexible Paid Parental Leave

Our important changes to Paid Parental Leave will provide Central Coast working families with choice and flexibility to manage work and care.

Since the Paid Parental Leave scheme was introduced, more than 1.7 million Australianshave received Parental Leave Pay. Another 750,000 have received Dad and Partner Pay.

Our changes give eligible families full control over how they choose to use up to 20 weeks of Paid Parental Leave. We’re empowering them to make decisions that work for their circumstances.

We are also introducing a household income eligibility test ($350,000), in addition to the existing primary carer income test ($151,350), to ensure more families are eligible for paid parental leave. This will particularly support women who are the primary earner and do not currently have access to employer funded parental leave.

A re-elected Coalition Government will roll out Enhanced Paid Parental Leave, providing up to 20 weeks of fully flexible leave able to be shared between eligible working parents as they choose. This includes:

• IntegratingDad and Partner Pay (2 weeks)andParental Leave Pay (18-weeks), creating a single 20-week scheme that can be shared between eligible working parents.
• Ensuring eligible single parents are also able to access an additional two weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
• Broadening the income test to include a household income threshold of $350,000 a year. This will especially benefit women who are the main breadwinner.

12. Investing in Central Coast communities and the environment

Our Government has a strong record of backing the priorities, ambitions and plans of local communities. We firmly believe that our local communities – and not Canberra bureaucrats – know what’s best for the Central Coast.

We are committed to partnering with local communities to deliver a cleaner and healthier environment on the Central Coast. We have ensured the offshore PEP-11 project does not proceed on our watch.

A re-elected Coalition Government will back Central Coast local communities by:

• Investing in upgrades to the Umina Beach Country Women’s Association Hall and Frost Reserve in Kincumber, improving the Skate Park at Kincumber and supporting local health technology through an expanded anti-venom program at the Australian Reptile Park.
• Investing an additional $2.8 million to support projects on the Central Coast by extending Phase 3 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
• Investing in round eight of the Stronger Communities Program, which will deliver $300,000 to the Central Coast for small capital projects ($2,500 to $20,000) that deliver social benefits for the local community.
• Providing an additional $20 million to the successful Recreational Fishing and Camping Facilities Program to invest in more than 100 new projects across Australia’s coastal and regional communities to extend boat ramps, jetties, cleaning stations, disability-accessible toilet blocks and campground facility upgrades.
• Protecting the local environment with $300,000 for the extension of the Clean4Shore Environmental Cleanup Program to remove rubbish and debris from local foreshores, mangroves and estuaries.
• Protecting the Central Coast’s oceans and marine life by continuing to roll out our waste-export bans and investing in recycling, including an additional $60 million to develop new state-of-the-art technologies to improve the reuse and recycling of plastics and a ReMade in Australia scheme to give consumers confidence about which products are remade in Australia.

13. Keeping the Central Coast safe

In this time of global uncertainty, keeping Australians safe is the highest priority of the Coalition Government.

We’re making record investments in defence, law enforcement agencies and the strengthening of our borders. We’re also helping to reduce local crime, domestic violence and online abuse.

Central Coast residents can trust the Coalition Government’s strong record on security. Labor’s record is cuts to Defence spending and cuts to our law enforcement agencies.

A re-elected Coalition Government will continue to keep the Central Coast safe by:

• Investing $1.4 million for Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS) to establish and operate a new Youth Hub on the Peninsula. The project will help RYSS in their work with at-risk youth, diverting them from the criminal justice system and reducing anti-social behaviour, building the skills, independence and resilience of more than 500 marginalised and at-risk Peninsula youth.
• Investing a further $1.3 billion to end violence against women and children, including in prevention, early intervention, response (including increased emergency accommodation) and recovery.
• Record investment in our law enforcement and security agencies, including an extra $1.3 billion for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. and boosting the Australian Federal Police’s annual budget to more than $1.7 billion.
• Continuing our world-leading efforts to keep Australians safe online, including new measures to ensure tech companies provide stronger parental controls on smartphones and tablet devices; $23 million to enhance eSafety in schools so they know how to help kids dealing with cyberbullies; and legislating tough new anti-trolling laws.
• Providing record Defence funding, restored to over 2 per cent of GDP and including boosting the Defence workforce by 18,500 personnel by 2040.
• Maintaining our strong border policies that have stopped the boats, stopped the deaths at sea, removed children from detention and disrupted the people smuggling trade.

Our Record

Since the 2019 election, the Coalition has been delivering on its commitments to secure a better future for the Central Coast.

With our strong economic management, we are building the stronger economy that guarantees essential services and keeps the Central Coast safe. Compared to 2019, the Central Coast has a stronger economy, better roads and community infrastructure, lower taxes, more funding for hospitals and schools, and cheaper medicines.

Strengthening the Central Coast’s economy

• NSW’s unemployment rate has fallen to around its lowest level in nearly 50 years at 3.9 per cent.
• Funding road and rail transport infrastructure. Major projects since 2013 include:
  • $412.3 million towards NorthConnex to reduce congestion on Pennant Hills Road and improve travel times between the M1 and the M2.
  • $195.8 million towards upgrades on the M1 Motorway, including widening the motorway between the Somersby and Kariong interchanges and between the Tuggerah and Doyalson interchanges.
  • $122.9 million towards freight rail upgrades between Sydney and Newcastle - Gosford Passing Loops
  • $86.5 million for the Central Coast Roads Package
  • $37.2 million for the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor Implementation
  • Over $10 million under the Black Spot Program for safer local roads

• Around 132,000 Central Coast residents already receiving lower taxes through our Personal Income Tax Plan, with an average full-time income earner (around $90,000) more than $2,500 better off in 2021-22. This is equivalent to being around $50 a week better off in 2021-22.
• Lower taxes for around 32,000 Central Coast small and family businesses, including 11,500 benefiting from our permanent cut to the corporate tax rate – 25 per cent down from 30 per cent.
• Supporting training and apprenticeships, with over 177,000 people in NSW enrolled in JobTrainer, over 68,000 supported under the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy, and over 50,000 benefitted from the Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy.
• Established an Industry Training Hub at Gosford to address high youth unemployment by helping young people build skills and find work, building on our past investments in youth skills and employment in Tuggerah.
• Supporting home ownership, with around 26,000 NSW HomeBuilder applications to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home, and more than 12,000 homes bought in NSW under the Home Guarantee Scheme.
• Backing important local community projects such as the Woy Woy Oval Redevelopment, the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex (Phase 1), the Peninsula Recreation Active Lifestyle Precinct, the Norah Head Boat Ramp and Banjo’s Skate Park.
• Investing over $1.6 million under the Stronger Communities Program for small capital projects on the Central Coast that contribute to vibrant and viable communities.
• Strengthening the Central Coast’s manufacturing sector through our $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy, including the upgrades to SULO’s Somersby Plant and FMC Australasia’s Wyong manufacturing facility.
• Investing in digital and telecommunications infrastructure, with nine new mobile blackspot base stations (eight completed), continuous mobile coverage and free Wi-Fi at 19 train stations between Wyong and Hornsby, and the NBN now rolled out to over 99 per cent of the region.

Supporting the Central Coast through COVID-19

• Direct COVID economic support for NSW businesses and workers of over $64 billion, with JobKeeper supporting more than 11,500 businesses on the Central Coast supporting around 46,000 jobs.
• Around 95 per cent of NSW residents double-vaccinated, and two thirds have had a booster (of those eligible). Australia is in the top 5 COVID-vaccinated countries.
• Australia has one of the lowest fatality rates from COVID-19 in the world, with death rates in the USA and the UK around 10 times higher.
• Introducing Medicare-subsidised telehealth, now universal and permanent – generational change in the flexibility of primary health care.
• Commonwealth COVID health support totalling around $45 billion across Australia.

Guaranteeing essential services

• Record funding for Central Coast hospitals, with investment in Central Coast Local Health District hospitals up by 102.6 per cent, from $135.6 million in 2012–13 to around $274.8 million in 2020–21.
• Improved local health services, including the Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute, purchase of a third Central Coast Linear Accelerator, and development of the Glen for Women drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.
• Cheaper medicines, with more than 2,900 new or amended listings on the PBS since we were elected in 2013, including an additional 960 since 2019 for treatments including for cystic fibrosis, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and bowel cancer; and lowering the threshold for the PBS Safety Net from 1 July 2022, saving 2.4 million Australians over $80 a year.
• Record funding for NSW schools, up from $4.1 billion in 2013 under Labor to $7.7 billion in 2022 under our Government.
• More affordable child care through our Child Care Subsidy, providing around 90-per cent of families with a subsidy of between 50 and 85 per cent, and reforms which have reduced average hourly out-of-pocket child care costs in NSW by 14 per cent since 2018. Since March 2022, these families are receiving a higher subsidy of up to 95 per cent for their second and subsequent children aged 5 and under.
• Major improvements to aged care, with a $19.1 billion support package in response to the Royal Commission – the largest investment ever in aged care – and over 160,000 additional home care packages funded since 2018-19.
• Ensuring the more than 8,000 NDIS participants on the Central Coast receive the essential support they need, with an additional $26.4 billion for the NDIS over four years.

A safer and more secure Central Coast

• Standing up for Australia’s interests in our region, including as a founding member of the historic AUKUS alliance, and the Quad Leaders’ summit.
• Maintaining strong borders by stopping the boats, stopping the deaths at sea, removing children from detention and disrupting the people smuggling trade.
• Taking tough action to deport foreign criminals, by cancelling or refusing the visas of over 10,000 criminals, including around 2,700 in NSW.
• Investing in Central Coast community safety, crime prevention and CCTV cameras under the Safer Communities Fund.
• Working to end violence against women and their children, including nearly $120-million to boost NSW domestic violence frontline services, one-off Escaping Violence Payments of up to $5,000 (including up to $1,500 in cash) and more funding for prevention.
• Standing up to social media companies to keep Australians safe online, particularly women and children, by legislating the Online Safety Act and introducing new laws to tackle anonymous trolling and protect online privacy.

Ensuring the Central Coast’s environment is protected

• Meeting and beating our emissions targets. We’ve already achieved emissions reductions of 20 per cent on 2005 levels (beating our Kyoto-era targets) while our economy has grown by 45 per cent; a projected reduction of 30-35-per cent by 2030; and a detailed plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
• Boosting NSW’s recycling capacity, with Commonwealth and state funding of over $21-million for 19 Recycling Modernisation Fund projects in NSW to support our waste export bans and to protect marine life, including $2 million to SULO MGB Australia to increase recycled content in wheelie bins.
• Protecting the Central Coast’s threatened species and unique environment through the Environment Restoration Fund. This includes supporting Clean4Shore to clean up local beaches and waterways, improving the health of Gosford Coastal Lagoons and improving water quality in the Tuggerah Lakes (building on the millions we have invested to date in Tuggerah Lakes improvements).
• Partnered with local community groups to deliver local environmental outcomes across the central coast with 27 projects under the Communities Environment Program.

The Risk of Labor

There is a clear choice at this election.

A choice between the Coalition Government that is delivering a strong economy for the Central Coast and a Labor Party that would weaken it.

A choice between responsible financial management that has delivered the biggest Budget turnaround in 70 years, and a Labor Party that can’t manage money.

A choice between an economic plan that will deliver lower taxes for Central Coast workers and businesses and lower unemployment, and Labor’s track record of higher unemployment, higher interest rates and higher taxes.

A choice between investing in Australia’s national security, defence and strong borders, and a Labor Party that cut Defence spending by $18 billion when last in power and would weaken Australia’s borders.

Labor has no economic plan for the Central Coast, or the rest of the country.

Labor leader Albanese has never held a financial portfolio, he’s never held a national security portfolio and he’s never delivered a budget.

Albanese would be too weak to stand up to the Greens and the unions. Labor’s team of union officials and political operatives just doesn’t get the economy.

Labor has a history of higher electricity prices.

Our energy plan has reduced household electricity prices by 10 per cent under the Morrison Government. Energy prices doubled when Labor was last in government.

Labor can’t resist higher taxes and the Central Coast will pay.

Labor leader Albanese has argued for higher taxes on retirees, housing, families and inheritances. He was also a strong supporter of the carbon tax.

In uncertain times, the Central Coast can’t risk Labor.

Cost

The Coalition’s Plan for the Central Coast includes funding for previously announced election commitments.

Funding for all other policies in the Coalition’s Plan for the Central Coast is already provided for within budget estimates.