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Why my party should get your vote: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull writes exclusively for the Mercury.
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At the recent Facebook Leaders’ debate a gentleman named Andrew, from Gilmore, expressed to me his concerns for the future.
The source of Andrew’s unease was the growing number of young people leaving regional communities for the greater job prospects of big cities.
This is a real concern. A concern that a re-elected Coalition Government is committed to addressing with our plan - our funded national economic plan - for vibrant regional centres and a strong economy.
Our national economic plan recognises the nature and the tenor of our times - both the opportunities and the challenges - and gives us the resilience we need to succeed.
A strong economy is not about economic theory.
We know that the economy is people - their lives, their futures, their security.
A strong economy is one where businesses are confident of the future and are prepared to take the risk of investing, expanding and hiring.
Our business tax cuts encourage small and medium businesses to do just that.
From 1 July our enterprise tax cut will help small and family businesses in the region with a turnover between $2 million and $10 million.
These businesses employ 11 per cent of private sectors employees across the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region in industries including tourism, steel production, textiles, mining and dairy farming.
We are backing them to the hilt. Our government’s Free Trade Agreements are opening export doors to businesses like Nowchem in Nowra, Milton Meats and the region’s oyster growers.
My government remains committed to helping those within the community who have long struggled to find steady employment and have not grown up with steadily employed role models.
Our PaTH program will help young people gain access to employment by providing skills training for up to 120,000 interns while maintaining the $200 fortnightly payment to job seekers on top of their income support.
Under our plan, participants will receive the skills to set them on the path for future job satisfaction and employers will receive incentives for participating in the scheme.
We are investing $20 million in a South Coast Jobs and Investment package to boost the local economy and help local businesses grow.
We’ve committed $2.5 million to expand the Moruya Airport.
We have also committed $358,000 for the building of the Jindelara Cottage in Ulladulla, which will house respite services for young people with disabilities and their families.
This is part of the Coalition’s broader commitment to support the most vulnerable within our community and complements the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which will create over 3000 jobs in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region.
I recently visited Gilmore with the local member, Ann Sudmalis, where we announced a major upgrade of Ulladulla Harbour, which will assist commercial and recreational fishers and create 18 new jobs.
I can assure you that the Coalition Government, my government, will support these critical initiatives to ensure that we deliver strong growth and more jobs so that we can continue to fund hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure projects in the region.
So a strong economy is not about academic theory. It's about people like Andrew from Gilmore being able to lead better lives, with more choices, better jobs and more opportunities.
The July 2 election presents a clear choice.
It's a choice between a chaotic Labor-Greens-independent alliance and a Coalition Government that is creating sustainable jobs and growth for the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region.