Regions short-changed in Federal Budget, says independent candidate for Forrest Sue Chapman

The latest Federal Budget has been slammed in the South West, with Federal election hopefuls talking down the document released on Tuesday night.

Independent candidate for Forrest Sue Chapman said the regions have been left short-changed, labelling the Budget “nothing more than a pre-election sweetener” from the Labor Government.

The Budget — which was largely built on modest tax cuts, the extension of electricity bill rebates and a boost to bulk-billing incentives — was described by Dr Chapman as little more than a sugar hit.

Dr Chapman said the tax cuts set to be introduced in July 2026 and the energy rebates stating in July this year wouldn’t help the people who are feeling the cost-of-living pressures right now.

“The people who are struggling most in our communities need financial support now,” she told the Times.

Dr Chapman said creating subsidised batteries for households and businesses to store solar power would be a better long-term solution to bring down energy costs.

However, the South West based urological surgeon welcomed the healthcare funding and initiatives outlined in the Budget — such as the investments in women’s health and the inclusion of new medicines onto the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

But, she questioned how effectively they would be delivered to regional and rural communities.

Dr Chapman also was sceptical about the Government’s pledge to commit $8.5 billion in funding towards Medicare which would triple bulk-billing incentives.

“Pumping $8b into Medicare to ensure bulk billing sounds very impressive,” she said.

“In reality, it incentivises six-minute consultations which are not practical to addressing the complex healthcare needs and writing of mental health plans that form so much of the work in our regional practices.”

Dr Chapman said her biggest dissatisfaction with the Federal Budget was the absence of meaningful investment in regional housing.

“The number one challenge facing South West communities right now is housing — a lack of affordable homes to buy and rent, and too many short-term rentals sitting vacant while local people live in their cars,” she said.

“The Budget had some measures to ease cost-of-living pressure, but overwhelmingly it is mortgages and rents that are weighing people down the most right now.

“I want to see more direct investment to increase housing supply in regional areas where homes are needed and reforms to bring short-term rentals back into the long-term rental market.”

Liberal candidate for Forrest Ben Small said the Federal Budget “does nothing to support local families struggling with cost-of-living pressures”.

“In fact, the Albanese Government will increase migration by 1.8 million (people) over four years without a proper plan for new housing,” he said.

“There is nothing in it to support the South West, help address our local housing shortages or invest in critical infrastructure.”

Mr Small said Labor was “adopting small parts of the Liberal housing policy” by banning overseas citizens from buying existing houses in Australia for two years, but said it was “just putting a band-aid over a bullet hole”.

“In the latest sign that Albanese is walking away from WA, our State will receive just 2 per cent of the road and rail funding in Labor’s Budget — the least of any mainland State, despite the critical role WA plays in supporting our national economy.”