The Coalition this week released an unprecedented series of ambitious election promises. These fully funded plans will address a plethora of environmental, public health, social equity, and infrastructural deficits and challenges confronting our nation. The party promises to be bolder than that on all three fronts. They promise to make 20 subsidized mental health sessions per year permanent, provide small business tax deductions in Opportunity Zones, and create a major fund to expedite housing infrastructure projects. The Coalition has accused Labor of taking their policy and have quickly announced they will restrict foreign investments in property. They plan to restrict gambling marketing to build a calmer, fairer society for Australians.
Mental Health and Business Support
Here’s how The Coalition is taking a brave stand for mental health fundamentalists. They commit to increasing the number of subsidised sessions from the current 10 per year up to 20 per year for those with a mental health care plan. This move from the government shows their dedication to improving mental health and access to services crucial for all Australians.
At the same time, small businesses would greatly benefit from a proposed tax deduction scheme. Additionally, the Coalition has promised to provide businesses tax deductions worth up to $20,000 for meal expenses incurred while conducting business. This new plan will go a long way in reducing financial burdens on small businesses. The intent behind it is to promote development and spur economic investment in the industry.
Housing Market and Energy Costs
The Coalition hopes to address issues in the housing market and increasing energy costs. They intend to ban foreign investors and temporary residents from purchasing existing homes, through a two year emergency temporary measure. This policy will be in place for at least the first two years. It hopes to lower wholesale gas prices from $14 to less than $10 before the end of the year. That expected drop in gas prices will save the average American about $14 on their weekly fill-up.
The Coalition will support Labor’s legislation to ban foreign property investments. Today’s action is a powerful bipartisan statement protecting local residents’ access to affordable housing in their communities. The cost of this initiative is estimated at under $250 million and is expected to improve overall housing market stability.
Infrastructure Development and Workforce Training
The Coalition pledges to create a $5 billion Infrastructure Bank. At the same time, this fund will speed important infrastructure projects, such as water supply, power distribution and sewage disposal, both on and off the participating housing development sites. The fund will be used to unblock up to half a million new homes, helping close critical housing shortages while accommodating a booming population.
The Coalition intends to focus these new investments on building and repairing infrastructure and expanding workforce development training. They’ll do this by doubling incentive payments for housing construction-related apprenticeships to $10,000. This pilot project aims to bring more people into the construction sector, helping meet growing employment and residential needs.
Regulatory Changes and Education
The Coalition’s plan would restore the defunct Australian Building and Construction Commission, a hard line industrial relations body that the Coalition had previously abolished in 2023. This is one of several steps in a wider plan to roll back most of Labor’s industrial relations agenda if they are elected.
The Coalition is continuing to address these salient educational concerns. They intend to increase the cost of student visas beyond the current fee of $1,600 and introduce harsher caps on international students. This policy is a clear indication of a government working to both balance the provision of educational opportunity and quality assurance across and within Australia’s education system.
Health Services and Environmental Policy
In health services, the Coalition plans to expand the network of endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics from 22 to 33 nationwide. By improving access to healthcare services, this expansion will improve health outcomes for women who have experienced these traumas.
In the environmental policy space, the Coalition’s commitment is most clear by its plan to defund the Environmental Defenders Office. This decision has turned into a political lightning rod, representing two sides of the ideological aisle on environmental stewardship and regulatory roll-back.
Sports Advertising Regulations
In efforts to regulate advertising practices, the Coalition has pledged to ban gambling advertisements one hour before, during, and after live sports broadcasts on television and streaming services. This policy would help reduce the adverse impact of gambling advertisement on all TV viewers, especially younger, more impressionable audiences, during every major sporting event.
