Mrs WICKS (Robertson) (15:51): I'm pleased to rise to address this MPI on the 2018 budget, because it's a budget which shows how this government is delivering on our plan for a stronger economy to create jobs and guarantee essential services that we all rely on. There's already been a very positive response to the Treasurer's speech last night. Our local paper, the Central Coast Express Advocate, has the headline 'Oldies, low-mid income earners winners in federal budget' for our region. This is true, but it's only part of the story. In summary and for the benefit of those members opposite, here's how our plan is building a stronger economy. First, we're delivering lower, fairer and simpler taxes. Second, we're backing businesses to invest and create more jobs, especially small and medium businesses. Third, the budget is guaranteeing the essential services that we all rely on, like schools, hospitals and Medicare, and supporting older Australians. Fourth, we're keeping Australians safe, including safeguarding our borders. And, fifth, we're ensuring that the government lives within its means, with a forecast return to a modest budget surplus in 2019-20 and a projected surplus of $11 billion in 2020-21. This is something that members opposite did not achieve during their time in government. These are signs of a strong budget—a surplus, something that members opposite did not achieve during their time in government. These are signs of a strong budget, which I've already been talking about with my community across the Central Coast. Importantly, almost 60,000 taxpayers in the Robertson electorate will receive a new offset of up to $530 a year to help reduce cost pressures on household budgets. Opposition members interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Hogan ): Members will be quiet. Mrs WICKS: What this means, for example, for a shop assistant on $45,000 working at a local store is that they will have an extra $440 in their pocket from the budget year onwards, with an extra $3,380 in their pocket over the first seven years of the tax plan as the tax relief increases. Local residents across the coast are already starting to respond to the budget news. Selwyn from North Gosford said to me, 'It took a while, but it was worth the result.' Trish from Umina Beach and Fred from Woy Woy both wrote to thank the government for our support for older Australians. Mr Keogh: Did they? Mrs WICKS: They did, and many others besides. As well as guaranteed record funding for Medicare and hospitals, the government will boost financial security for older people on the Central Coast and across Australia, helping those who want to be able to work longer and giving them more choice in their care. We'll also protect people from Labor's unfair retirement tax. Elizabeth at Gosford welcomed the tax changes and said it gave flexibility to individuals and families. But it was Patricia who said it pretty well. She said: 'I appreciate a government which is focused on a good healthy growing economy by not putting us in more debt and working towards reducing our debt.' Patricia said, quite rightly: 'People seem to forget when we have a Labor government—they enjoy all the things offered but with no thought to the consequences of overspending. One can't run a successful household or business budget by spending more than one has and not planning for the future.' Finally, we've heard from businesses and their representatives, such as Rod Dever, President of the Gosford/Erina and Coastal Chamber of Commerce. Rod said today that the chamber is supportive of the budget and many of the financial opportunities it presents for the taxpayers and businesses alike in our region. One of the opportunities presented is the $20,000 instant asset write-off, which is continuing for another year to help small business invest in new equipment. Well over 1,000 local businesses in my electorate of Robertson have already benefited from this popular measure. The budget also builds on our significant previous infrastructure investment on the Central Coast, which includes $10 million to help deliver Gosford's long-awaited world-class Regional Performing Arts and Conference Centre. The council has recently confirmed that the former Broadwater Hotel on Mann Street is the preferred site. This is great news. Together with funding from the New South Wales government and council and the support of our arts community, it will be a fantastic cultural venue, of which we can all be proud. We're also delivering $7 million towards a new regional library and learning and development centre in Gosford, and a landmark Central Coast Medical School and Health and Medical Research Institute—an $85 million project with the New South Wales government and the University of Newcastle. The Somersby industrial estate, Banjo's Skate Park and the Terrigal Trojans clubhouse were all confirmed in the budget, along with roads funding for the Central Coast Council through the Roads to Recovery program and our election commitments, including the upgrade of Oceano Street at Copacabana. We are on track with our commitment to continuous mobile coverage on trains and a New South Wales business case to investigate faster rail for commuters, and I will have more to say about this exciting project soon. (Time expired)