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The Albanese government has pledged thousands of dollars for a circus school, a Cyclone Tracy memorial, a military vehicle for Germany and another $10 million for regional Australia Day activities.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised to ease the cost of living, strengthen Medicare and build more housing when he approved Labour’s third budget on Tuesday.
“This government offers a tax cut for every taxpayer, growing wages in every industry, a better deal for every working parent, a fairer deal at every checkout,” he said.
“More opportunities at every TAFE and university, more homes in every state and territory, a decent retirement for older Australians.”
But missing from his speech was funding for a number of specialist organizations and initiatives, including a circus school and a defense aircraft called “Ghost Bat”.
Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at some of the unique aspects of the 2024-25 budget that went unnoticed on Tuesday night.
The government announced a $399 million investment in an unmanned aircraft system called the MQ-28A Ghost Bat (pictured)
The government has committed $117 million over four years to ensure arts organizations can continue to operate and grow. Among the beneficiaries is the Flying Fruit Circus (pictured)
ghost bat
In February, the federal government announced a $399 million investment in an unmanned aircraft system called the MQ-28A Ghost Bat.
The investment will allow Boeing Defense Australia to produce three new aircraft and deliver them to the Australian air force from 2025.
According to the budget documents, the design, development and production of the aircraft will generate more than 350 jobs at 200 local companies across the country.
Improved data on the Hornsby railway line
The funding will improve mobile and internet connectivity on the Hornsby to Wyong train line in northern Sydney.
Cheaper sweet potatoes
Labor will change the agricultural tax and levy on sweet potatoes, at the request of Australian Sweetpotato Growers Inc.
Starting July 1, the government will reduce the marketing component of the tax and charge from 1 percent of the sales value to zero.
This change will reduce the overall tax rate on sweet potatoes from 1.5 percent to 0.5 percent.
Flying fruit circus
The government has committed $117 million over four years to ensure arts organizations can continue to operate and grow.
These include financial support for NAISDA Dance College in Kariong on the New South Wales Central Coast, along with the Flying Fruit Circus in Albury on regional New South Wales.
According to the budget documents, funding for these organizations will “continue to provide a pipeline of essential artists and arts workers needed to safeguard Australia’s growing creative economy.”
Cyclone Tracy Memorial
Labor has pledged $600,000 towards the construction of a permanent memorial to mark 50 years since Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin on Christmas Day 1974.
The memorial will honor the 71 people who died and those whose lives were changed forever.
More than 80 percent of the city’s buildings were destroyed.
The Labor Party will change the agricultural tax and charge on sweet potatoes, at the request of Australian Sweetpotato Growers Inc. Sweet potatoes are pictured.
ABC’s ‘Heywire’ Contest
The Government has pledged $500,000 to support the ABC’s Heywire competition, which invites young regional, rural and remote Australians to submit written and digital stories about their experiences and ideas for change.
Winners are invited to participate in Heywire’s annual Regional Youth Summit, which gives participants the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel.
The ideas presented at the summit have been previously sent to universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Supply of armored vehicles to Germany
The Labor Party has signed an export deal to supply Australian-made armored vehicles to Germany.
Under that agreement, more than 100 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles would be built in Redbank, Queensland, and exported for use by the German military.
The deal is worth more than $1 billion to the economy and creates more than 600 jobs.
The government has pledged $500,000 to support the ABC’s Heywire competition. The ABC logo is shown in the photo.
Australia National Day Grants
The government has pledged $10 million to support Australia Day activities.
The funding includes a $4.5 million community events stream to support local councils in delivering community activities.
Regional and remote communities are targeted by the plan, as Australia Day events are typically held in capital cities.