This year’s Federal Budget—dubbed “the Budget the Albanese Government never wanted to deliver”—is a disappointing election-year pitch that falls drastically short of meeting the moment. As someone who has consistently raised the alarm about the cost-of-living crisis engulfing families in South West and Western Sydney, I can say plainly: this Budget does not deliver for my community.

Instead, it delivers a $42 billion deficit by 2025–26, rising prices, more pressure on small businesses, and only band-aid measures that fail to address the deep-rooted, grassroots issues facing everyday Australians.

Growing up in one of the most diverse and socioeconomically challenged electorates in the country, I know what it means to go without. So does my community. We are hardworking, resilient, and resourceful—but for too long, both major parties have ignored us.

Billions of dollars are flowing into already well-serviced areas. Yet South West Sydney continues to wait for the transformative infrastructure that could change lives—like the long-promised East-West Metro Line. Where is our fair share?

As an Independent, I am willing to work with any government to bring about positive change. But I am not willing to sit back while my community is once again overlooked.

Over the past three years, my team has handled over 7,000 cases supporting locals with everything from housing and visas to healthcare and debt relief. I’ve hosted cost-of-living forums to connect struggling families with help. This isn’t theory—it’s action. But we need the federal government to step up.

This Budget is not a vision for Australia’s future. It’s an election brochure, filled with headline announcements that do little for the people who need support the most.

Let me be clear: this deficit Budget takes the dollars stripped from us through rising taxes and inflation and offers us back a few cents—expecting us to be grateful. Our community deserves better.

Cost-of-Living Relief: Too Little, Too Late

Income Tax Cuts
The Budget includes modest income tax cuts, reducing the lowest rate from 16% to 14% by July 2027. But these cuts will barely be felt by the time they arrive, and bracket creep will eat away any real benefit. This was a chance for genuine reform, and the Government missed it.

I will continue to advocate for raising the income tax-free threshold, which would provide immediate and meaningful relief for low-income workers.

Energy Bill Relief – A Sugar Hit
The Government’s extension of the energy rebate—an additional $150 for households—is another short-term measure that fails to tackle the real drivers of soaring energy prices.

What’s worse, it’s not means-tested. A family in Fowler struggling to cover basic bills gets the same support as a wealthy household elsewhere. That’s not fair. We need targeted relief and a serious plan to ensure affordable, reliable energy for all.

Cheaper Medicines
Reducing the PBS co-payment from $31.60 to $25 is welcome, but for families in Fowler already choosing between rent, food, and prescriptions, it’s not enough. We need bolder steps to make healthcare truly accessible.

Medicare: Welcome Support, But We Need GPs on the Ground

The $8.5 billion expansion of bulk billing is a positive step and aligns with the advocacy I’ve brought to Parliament. But money alone won’t fix the crisis in primary care.

Fairfield and Liverpool—like other disadvantaged urban areas—struggle to attract and retain GPs. Bulk billing rates are the same as in affluent suburbs like Fairlight and Lane Cove. There’s no incentive to practise where the need is greatest.

Just as rural and remote areas receive extra support, I am calling for:

  • Higher Medicare rebates for GPs in socioeconomically disadvantaged suburbs
  • Cultural and linguistic recognition in service delivery
  • Real workforce planning to ensure this funding translates to care on the ground

Education: A Step Forward on HECS, But More Needed

After sustained pressure, the Government has announced a 20% reduction in HECS-HELP student debt. This is a win for students—but it’s not enough.

Many students in Fowler are still drowning in debt, while facing higher living costs than ever. Arts and humanities degrees remain unfairly expensive. I will hold the Government to its promise to review these policies—secured through my Private Member’s Bill.

Childcare: Positive Intent, But Watch the Delivery

Increased childcare subsidies are welcome, but the devil is in the detail. In Fowler, many working parents still struggle to access affordable, culturally appropriate care. Will these subsidies keep pace with rising fees? Will they reach the families who need them most?

Infrastructure: The Road Not Taken

The Budget has once again ignored the East-West Metro Link—a vital project that would connect Fowler to Parramatta and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. This is more than a train line—it’s a connection to jobs, training, and opportunity.

Every day, locals spend hours in traffic, paying unaffordable tolls and fuel costs just to get to work. We don’t need more reviews—we need real investment.

Apprenticeships: Not Ambitious Enough

The up to $5,000 Priority Hiring Incentive payment to employers of apprentices in priority occupations such as housing construction, is a good foundation but not nearly enough to attract, retain, and train young people in the trades we need.

In Fowler, our youth need clearer pathways, stronger support systems, and more investment in vocational education. One-size-fits-all solutions won’t cut it.

Final Word

This Budget was a chance to lift up struggling communities. Instead, it papers over the cracks.

Fowler deserves more than sugar hits, headlines, and hollow promises. We need long-term investment. We need fairness in funding. We need recognition that communities like ours are the future of this country.

I will continue to be a strong, independent voice for South West Sydney—because our voices matter, and we will not be left behind.