Over 99% of businesses will be able to write off the full value of any eligible asset they purchase for their business.

This will be available for small, medium and larger businesses with a turnover of up to $5 billion until June 2022.

INVESTING IN SKILLS AND TRAINING

100,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships will be supported with a 50% wage subsidy for businesses who employ them.

This is in addition to the 180,000 existing apprenticeships and trainees that are being protected.

The new JobTrainer fund will create up to 340,000 free or low-cost training places for school leavers and job seekers. 50,000 new higher education short courses will be available, including in health, IT, agriculture, science and teaching.

New cadetships and apprenticeships are being provided for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Australian Government has invested $4.6 billion in the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative, to fund upgrades to key freight corridors to help connect regional businesses to local and international markets and better connect regional communities.

$5 million has been allocated to Lorne Road upgrade, Kew to Comboyne. The project is currently in a scoping phase with council performing a preliminary survey and concept designs.

Many regional Australians are experiencing the worst drought in living memory - some dealing with this stress for more than a decade.

Recent rainfall in many regional areas has resulted in the best start to a winter cropping season in a long time and the forecasts are for above average rainfall.

That said, the effect of the long dry spell is and will be felt for many months if not years to come.

We have seen great outcomes from the first three rounds of the BBRF and the Budget's announcement will build on that by funding critical local infrastructure projects throughout our community.