Independent Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has released her Indi Budget Submission ahead of the budget to be handed down next Tuesday.

The key themes of Dr Haines’ submission reflect the widespread concerns and policy priorities for Indi including regional housing supply; cost-of-living support; health; early education and care; climate change and energy; regional development; and integrity.

A multipurpose integrated family and community centre in Corryong is included in the submission. “The size of the asks underscores the importance of dedicated funding for regional and rural Australia,” Dr Haines said.

“My budget submission makes recommendations for measures that address needs across Indi.”

“Central to this submission are responses that will address the housing supply and affordability crisis, with councils identifying the lack of funds to build basic infrastructure a challenge to unlocking private investment in new builds.”

Dr Haines’ submission also includes measures to reduce cost-of-living pressures on households and small business and support regional Australia, such as:

• A $2 billion Regional Housing Infrastructure Fund over four years in regional Australia to unlock investment in new houses;
• Support for house-holds to electrify through zero-interest loans;
• Reintroduction of the Small Business Energy Incentive for an additional three years;
• A dedicated regional health infrastructure fund;
• An extension of the Renewable Heat Industrialisation Program to support manufacturing.

Haines backs new hospital

Increased funding for regional internet and mobile phone blackspots, community nodes, tower backups and cells on wheels is also high on the list.

Dr Haines also urged the government to make a significant contribution towards funding a greenfield, single site hospital on the border, noting the current state funding does not achieve recommendations detailed in the 2021 Clinical Services Plan.

“The inequity that persists in health across rural Australia is unacceptable and we know that as the population on our border grows, demand on the health service will only increase,” she said.

“We need planning and action towards meeting this demand to happen now.”

Dr Haines submission lists priorities for each of Indi’s nine local governments as well as regional development, alpine, water, health and tourism projects.

“A multipurpose integrated family and community centre in Corryong will deliver community, library, maternal child health care, and childcare services,” she said.

This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 20 March 2025.