One billion dollars has been handed out for school maintenance by the state government, and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward hopes some of this will flow into the Yass Valley. 

“I am determined for Yass High School to see a share of that,” she said.

“The Murrumbateman School Proposal will be able to progress once we have new census data and the Cross Border Commissioner’s advice – we’re not there yet, but I’m working hard to make the case.”

Last year students and parents signed a petition for much-needed improvements to Yass High School that would include a new Hall, and proper classrooms instead of demountables.

Business will also benefit from the recent budget, with three business taxes dropped (mortgage duty, share transfer duty and non-real transfer duty), saving the sector $400 million a year.

Small business will receive a Jobs Action Plan incentive that will be targeted towards businesses with fewer than 50 employees, who will be offered a payroll tax rebate of $6000 for each extra staff member taken on.

Spending on specialist domestic violence services has doubled to $300 million over four years, including $53 million for the expansion of the Safer Pathway program to another 19 sites next year, and $43 million for housing support for women and children escaping domestic violence.

Ms Goward has encouraged residents and Yass Valley Council to contact her with project ideas and funding requests.

“Whenever the community comes to me with a proposal I work very hard with government to push it through,” she said. “We’ve done a lot so far but there’s always more to be done and my door is always open.”

The full budget can be seen online at: www.budget.nsw.gov.au.