Most back the package, but farmer has his reservations

Written by HARVEY DIKE. (Wangaratta Chronicle - 6 Feb 09)

THE Federal Government’s stimulus package received almost unanimous support from five Wangaratta people, although some reservations were expressed.

Builder Stephen Brown from Brownles Nominees believes the package will help out in difficult times, but it was too early to say how much spin off from the extra housing and education funding would find its way here.

"Business is slow now, so this can only help," Mr Brown said.

"It should help keep unemployment low, and builders who may have been frightened to take on apprentices will now feel able to do so.

"So yes, this is a good move."

Mum Megan Barlow (1), whose young daughter attends Wangaratta Primary School, thinks the $950 to be paid for each school aged child in a low and middle income family will be of real assistance.

"People will need to budget carefully to make the most of it," Ms Barlow said, “but everyone always needs something for the house, a car fixed, or school expenses.

"The money is coming at a good time, as people are starting to struggle with finances, especially those on Centrelink benefits."

Small businessman Rick Wason (3) from Ray Wason Motorcycles said the success of the package will depend on whether the recipients spend it, and how they spend it.

"Things have been slow for the last 12 months due to the drought and the economic slowdown, so if people decide to pay off their credit cards or spend the grants on necessities, the benefits will be limited," he said.

"I haven’t yet looked at the tax breaks that the package is supposed to give to small business, and even though the package offers a glimmer of opportunity, I believe a revision of the tax system would be better."

Glenrowan Primary School principal, Colin Robson (2), supported the package’s building grant to every school in Australia.

"Many schools have antiquated buildings, and Glenrowan is currently making a submission for the entire school to be replaced," he said.

"I’m not sure at this stage what impact, if any, the stimulus package will have on our submission."

Bungeet farmer Doug James is not sure yet if the $950 being offered to each farmer in a drought area will be coming his way.

"The government’s definition of a drought area will decide that, but it’s a token amount which in reality only represents the cost of a couple of days’ stock feeding," Mr James said.

"I have to say that I’m nervous about where the whole $42 billion is coming from, and how it is going to be paid back.

"At best it’s not well targeted, it could well be wasted, and there were other more responsible, pro active ways the government could have boosted the economy."