He said while no major new projects were announced specifically for the Wauchope area, the over $1-billion worth of infrastructure projects would have a huge flow-on impact.

Work on the Pacific Highway upgrade, for instance, was creating almost 1000 construction jobs and 2900 indirect jobs and would continue to do so for years to come.

Small business would significantly benefit through a suite of measures designed to make the sector more competitive and create more jobs.

“From July 1 this year, the tax rate for small business will be reduced to 28.5 per cent and as of budget night, small businesses with a turnover below $2 million will be able to claim a tax deduction for every asset they acquire that is valued up to $20,000 for tax purposes until 30 June, 2017,” Dr Gillespie said.

The $20,000 tax deduction is effective immediately, so businesses can claim it this financial year, which should result in immediate increased demand for businessrelated goods.

There were also additional subsidies to encourage employers to take on young people and mature-age workers, which should boost employment. Further reform should make childcare much simpler, more affordable, more flexible and more accessible for families, he said.

Pensions - which last year were linked to the CPI instead of average male weekly earnings - would now be linked to whichever was the higher.

Local communities would also benefit from a new Stronger Communities Program to help fund small capital projects in local communities.

“In the case of our electorate, we will be receiving $150,000 a year over the next two years to support projects put forward by local community-based organisations,” Dr Gillespie said. “Projects can receive between $1000 and $20,000.”

Spending in aged care was also up and had increased from $90 million to over $100 million a year in the electorate over the past 22 months.

The doubling of Road to Recovery funding to local councils would mean more money being spent on road maintenance, which in turn would help generate more jobs.

PORT Macquarie Country Labor president Mark Hughes said although he welcomed some of the initiatives that would benefit many local Wauchope small businesses, many more local families would be negatively impacted.

“Families are set to suffer with the Child’s Dental Benefits budget slashed, increases to Medicare costs, domestic violence funding slashed and 46 per cent of mums will be kicked off paid parental leave,” he said.

“With high youth unemployment, young people are also set to suffer having to wait at least a month before accessing Centrelink payments, with the age raised to 24, impacting more people than before.

“The superannuation gap is set to widen again, with higher income families having the greatest benefits, while lower income families and single mothers will suffer the most. Twice now the Abbott government has frozen promised superannuation increases, impacting the retirement savings of working people in our region and nationally.”

THE budget won praise from the Wauchope Chamber of Commerce.

President Rob Hamilton said he thought some of the budget measures designed to aid the small business sector and create more jobs were great for small business.

“Expanding the asset depreciation limit from $1000 to $20,000 per item for the next two years should encourage investment in new equipment,” Mr Hamilton said.

“Tax cuts for companies under $2m turnover to 28.5 per cent and a five per cent discount to unincorporated businesses should free up some extra cash.

The Fringe Benefits Tax exemption for work-related portable electronic devices may be beneficial to those local businesses having a mobile workforce.

“The flexible wage subsidies have the potential to encourage businesses to take on additional employees. All in all probably not too bad and great for small business.

“We look forward to local businesses reaping the benefits.”

MID North Coast NSW Business Chamber regional manager Kellon Beard also described the budget as “a much needed boost for small business”.

“Of particular benefit to small businesses with an annual turnover of under $2 million will be the cut in company tax rate by 1.5 per cent, and a tax discount of 5 per cent (up to $1000) to small unincorporated businesses,” he said.

“This may allow the small business owner to employ that extra apprentice, or extend the hours of a current employee.

“These measures will be particularly well received in regional areas such as Mid North Coast where unemployment is at its highest and job opportunities are limited.

“For the next two years, small businesses are able to immediately deduct the cost of individual assets under $20,000, which will allow business owners to spend much needed capital on their businesses, driving innovation and injecting funds into the economy.

This also has the added bonus of reducing red tape as tracking assets across years was an unnecessary burden on business owners.

“Other measures, including the streamlining of business registration processes, easier access to crowd-sourced equity funding and the deduction of professional expenses incurred at start-up, are aimed at making it easier for people to take the jump into starting their own small business.”