Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie has given a B Grade to the federal budget handed down this week.

“While I'm pleased the budget shows a clear focus on climate, cost of living and affordable housing, it is concerningly light on detail and lacking in regional investment,” she says.

“Expenditure on education, aged care and health is welcomed, however I'm disappointed that funding for mental health and suicide prevention programs has fallen short.

“A great deal of funding has been set aside for reviews, reports and policy development, but I would have preferred these significant funds to have been spent on the delivery of actual programs or even going toward much needed budget repairs.”

The headline issues in the budget include a target of one million new affordable homes over the next five years, in partnership with states and territories.

A Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee aims to assist with homeownership in regional areas.

There will be an increase in childcare subsidies and in paid parental leave. 

Older Australians will benefit from a relaxation of rules around pension asset testing and income limits on pensions, as well as an increase in the income threshold for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

There will be half a million fee-free TAFE and community-based vocational education places and additional university places across in areas of skills shortage, with specific eligibility requirements including residing in rural and remote areas.

The federal government has reconfirmed the commitment to recover the 450 gigalitres of additional environmental water under the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

A Powering the Regions Fund will provide support to transition regional industries to net zero carbon emissions.

The budget commits funds to advance regional telecommunications and extend full-fibre access to over 660 000 premises in regional Australia.

It will restore $83.7 million in funding to the ABC.

Local South Australian roads will receive supplementary funding of $20 million.

There is increased funding for biosecurity and sustainability in agriculture.

An Aged Care Complaints Commissioner will be appointed and the Maggie Beer Foundation will receive funding to support the sector in providing better food for residential aged care and home care recipients.