Labor candidate for the federal seat of Calare Dr Jess Jennings hit back at what he called a "rubbery budget" with severe underspending on the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme).
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He said regional communities would suffer most if disability services were not properly supported.
Following Bill Shorten's budget reply speech, Dr Jennings said a Labor government would benefit Calare by putting back "every single dollar that the Liberals have cut from public schools and public hospitals".
There would also be an extra $2.3 billion put into the Medicare Cancer Plan, including investing $600 million towards eliminating all out-of-pocket costs for life-saving scans, providing three million free consultations with oncologists and surgeons for cancer patients and guaranteeing that every drug recommended by independent experts will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
"This election is a referendum on wages, health and education," Dr Jennings said.
"We'll stand up for workers, invest in cleaner, cheaper energy, and build a strong economy."
Calare MP Andrew Gee said Dr Jennings "should be ashamed of himself for trying to play politics with the NDIS".
"It can only be a sign of his political desperation, because we are fully committed to the NDIS - it's fully funded and the budget increases it significantly every year," he said.
"This last year the NDIS spend was $13.4 billion, next year it goes up to almost $18 billion (a $4.5 billion increase) and then in 2020-21 it rises again to $22.2 billion.
"Not one cent will be cut from NDIS plans as a result of this budget."
