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Regional Australia Institute chief executive officer, Jack Archer, praised the investment in inland rail, suburban rail, and the regional grant fund.

Overall I think the government put its money where its mouth is for regional Australia. We’ve seen a really significant investment, particularly in regional rail,” Archer said.

Mental Health Australia chief executive officer, Frank Quinlan, welcomed the funding for veterans’ mental health, shutting down suicide hotspots, and the funding of telemedicine for those in the regions.

Quinlan also welcomed the $80m expenditure to close the gap on psychosocial support, which he said put the onus on state governments to bring their own resources.

In tonight’s budget, minister Greg Hunt, prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, and treasurer Scott Morrison are really going to help some people out in relation to their mental health issues. Most importantly they’re going to help out people who were missing out on services with the move to the national disability insurance scheme.

Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association’s Elise Wakey said measures to give a one-off energy assistance payment and return the pension concession card for victims of the 2017 age pension asset test change.

But she was highly critical of increases to the pension age.