What the budget has in store
- jimchalmers
- May 9, 2014
- 2 min read
First published in the Logan Reporter on May 9, 2014
Many of you have contacted me recently with concerns about this Tuesday’s federal budget and what it will mean for local families. After the release of the Commission of Audit report a couple of weeks ago, we have a better idea of what the Abbott Government’s first budget has in store.
Among the Commission of Audit recommendations are plans to cut the pension, slash the minimum wage and increase the cost of university for students. This is on top of the previously-leaked plans to charge families an extra tax on GP visits and to hike up the income tax rate.
I’ve spoken to many locals who have told me that they can’t afford these nasty cuts and extra charges.
The Audit Report’s $15 GP co-payment would cost local families in Rankin nearly $16 million per year, and that’s just one of the commission’s recommendations.
At the same time as this Coalition Government is imposing service cuts and extra charges on average Australians, they have re-introduced superannuation tax breaks for Australia’s wealthiest and will pay high-income workers up to $50,000 to have a baby. This just highlights the Government’s twisted priorities for the budget.
Before the election, Tony Abbott promised “tax cuts without new taxes” and “no changes to pensions”. Unfortunately, it seems that this Government is going to break both of these promises within its first year in office.
We will find out on Tuesday which of the report’s recommendations make it into the Federal Budget. Whatever the outcome, I will be standing up on behalf of our community against Mr Abbott’s twisted budget priorities.
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