Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot has responded to this year’s budget by saying there is a trillion dollars in debt, no climate action and the risk of a second wasted decade. She also said flood-ravaged residents deserve better.
‘Nothing in this Budget makes up for a decade of attacks on wages, job security and Medicare. Scott Morrison’s Budget unfairly snubbed our flood-ravaged community after being devastated by floods and yet again we saw no action on climate change.
‘Its defining features are pay that won’t keep up with prices and almost nothing to show for a trillion dollars in debt – not even helping Australians in crisis.
‘It fails to help victims of recent flooding adequately, especially those on the NSW North Coast.
Stuck in the past
Mrs Elliot said that you’d think that after seeing the impact of floods and fires across the country, Scott Morrison would finally take action on climate change. But he and his Liberals and Nationals are stuck in the past.
‘It’s a ploy for an election, not a plan for a better future.
‘If this Budget weren’t ruined by rorts and weighed down by waste and mismanagement, there’d be more room to support families and pensioners, provide support to devastated regions, and invest in the future.
‘After ignoring the needs of our community, Scott Morrison is only pretending to care about the cost of living because he has to call an election in the next fortnight, and he’s running out of time.
Australian families already out of pocket
‘Even these billions of dollars sprayed around on the eve of an election won’t go near topping-up the $3,600 typical Australian families are already out of pocket because of skyrocketing costs of living, and won’t help our country prepare for natural disasters like the ones we have just experienced.
Mrs Elliot said this is the second-highest taxing government in three decades who will collect an extra $5,275 for every Australian compared with the last Labor Government.
‘There’s a cash splash before the election for marginal seats and at least $3 billion in secret cuts after – and the Government must come clean about the cuts buried in the Budget papers.
‘If the Government is defeated in May, its parting gift to Australians will be leaving flood victims out in the cold, an increase in petrol prices in September, pay not keeping up with prices, a trillion dollars in debt, rising interest rates, and a decade of climate inaction.
Another three years?
Mrs Elliot said that Scott Morrison is asking Australians for another three years but he hasn’t made any meaningful steps to address the aged care crisis and hasn’t funded a National Anti-Corruption Commission.
‘Three more years of the same Treasurer who has abandoned millions of dollars he promised for carparks in his own electorate, let the Emergency Response Fund sit idle, paid tens of billions to companies that didn’t need it, and mismanaged the books of the most wasteful government since Federation.
‘North Coast residents are still furious at the government’s mismanagement of the flood crisis, and the lack of support provided to our community. Locals had to fight to be treated equally and fairly by Scott Morrison – and even then, the support provided was nowhere near enough.
Inadequate support for our area
‘Now it’s there in black and white in the Budget papers – a confirmation of inadequate support for our area and no action on climate change.
Mrs Elliot said the Prime Minister will do and say anything before an election – but even his own Ministers don’t trust him to deliver what he promises. ‘Locals on the North Coast know this all too well.
‘After all the challenges and sacrifices made during the pandemic, floods and bushfires, Australians need and deserve a better Budget for a better future, but they just didn’t get it from Scott Morrison and the Liberals and Nationals.
Ease the costs of living
‘An Albanese Labor Government has real policies to ease the costs of living, strengthen Medicare, take real action on climate change, deliver cleaner and cheaper energy, a better NBN, cheaper access to child care, fee-free TAFE to tackle the skills crisis, and a Future Made in Australia.
Mrs Elliots said Anthony Albanese is a friend of the North Coast and only an Albanese Labor Government will support our region as we recover and rebuild.
‘At this federal election, I’m asking for your vote so that Labor can form government and bring in the positive change our country so deservedly needs.’
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