Working families worse off after Budget: ACTU

Working families will be forced to pay more as a result of the Federal Budget despite a revenue windfall of $4 billion, the ACTU says.

Working families worse off after Budget: ACTU15 May 2002Working families will be forced to pay more as a result of the Federal Budget despite a revenue windfall of $4 billion, the ACTU says. 'Over the next four years John Howard will spend $2 billion dollars on what he calls protecting Australia's borders and upgrading domestic security. Who will pay? Working families, the sick, the disabled and the unemployed,' said ACTU President Sharan Burrow. '$1.3 billion in cuts to the PBS mean rises in prescription medicine by $6.20 a script. This will immediately eat into last week's $18 Living Wage pay rise for low income families,' Ms Burrow said. Other cuts which represent the meanness of this government include:$500 million cut to welfare $400 million cut to disability pensions $60 million cut to unemployment assistance declining investment in education with additional subsidies for employers while 50,000 young people go without a funded tertiary place.'By comparison, John Howard's wealthy 'battlers' earning more than $85,000 a year are not only protected from contributing to border protection but receive disguised tax cuts worth $370 million in reduced superannuation surcharge payments. 'Those least able to pay will take the pain of Costello's supposedly visionary statement while Howard's wealthy ?battlers? will reap the rewards. The Treasurer's economic credentials are in tatters with a deficit of $1.2 billion despite a revenue windfall of $4 billion,' Ms Burrow said.

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