Budget leaves working people waiting

Date: 09 May 2000

ACTU President Sharan Burrow has accused the Federal Government of being unwilling or incapable of dealing with the issues of real concern to the Australian community following the release of the Howard Government's 5th Budget.

"This is not a Budget for the people, it's a Budget designed to prop up an unfair tax that no-one wants,' said Ms Burrow

"The disappointing thing about this Budget is that it acknowledges that many in the community are hurting but does little of substance to address their concerns.

"There is a lack of vision and leadership on the issues that ordinary Australians are concerned about - job opportunities and security, health, education, balancing work and family responsibilities and services to regional and remote communities."

Ms Burrow said that the Government's Family and Community initiatives would do little to relieve the pressure that working families were feeling.

For a low paid worker on $480 a week the tax cuts promised in the Budget amount to just $12.25 a week and will not even compensate for 6% inflation, tax bracket creep and interest rate rises.

"We are out in the community listening to working people and they are saying they are being stretched. People are worried about rising interest rates, GST price rises, and the constant struggle to balance the demands of work and family. This budget does little to relieve that pressure.

"The fact that this Government is spending $360 million advertising a GST that nobody wants, and can only find $240 million over 4 years to spend on families and communities speaks volumes about its priorities."

Ms Burrow described the Government's $2 billion apprenticeships pledge as old money that would do little to address critical skill shortages in traditional trades.

"This money was billed as the education budget but with only $63 million to be spent over 4 years - less than $1 per Australian per year - this is little more than a joke in an area that is in need of desperate attention.

"Australians must be asking themselves whether this is the best that this Government can do. If the answer is yes, that 'best' is not good enough."

For further information

Contact:	ACTU Media Office: Brenda Finlayson
Union:	ACTU
Phone:	0413 507 260
WWW:	http://www.actu.asn.au/

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