Wed, 7th May 2008
Working families to welfare families under Labor
Dr Andrew Southcott MP
Shadow Minister for Employment Participation and Apprenticeships and Training
Newspaper reports today of Treasury’s assessment on the likely impact of Labor’s industrial relations agenda provides further evidence that Labor are poorly qualified to manage the Australian economy and are not serious about managing inflation and its effects on working families.
“My biggest concern is that these changes will increase the number of unemployed Australians, and make it more difficult for people to make the transition from welfare to work”, Opposition Spokesman for Employment Participation, Andrew Southcott said.
“Treasury’s advice makes it clear that job losses and higher inflation are likely consequences of Labor’s changes. Ironically, those most at risk from Labor’s Industrial Relations reforms are the so-called ‘working families’- the same working families who are struggling more than ever to pay for groceries, petrol and their mortgages”.
Kevin Rudd has previously lauded the commitment of the Treasury in providing advice aimed at maintaining the economic well-being of Australia, stating
“The commonwealth Treasury is no ordinary agency of state. As a former commonwealth public servant, I know from experience that the Treasury is staffed with the most competent policy elite that can be attracted to the Australian Public Service. They are part of a tradition that sees their role as the continuing custodians of the nation’s long-term economic wellbeing, providing robust advice to the government of the day, irrespective of the political complexion of that government” (The Australian, 5 April, 2007).
For Wayne Swan to disregard the advice from Treasury on the impact of Labor’s industrial relations changes with such scant regard defies belief. Such a display of stubborn arrogance may well be why only 29% of Australians believe he is the best person to manage Australia’s $1.1 trillion economy.
Labor must come clean, and admit to the Australian people that their fight against inflation is destined to fail, because it is their own policies which will drive up inflation.I call on Labor to immediately release the advice from Treasury on the impact their current policies will have on unemployment, inflation and future economic growth.