Tue, 13th May 2008

Nelson Doorstop - Budget 2008

The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP
Leader of the Opposition

E&OE

DR NELSON:

This is a typical Labor high taxing, high spending Budget which targets people that it doesn’t like.

This is a Budget which is budgeting for 134,000 Australians to lose their jobs over the next 12 months.

It’s a Budget which does nothing for Australian families as far as groceries, of putting petrol in their car or keeping their homes.

Every Australian over the next year and every day of the next year needs to ask themselves: is this Budget going to make it easier for me to keep my house, to pay my mortgage, to put petrol in my car and to buy groceries and feed and clothe my children?

As far as inflation is concerned, this is not an anti-inflationary Budget. With $19 billion in increased taxes over the next five years – taxes on alcohol, taxes on cars and a myriad of other things – our economic analysis is that 0.4 per cent will be added to the Consumer Price Index.

It’s very important that Australians understand that for all of the talk we’ve had from Mr Swan, who’s obviously struggling in his job as the Treasurer of Australia, what we’ve had delivered tonight is a Budget which proposes to increase expenditure by $34 billion over the next five years, to cut expenditure by $16 billion and to jack up taxes by $19 billion. In other words, as far as the so-called fight against inflation, what we’re seeing over the next five years is the Rudd/Swan Government proposing to spend more money, not less. The $22 billion surplus which was delivered by the good economic management of the previous Government is money that belongs to Australian tax payers and this is not a Budget that will make it easier to buy food, put petrol in your car or keep your home.

QUESTION:

Will you be opposing any of these tax increases in the Senate while you still control the numbers until July one?

DR NELSON:

There are a number of measures that we are particularly concerned about.

For example, we’re told that the tax on ready-to-drinks will reduce consumption because we are told that these are the products of abuse. The Government in its Budget papers is proposing to raise $3 billion from Australians as a result of that tax.

We’re looking at that, and I also say to the carers of Australia, just have a close look at the fine print. Just have a look at the fine print if you’re a carer. The lump sum carers bonus will be paid this year and this year only.

Mr Rudd said that Australian carers would receive that lump sum payment each year for the next four years. It seems we have a Prime Minister who is the quiet deceiver and a Treasurer who simply doesn’t know what he’s doing with the Australian economy.

QUESTION:

What do you think about the investment in water infrastructure? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of breakdown in how water savings can be made?

DR NELSON:

Well we’ll be looking at the fine print of the Budget as far as water and a number of things are concerned. But Mr Rudd and Mr Swan don’t seem to know much about regional and rural Australia and even less about water. We’ll be looking at it.

QUESTION:

Mr Nelson, overwhelmingly you will pass, you will support most of this Budget, is that right?

DR NELSON:

Well we will examine the Budget in detail. As is custom of course the Budget bills will need to be passed by the Australian Parliament. But there are a number of measures in this Budget which hit Australian families, jack up taxes, increase spending and actually increase inflation. You are the men and women who are responsible for keeping governments honest, apart from the Opposition. Just have a look at the fine print in the Budget and think back on what Mr Rudd and Mr Swan have been saying for the last five months.

Thanks very much.