Wed, 14th May 2008
Youth left sitting on the sideline at full time
The Hon Pat Farmer MP
Shadow Minister for Youth and Sport
Shadow Minister for Youth and Federal Member for Macarthur, Pat Farmer MP, said young voters will feel ripped off by Kevin Rudd as he failed to deliver in the Budget on key promises such as the environment, jobs, affordable housing and eduction, yet will line his pockets with over $3 billion in tax revenue from Ready-to-Drinks (RTD’s).
“It is no secret Kevin Rudd did very well with the youth vote last election, because a lot of young people believed what he was saying. After the Budget last night, no doubt young people will feel misled” said Mr Farmer.
“Kevin Rudd said this Budget was for working families – and it is evident that Kevin Rudd doesn’t think young people don’t meet his criteria of “working families”.
“Kevin Rudd has broken his pre-election promise to help young Australians reach their full potential. Despite all the rhetoric about ‘education revolutions’ and lifting productivity, the participation rate in the workforce is forecast by Treasury to fall - predicting 134,000 fewer people in jobs. This is a real slap in the face for our young people” said Mr Farmer.
"Despite going to the election talking up their support for Kyoto and combating climate change, Labor has reduced total spending on climate change by more than $21 million in their first two years in office. Not a single dollar has been set aside this coming year from their much-vaunted Renewable Energy Fund. Schools will be hit with an effective $20,000 cut for rainwater tank and solar hot water projects.
“The Government has abandoned the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, cutting $50 million from the program, despite talking about the need for action to help tackle climate change in China and India – two of the world’s biggest emitters” he said.
"And after spending $2 million trying to gather evidence to pursue an anti-whaling case in the International Court of Justice, there are now grave fears the Government is set to follow New Zealand and drop the proceedings - and this would be another broken promise on the part of the Rudd Government” said Mr Farmer.
Labor talked up creating a position of Minister for Youth, even though the Coalition already had a Minister – yet this seems to be more about a title than any clear action. Labor stated they will establish an Australian Office for Youth, but failed to provide one new dollar of funding to support this.
“Only $8 million has been allocated for Labor’s new Australian Youth Forum, however submissions on how the Forum will actually work are open until the end of May. With this small amount of money allocated, behind the scenes Labor must have already made up their minds on how the forum will work, and proves Labor are not genuinely interested in creating a strong voice for our young Australians” said Mr Farmer.
Labor knows the YouthLinx providers will engage 40,000 young people - double the number they are funded to support, yet not one single extra dollar has been provided to the 100 local services that are helping to build self-reliance, strengthen family relationships and encourage community involvement.
Kevin Rudd is abolishing the Protecting Australian Families Online package of internet safety and policing measures and re-branding it as a Cybersafety Plan with a reduction of $37.2 million over five years, including the removal of $2.8 million of Australian Federal Police funding to combat online child sex exploitation.
This is an appalling Budget for our young people. Kevin Rudd and Labor talk a lot – but when it comes to having to deliver real outcomes – young Australians will be giving Kevin Rudd a big ‘F’ for fail.