CRITICISM of the Abbott government’s first budget shows no sign of abating, two weeks after controversial cost-cutting measures were unveiled by Treasurer Joe Hockey.
Organisations such as the Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) fear the most disadvantaged people in society – the young, the unemployed, the disabled – will be hardest hit by some of the public services cuts (‘Battlers bear budget burden’, The News, 21/5/14) and even some fellow Liberal Party politicians reckon the federal government has gone too far with proposed health and education funding cuts.
Carrum Liberal MP Donna Bauer has joined Premier Denis Napthine in setting party unity aside to criticise federal funding cuts that could force states to somehow find funds to ensure spending commitments are met.
“The state government will send a clear message to Canberra of the impacts their cuts will have on local families,” Mrs Bauer said.
State premiers are unhappy with an $80 billion federal budget cut to schools and hospitals funding, arguing the Abbott government is trying to “force” them to argue for a Goods and Services Tax (GST) rise.
Mrs Bauer said she was “proud” of the state government’s $88 million investment in Frankston Hospital and said the federal government should be supporting this, rather than “undermining” the state government with federal budget cuts.
The decision by the federal government not to match the previous Labor federal government’s Better Schools – known as Gonski – funding beyond 2017 has also caused widespread discontent among state governments who signed up for Better Schools funding agreements before last year’s federal election.
Mrs Bauer said Carrum electorate schools such as Belvedere Park Primary School, Kananook Primary, Bonbeach and Patterson River Secondary College had recently been allocated millions of dollars in state funding for redevelopments and refurbishments in last month’s state budget.
“The state government is not investing in our schools just so the federal government can take it away with their budget cuts,” Mrs Bauer said.
“As the member for Carrum I will always fight for my constituents to ensure that our schools and hospitals receive a fair share of state government investment.”
Fellow Liberal MP, Lorraine Wreford, the member for Mordialloc, said: “The Premier summed it up perfectly when he said ‘Victoria is extremely concerned about the reduced funding for education and health’ and ‘[We] will fight for the best outcome for Victoria… We want our fair share of the funding.’”
Federal Labor MP for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus condemned the Abbott government’s budget: “Tony Abbott’s first budget has failed Australians and will hurt local families, pensioners and young people.”
He slammed the move to cut family payments, pensions and restrict access to Newstart for people aged under 30. He also noted it would cost Kingston residents more to visit the doctor after the introduction of the $7 GP tax.
“This budget will significantly increase the cost of living for Victorian families,” Mr Dreyfus said. “They should not have to pay for Tony Abbott’s lies.”
