Australia needs services before tax cuts

[Willis, Katrina (Sen B. Brown)]

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MEDIA RELEASE

5.5.05

Australia needs services before tax cuts

Australia is in desperate need of spending on social services and the
environment and this should be the priority for any Budget surplus,
Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle said today.

"Reports that the government is planning a major change to the tax
thresholds in next week's Budget are alarming," Senator Nettle said.

"The Coalition seems determined to squander a large surplus in an
attempt to buy its way back into government at the next election instead
of investing the money where it is needed most - on education, health,
social welfare and protecting the environment:

			*	Public schools and universities are
crying out for funds; 
			*	The government has just closed down
vital research work for the                               environment
because it is not sufficiently business focused; 
			*	Salinity, river health and global
warming need addressing; 
			*	Our health care system is under enormous
strain;
			*	Childcare is unavailable or
unaffordable;
			*	Hundreds of thousands of Australians are
in housing stress; and 
			*	Indigenous Australians continue to
experience shameful living conditions and life expectancy almost 25
years lower than other Australians.

"ACOSS today identified urgent spending to the value of $4.7 billion on
basic services such as health, education, housing and childcare, and
easing poverty traps.

"Australians will not be fooled by the government's approach. As
numerous recent surveys have shown they want their money spent on public
services, not redirected by the government as part of its bid to
privatise every service for which we once all shared responsibility of
funding and the benefits.

"The Australian Greens will be moving in the senate next week to support
services ahead of tax cuts."


More information: Damien Lawson 0400 803 281







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