Greens will oppose tax cuts in favour of public health, education and infrastructure

[Willis, Katrina (Sen B. Brown)]

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MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 11 May 2004


Greens will oppose tax cuts in favour of public health, education and
infrastructure


Tax cuts for top earners leave education, health and the environment in
the cold -- Greens

Only taxpayers earning over $52,000 per annum will benefit from the
government's tax cuts.  There is no tax relief for low income earners.
Tax handouts have eclipsed public health, public education and the
environment, Greens Senator Bob Brown said tonight.

"This budget is a collection of election bribes to swinging voters, not
a responsible investment in Australia's future.  The budget asks voters
to follow the Howard government's example and put instant self-interest
before the nation's future," Senator Brown said.

"The Greens will oppose the $14.7 billion tax cuts to invest the money
instead in public health, public education, public housing and parental
leave.

"Australia remains one of only two developed countries without parental
leave.  The Greens will campaign in the Senate for a minimum 18 weeks
paid leave.

"Amongst the welter of handouts, the Greens welcome recognition for
carers, programs for diabetes and profoundly deaf children, and tax
relief for small wine producers," said Senator Brown.

Environment

Clean energy and climate change are big losers --
	*	Extra greenhouse money totalling the grand sum of $3.4
million in 2004/5 and $3.2 million in 2005/06 is derisory;  it goes
nowhere near compensating for the constantly re-announced and
never-spent $1 billion for greenhouse programs of which the government
had spent less than half by 2003 (the other $63.7 million of the
highlighted 'new' $70 million is over two years away);
	*	Oil companies get $17 million in new subsidies for
exploration while on the demand side there is a pathetic $1.5 million to
promote a Green Vehicles Guide.

Great Barrier Reef
No new money.  On top of last week's axing of the Cooperative Research
Centre, all 'new' expenditures on the Great Barrier Reef are being
funded by cutting back other Natural Heritage Trust programs.

Murray Darling Basin  
No new money.  

Rail infrastructure
The one-off $450 million grant, with no more funding for the next four
years, is tiny compared with the $4 billion needed to bring interstate
rail infrastructure up to scratch.

A massive new oil exploration program will threaten Australia's most
wild and remote coastline off the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage
Area.

More information: Katrina Willis 02 6277 3170 or 0419 704 095





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