BUDGET ILLAWARRA 11 MAY 04

[Clark, Allen (M. Organ, MP)]

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SLIM PICKINGS FOR THE ILLAWARRA

Cunningham MP Michael Organ has declared the Treasurer's latest budget a
lost opportunity for the community in light of tax cuts being favoured
over urgent spending needs in health care and job creation for  the
Illawarra.

"The government's decision to allocate a paltry $7.2M over 4 years for
the continuation of the voluntary work initiative program is by anyone's
measure, a far cry from a job creation scheme the community has been
asking for", Mr. Organ said 

"Likewise, the government's failure to fund a medical school for
Wollongong University is a disappointment along with no mention of a
licence for Wollongong hospital's Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine
amongst the budget papers."  

"On the other hand, the government's has allocated $44 million over four
years to continue the educational lending right scheme which will allow
local authors to receive royalty payments when their books are borrowed
from public libraries."

"We would also be expecting to receive a slice of the $45 million per
year tagged for accident black spots to be spent on the Princes
Highway."

"With the release of the government's Auslink white paper next month,
the jury is still out on the prospect of federal funding to expand Port
Kembla and its rail links.

"Overall this budget provides slim pickings for the Illawarra.  Reducing
taxes for people on incomes above $62,500 per year, while ignoring
unemployment and health is not what the community wants, or needs",  Mr.
Organ said. 

More from:
Michael Organ MP 02 6277 4366, 0439 442 550
Allen Clark (Media Adviser) 0439 464 439
www.michaelorgan.org.au



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