[Greens-Media] A budget for your rich, your advantaged and uranium

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Tuesday, 9 May 2006

A budget for your rich, your advantaged and uranium

"It is five years since the Treasurer mentioned the environment in his
budget speech, and tonight he couldn't even bring himself to mention
climate change. The budget papers consider the tiny risk of spacecraft
falling from the sky, but ignore the vast reality of impending climate
change," Greens Leader Bob Brown said tonight.

"What the Australian public and the Australian economy need is
investment in the future, not handouts to those who have the most. The
billion dollar annual cost of the business tax breaks could buy 1
million solar panels. The billion dollar per year subsidy to road
freight could make Australia's homes energy and water efficient in two
years. Such policies would deliver lasting cost savings," said Senator
Brown.
 
"We are told that the Government will spend $7 million protecting Kakadu
National Park from the abandoned uranium mines that should have never
been built. It was not the taxpayers of Australia who created that mess,
and it is not the taxpayers of Australia that should have to clean it
up."

"ANSTO informs us that it has no way to cost the decommissioning of the
Lucas Heights reactor. At a time we are being told how economically
viable nuclear power generation is, the government cannot estimate the
cost of cleaning up a reactor site. It would be a brave property
developer who would buy Lucas Heights," said Senator Brown.
 
"While carers have been offered an extra $20 per week as a one off
bonus, the new changes to the superannuation system will deliver $200
per week EXTRA in retirement to those earning $100,000 per year."
 
"The budget delivers tax cuts for the richest Australians, new tax
breaks for big business, and generous superannuation benefits for the
richest retirees, but education and the environment have mostly missed
out."

"The changes to the FEE-HELP arrangements for students mean that today's
students can now borrow up to $100,000 for their degrees, more than many
of a previous generation borrowed to buy a house," said Senator Brown.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603

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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au