[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: Abbott's budget reply foreshadows harder, tougher life

[Klug, Georgie (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE:

Friday 17 May 2013

Abbott's budget reply foreshadows harder, tougher life

The Australian Greens will work to defend Australia against Abbott's reckless and cruel budget cuts.

"Abbott's budget is irresponsible, sneaky and cruel," Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said. 

"It is sneaky because Tony Abbot is hiding behind an endless mountain of white paper and commissioning a review into spending to disguise his real agenda.

"His budget is all about taking more and more from the poor while giving mining companies, banks and big polluters a free ride. 

"Cutting the dole will drive the unemployed deeper and deeper into poverty, not to mention removing superannuation tax breaks for low income earners. 

"Then there's the double whammy of slashing funding for universities while refusing to support the Gonski school reforms - leaving thousands of disadvantaged children with poor educational outcomes.

"If Tony Abbott wins in September, the Greens will defend the community against his extreme and dangerous budget cuts and policies.

"Any attempt to slug the unemployed will face fierce opposition from the Greens in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

"We will not allow Tony Abbott to cut funding to universities or repeal the Gonski school reforms.

"His hit to the superannuation accounts for Australia's most vulnerable will also be strongly opposed.

"His plan to abandon action on climate change by ripping up the carbon price will be fought tooth and nail by the Greens. 

"Where is the logic in scrapping the mining tax and everything it would fund, while abolishing the carbon price but keeping the compensation?

"As for the cut to Australia's humanitarian intake this is just cruel and disastrous for the nation's international standing.

"Abbott's announcement to abandon every 2013 Budget initiative - unless directly specified - will create massive uncertainty across Australia from spending on critical infrastructure projects like Melbourne and Perth metro rail to funding for the ABC and SBS.

"The Greens are needed more than ever to stop the excesses of Tony Abbott if he wins the September election."