[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Leaning on the poor to lift the rich

[Jaques, Alison]

MEDIA RELEASE -Lee Rhiannon, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Higher Education and Local Government and Shane Rattenbury MLA, ACT Greens Member for Molonglo

13 May 2014


Australian Greens Spokesperson for Higher Education and Local Government, Lee Rhiannon, and ACT Greens MLA, Shane Rattenbury, slammed Tony Abbott's 'highway robbery' budget, which will protect big business while slugging the people of Canberra.
"The Abbott Government's first federal budget is a reverse Robin Hood effort - robbing the poor to pay the rich," said ACT Greens MLA, Shane Rattenbury.
"This budget will hit Canberra hard, with sweeping cuts to the public service and big hits to health services, not to mention the winding back of decades of gains in climate change policy.
"Local jobs, universities, Canberra-based national institutions and health services are all on Mr Abbott's hit list," said Senator Rhiannon
"Billions will be ripped out of universities across the country over the next four years, which will hurt a major part of Canberra's economy. Staff and students at the University of Canberra and ANU will bear the brunt of these cuts," Senator Rhiannon said.
National institutions based in Canberra such as the National Gallery, National Library, and Old Parliament House have also been gutted by Budget decisions.
"Our national institutions are a vital part of the ACT economy, contributing to both employment and tourism; they should be supported and strengthened, not crippled and eroded," said Senator Rhiannon.
"The attack on the heart of Medicare - a mainstay of our modern and caring society - by removing free universal access to quality health care is a disaster for those on low incomes, a disaster for the health of our nation and a disaster for future budgets," said Mr Rattenbury.
 "Plans to axe the ACT Medicare Local will hurt Canberrans, abolishing vital coordination services that allow decisions about health services to be made by local communities in line with local needs.
 "Mr Abbott's budget has a planned $80billion spend on roads over the next six years.  This same money could build the entire high speed rail line from Sydney to Melbourne, via Canberra ($50B), and still have $30B left over for roads.
"The High Speed Rail project would easily create just as many jobs; as well as provide a significant investment in construction, while at the same time creating a new, fast and more environmentally friendly transport system for Australia's future," said Mr Rattenbury.
"This budget further confirms that the Abbott Government is on a path to tearing up action on climate change and support for industries in renewable energy," said Senator Rhiannon.
"The axing of ARENA is anti-science, anti-evidence and anti-intellectual thinking and a further attack on the renewable energy sector.
Overall Senator Rhiannon said the budget was a major blow to fairness in Australia.
"This budget is designed to undermine community resilience, increase wealth advantage, and unwind progress from the last 50 years," said Mr Rattenbury.
Statement ends

MEDIA CONTACT:          Brami Jegan (Rhiannon) 0487 350 880
                                Ali Jaques (Rattenbury) 0481 035 764


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