Following Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s Budget Reply speech tonight, the ALP has announced that it will oppose a series of Budget measures in the Parliament.
Statements from shadow ministers Jenny Macklin, Catherine King, Brendan O’Connor and Julie Collins say that the ALP will oppose:
- Increasing the pension age to 70.
- Changes to pension indexation arrangements.
- Forcing young people under 30 to wait 6 months before receiving income support.
- Moving people under 25 from Newstart to the lower-paying Youth Allowance.
- Cutting families off Family Tax Benefit B when their youngest child turns 6.
- The $7 co-payment for visit for visits to a general practitioner.
The ALP and the Greens have a blocking majority in the Senate until June 30. Neither party will oppose the Appropriation Bills, but where separate legislation is required they will have the ability to block measures.
After July 1, the ALP, Greens and the Palmer United Party group will have the numbers to block legislation in the Senate. Alternatively, either the ALP or the Greens will be able to guarantee passage of government bills. If the ALP and Greens are opposed to legislation, the government will need the support of 6 of the 8 crossbenchers.
Statement from Jenny Macklin, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments, and Disability Reform.
LABOR TO OPPOSE ABBOTT’S PENSION ATTACK
Labor will oppose Tony Abbott’s savage attack on Australia’s pension system and the millions of Australian pensioners who rely on it.
Labor will oppose Tony Abbott’s decision to increase the pension age to 70. [Read more…]
