On the eve of the federal election, Tony Abbott promised there would be no cuts to key services if the Coalition was elected.
Abbott was interviewed on the SBS News at 6.30pm on Friday, September 6, 2013.
He promised: “No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST, and no cuts to the ABC or SBS.”
Tasmania’s Labor Premier, Lara Giddings, has addressed the National Press Club in Canberra.
Giddings spoke at length about the state of Tasmania’s economy. She defended her state’s share of the proceeds of the Goods and Services Tax, praised the National Broadband Network and talked of Tasmania’s place in the Asian Century.
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Transcript of speech to the National Press Club by Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings.
INTRODUCTION
Thank you to the National Press Club for inviting me to speak to you today.
If you were in Tasmania this summer you would have seen some of the world’s biggest cruise ships tied up in one of the most beautiful harbours on the planet.
You would have seen thousands of tourists and locals queuing to get into one of the world’s best museums at MONA. [Read more…]
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced further assistance for Queensland, NSW and Western Australian flood victims.
The measures include NewStart payments and assistance for business, primary producers and others who have lost income from their regular source and have been unable to avail themselves of regular social security benefits. An income test applies.
The benefit will be available to flood victims in around 150 local government areas in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Gillard also took questions on a range of other matters at her first Canberra press conference for 2011. These included the need for new dams, the GST on overseas retail purchases, the budget deficit and a gift for the wife of the heir to the Danish throne.
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The Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, delivered his 2001 Federal Election policy speech at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre in Sydney on October 31.
“I want the job,” Beazley told his audience, claiming that he was committed, qualified and “here for the long haul”.
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Text of Kim Beazley’s 2001 election policy speech.
Men and women of Australia:
Today I offer myself as Prime Minister of this great country.
I want the job — I’m committed, I’m qualified, and I’m here for the long haul.
I have a plan to deliver a fair share, and a secure future, for all Australians.
I stand for the best possible education for all, not just the rich.
I stand for a health system where your Medicare Card is more important than your credit card.
I will put the care back into aged care.
I stand for making the GST simpler and fairer, for relieving the burden on small business, and on families. [Read more…]
The Federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, has unveiled the ALP’s GST “rollback” plans, pledging to remove the 10% tax from electricity and gas from 2003.
The GST would also be taken off caravan park residents, women’s sanitary products, funerals, nappies and textbooks. The ALP has also promised to remove the impact of the tax from the emergency relief services of charities.
Beazley says the rollback will cost $2.2 billion over 4 years, but would not put the budget into deficit.
He described the plan as restoring the balance in favour of ordinary, struggling families, particularly those in the bush. It was “cradle to grave” relief, Beazley said.
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