$1 trillion for the military

The media called it a bland budget. Big business is extremely disappointed with the budget and the Coalition’s record. As far as it is concerned the Coalition have had almost three years to carry out a major overhaul of the role of government and how it raises income and spending priorities. The Coalition has failed dismally in the eyes of many members of the Business Council of Australia* (BCA).

It was not for lack of policy. After all, the BCA drew up an economic and social blueprint for the Coalition. As soon as the Abbott government came to office it commissioned a National Commission of Audit. Former BCA CEO Bruce Shepherd was its chair.

The BCA’s chief economist and director of policy, Peter Crone, led the Commission’s Secretariat. As a former adviser to the Howard and Victorian Kennett governments, Crone had impeccable neo-liberal credentials for the job. (See Guardian, “Abbott’s audit: By big business, For big business”, #1616, 30-10-2013)

Corporate blueprint

The Audit report spelled out a clear neo-liberal agenda, as dictated by global capital, for privatisation of government, deregulation, competition policy, dismantling the social security system and a takeover of the state by big business. The model is similar to the British conservative government’s Big Society.

The Abbott/Hockey government publicly supported most of its recommendations.

These recommendations included:

aged pension to be set at 28 percent of average weekly earnings (amounting to a real reduction)
tougher means test for aged pension to include part or full value of home in the assets
slower roll out of National Disability Insurance Scheme
co-payments for Medicare with abolition of bulk billing
means testing Medicare
those on incomes above the threshold required to take out private health insurance for medical coverage
deregulation of private health insurance premiums
higher threshold for Medicare safety net
price rises for medications on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Family Tax Benefit Part B abolished with a new supplement paid to sole parent families who lose this benefit
a single means tested child care assistance system
cuts to eligibility for carer payments and carer allowance
minimum wage to be set by states and reduced
funding cuts for higher education
repayment of student loans cut in at minimum wage at higher interest rates
funding cuts to foreign aid program
funding cuts to Indigenous programs
funding cuts to ABC and SBS
abolition and mergers of government departments and agencies such as of Border Control Australia by merging the Department of Immigration and Australian Customs
privatisation of government services and entities including Snowy Hydro, , Australia Post, and Defence Housing
review of GST rate (increase in GST)
single parenting payments be reduced from a maximum of 25% of Male Total Weekly Earnings to 25% of Average Weekly Earnings (a reduction of 16.6%)
abolition of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation
abolition of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency
increase in military spending to two percent of GDP.
The Audit’s only reference to “climate” was to abolish the Climate Change Authority! The only reference to “environment” was to the “fiscal environment”! In Treasurer Scott Morrison’s 2016-17 budget speech these two words don’t even rate a mention, not even a token reference.

Horror budget

The 2014-15 horror budget which contributed to the downfall of Prime Minster Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey contained most of these measures or slight variations of them. The few that didn’t appear have been the subject of rumours and the usual denials.

It was, as the Guardian said at the time, a budget “By big business, For big business”, with a massive program of cuts to spending on health, education, social security payments, public sector workforce and other areas of benefit to people. All of this to fund corporate tax cuts and tax cuts for the rich.

The changes to Medicare are in train. The proposed $7, and later $5 co-payment, is being introduced by stealth with what will amount to a six year freeze on rebates paid to bulk-billing doctors.

The cuts to family tax benefits are also waiting in the wings having been blocked by the Senate.

The attempt to deregulate university fees is stalled in the Senate. The Abbott/Hockey $26 billion budget cut to schools were not mentioned. They remain on the agenda but thinly covered up by a $1.2 billion “increase” over three years, with strings attached.

Likewise, the Abbott/Hockey $54 billion cut to public hospital funding has been buried from view by a $2.9 billion “increase” to funding. Again these cuts have not gone away.

Hockey came up with some of his own cuts, in addition to those designed by the BCA. One of the cruellest of these sought to deny young people access to unemployment benefits for six months, followed by an obligatory six months of “work for the dole.”

Fortunately, this and some of the others failed to pass through the Senate.

The GST reared its ugly head but when the opinion polls pointed to its unpopularity, was removed from the table. It now waits hidden under the table until after the elections.

Workers’ nightmare, bosses’ dream

Regardless of who wins the elections, a few months down the track Moodys and the other private ratings agencies will also rear their ugly heads.

They will point to the budget deficit, now almost twice the size of Labor’s “tsunami” deficit of 2013-14. There will be t

There will be the all-too-familiar warnings of a downgrading from AAA if the “hard decisions” are not taken to cut social spending, downsize the public sector and slash corporate taxes.

If the Coalition gain control of both Houses of Parliament then there will be no stopping them – the BCA will be smiling from ear to ear with the prospect of lower taxes, higher profits and super-exploitation of workers.

And it won’t just be a lower minimum wage that the BCA have in mind. Workers and their trade unions can expect a beefed-up Australian Building and Construction Commission, individual work contracts, massive penalties for industrial action, no restrictions on hours of work, unpaid overtime, unsafe working conditions.

But you would never guess any of this from Treasurer Scott Morrison’s speech and the “bland” budget delivered on May 3 that the BCA’s blueprint and the contents of the 2014 anti-people budget are still at the top of the agenda.

Workers have a rosy future if you believed Morrison.

He uses the word “jobs” over 35 times in his 2016-17, 30-minute budget speech. The only jobs this budget will create are in the military sector and a small number of manufacturing jobs that feed it. The bloated military budget of $1 trillion in the coming 20 years serves the interests of US war hawks.

The same money spent on the manufacturing sector, on developing renewable energy, building buses and trains or public housing would create hundreds of thousands more jobs and be of benefit to the people and the planet.

The word “plan” is used 29 times. In this case there is a plan, the BCA’s blueprint for big business profits, but its details are on hold until after the elections in the event of a Coalition victory.

But you would never guess from the Treasurer’s speech that these plans are still on the agenda, just hidden from view.

The government’s anti-people agenda emphasises the importance of ensuring the Coalition do not gain control of the Senate. They must be thrown out of office.

The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens and left and progressive candidates to the Senate in the coming election.


http://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2016/1731/01-deep-social-cuts.html

"The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens and left and progressive candidates to the Senate in the coming election."

Somehow, I don't think the average australian would see this as a good endorsement.  If it were the CPA as in Accountants - maybe - but not the one you have trotted out

verses Murdoch endorsement of the coalition and/or labor.

At the very least, the CPA has articulated solid reasons for their support.

---

fancy being endorsed by the  COMMUNIST PARTY of AUSTRALIA..


well it says it all the Greens party has been infiltrated by the CPA...thank you for that news greenwin......

over the years we have all noticed the change in the Greens basics    they dont mention trees anymore... ::) ::)... they do their best to PANIC people into thinking the world will end...

and we notice they will jump into bed  on any cause  that may get them a vote... ::) ::) ::)

but now they appear to be in bed with the CPA.. who would also stoop to doing anything to divide this great country of ours... >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

Does that mean Murdoch has infiltrated the Labor and Liberal parties cod?

Vic wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:22pm:

"The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens and left and progressive candidates to the Senate in the coming election." Somehow, I don't think the average australian would see this as a good endorsement.  If it were the CPA as in Accountants - maybe - but not the one you have trotted out

People who have a sound understanding of economics will not be endorsing the greens; ratbag commos, yeah I can see them being all in.

BigOl64 wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:40pm:

Vic wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 1:22pm: "The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens and left and progressive candidates to the Senate in the coming election." Somehow, I don't think the average australian would see this as a good endorsement.  If it were the CPA as in Accountants - maybe - but not the one you have trotted out People who have a sound understanding of economic will not be endorsing the greens; ratbag commos, yeah I can see them being all in.

Your endorsing the Greens, has been noted.

cods wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:35pm:

fancy being endorsed by the  COMMUNIST PARTY of AUSTRALIA.

Maybe there is something in that old joke about Greens and watermelons after all.  This is hardly the sort of endorsement that will attract any voters to The Greens at all, in fact it will probably cause quite a few to desert them.  Not so much an endorsement - more like a warning perhaps.

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:39pm:

Does that mean Murdoch has infiltrated the Labor and Liberal parties cod?

murdoch is one man he isnt a cause.. greeny

sure he has power through his empire.....but his influence is only imagined......COMMUNISM is more than that   and you have to belong which means you have already been INFLUENCED a bit like ISIS  :D :D..

their influence is against anything Australia is or believe in...

they believe in dividing.. then conquering..

of course you dont see it though....because your mob want this country on its knees...

The CPA has articulated a logical argument for their support of The Greens.
Let's see if anyone can find fault with it.

Wolseley wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:47pm:

cods wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 1:35pm: fancy being endorsed by the  COMMUNIST PARTY of AUSTRALIA. Maybe there is something in that old joke about Greens and watermelons after all.  This is hardly the sort of endorsement that will attract any voters to The Greens at all, in fact it will probably cause quite a few to desert them.  Not so much an endorsement - more like a warning perhaps.

yeah well one of their mouth pieces lee Rhiannon was a member of the communist party... probably still is....horrible women..

Vic wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:22pm:

"The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens and left and progressive candidates to the Senate in the coming election." Somehow, I don't think the average australian would see this as a good endorsement.  If it were the CPA as in Accountants - maybe - but not the one you have trotted out

I'll second that....

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:52pm:

The CPA has articulated a logical argument for their support of The Greens. Let's see if anyone can find fault with it.

yeah well you rejoice in it sunshine.....you aint an aussie thats for sure.

cods wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:51pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 1:39pm: Does that mean Murdoch has infiltrated the Labor and Liberal parties cod? murdoch is one man he isnt a cause.. greeny sure he has power through his empire.....but his influence is only imagined......COMMUNISM is more than that   and you have to belong which means you have already been INFLUENCED a bit like ISIS  :D :D.. their influence is against anything Australia is or believe in... they believe in dividing.. then conquering.. of course you dont see it though....because your mob want this country on its knees...

Oh yes he is.
Murdock wants yes men in government, so to advance his business interests.

cods wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:54pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 1:52pm: The CPA has articulated a logical argument for their support of The Greens. Let's see if anyone can find fault with it. yeah well you rejoice in it sunshine.....you aint an aussie thats for sure.

I am laughing how reaction is the main driver of the righties posting. Verses a position of logic from the CPA.

A position the Righties can't find fault in.

all I know is if the CPA endorsed the Libs I would be shattered....and you are thrilled..


says it all really.

And here I was reading the headline and thought they meant Certified Practising Accountant. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Vic wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:22pm:

"The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens and left and progressive candidates to the Senate in the coming election." Somehow, I don't think the average australian would see this as a good endorsement.  If it were the CPA as in Accountants - maybe - but not the one you have trotted out

Perhaps a case of......

---

cods wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:56pm:

all I know is if the CPA endorsed the Libs I would be shattered....and you are thrilled.. says it all really.

The CPA don't endorse party's who's agenda is to empower the ultra rich, by destroying everyone else.

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:59pm:

cods wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 1:56pm: all I know is if the CPA endorsed the Libs I would be shattered....and you are thrilled.. says it all really. The CPA don't endorse party's who's agenda is to empower the ultra rich, by destroying everyone else.

keep trying greeny you could end up convincing yourself... ;D ;D

so far it isnt working with the ozpol members.. ;)

lee wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:57pm:

And here I was reading the headline and thought they meant Certified Practising Accountant. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

SLOL

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 1:55pm:

Verses a position of logic from the CPA.

If that's logical, then there must be about ten times as much money in the government's coffers than anyone thought.

I'm going to plagiarise my good friend IB and say, the Communists didn't die, they just morphed into the Greens and the EU.

cods wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 2:02pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 1:59pm: cods wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 1:56pm: all I know is if the CPA endorsed the Libs I would be shattered....and you are thrilled.. says it all really. The CPA don't endorse party's who's agenda is to empower the ultra rich, by destroying everyone else. keep trying greeny you could end up convincing yourself... ;D ;D so far it isnt working with the ozpol members.. ;)

I'm happy to debate the reasons why the CPA have endorsed The Greens.
Stated in the first and second post.

Just because no one can find fault in the reasons, seems all ozpol members agree with the reasons CPA stated. Including you.

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 2:08pm:

Just because no one can find fault in the reasons, seems all ozpol members agree with the reasons CPA stated.

One of the most ridiculous examples of reasoning on this forum.  In any case, you seem to have ignored my comment earlier on this page.

'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens'


;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D


green slime probably see's that as a good thing

Wolseley wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 2:49pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 2:08pm: Just because no one can find fault in the reasons, seems all ozpol members agree with the reasons CPA stated. One of the most ridiculous examples of reasoning on this forum.  In any case, you seem to have ignored my comment earlier on this page.

Your opinion was read. A lot of opinions are read, and then moved on from.

John Smith wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 2:52pm:

'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens' ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D green slime probably see's that as a good thing

Name calling John.
Trolling usually represents desperation.

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 3:02pm:

John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 2:52pm: 'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens' ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D green slime probably see's that as a good thing Name call John. Trolling usually represents desperation.

The Greens= Green on the outside like a watermelon and Commie red to the core

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 3:02pm:

John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 2:52pm: 'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens' ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D green slime probably see's that as a good thing Name call John. Trolling usually represents desperation.

no, joy at support from the communist party represents desperation

calling you green slime is merely an indicator of what I think of you

Baronvonrort wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 3:13pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 3:02pm: John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 2:52pm: 'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens' ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D green slime probably see's that as a good thing Name call John. Trolling usually represents desperation. The Greens= Green on the outside like a watermelon and Commie red to the core

That's so original.
I've never heard that before
Did you think that up yourself?

John Smith wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 4:25pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 3:02pm: John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 2:52pm: 'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens' ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D green slime probably see's that as a good thing Name call John. Trolling usually represents desperation. no, joy at support from the communist party represents desperation calling you green slime is merely an indicator of what I think of you

You don't come up on my radar
outside reading your desperation to get my attention.
Sorry.

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 4:53pm:

You don't come up on my radar

of course not, I'm not gay ...

your gaydar only picks up poofs

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 4:53pm:

John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:25pm: ____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 3:02pm: John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 2:52pm: 'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens' ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D green slime probably see's that as a good thing Name call John. Trolling usually represents desperation. no, joy at support from the communist party represents desperation calling you green slime is merely an indicator of what I think of you You don't come up on my radar outside reading your desperation to get my attention. Sorry.

Drop your dacks and point your bum at him is all that needed to get his attention John. 

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hey, you two....

I'm trying to drink a hot coffee here!!!

John Smith wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 4:57pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:53pm: You don't come up on my radar of course not, I'm not gay ... your gaydar only picks up poofs

My gaydar pick up men.

...

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 4:50pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 3:13pm: ____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 3:02pm: John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 2:52pm: 'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens' ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D green slime probably see's that as a good thing Name call John. Trolling usually represents desperation. The Greens= Green on the outside like a watermelon and Commie red to the core That's so original. I've never heard that before Did you think that up yourself?

I am just reminding everyone the Greens are commies pretending to be environmentalists

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 5:39pm:

John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:57pm: ____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:53pm: You don't come up on my radar of course not, I'm not gay ... your gaydar only picks up poofs My gaydar pick up men.

generally a requirement to being a poof, yes .... your point?

Baronvonrort wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 5:43pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:50pm: Baronvonrort wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 3:13pm: ____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 3:02pm: John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 2:52pm: 'The Communist Party of Australia supports the election of Australian Greens' ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D green slime probably see's that as a good thing Name call John. Trolling usually represents desperation. The Greens= Green on the outside like a watermelon and Commie red to the core That's so original. I've never heard that before Did you think that up yourself? I am just reminding everyone the Greens are commies pretending to be environmentalists

Everyone will be commies once dangerous climate change collapses our food chain.
It's that, or cannibals.

John Smith wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 8:45pm:

____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 5:39pm: John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:57pm: ____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:53pm: You don't come up on my radar of course not, I'm not gay ... your gaydar only picks up poofs My gaydar pick up men. generally a requirement to being a poof, yes .... your point?

That's why you don't register.

____ wrote on May 18^th, 2016 at 8:53pm:

John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 8:45pm: ____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 5:39pm: John Smith wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:57pm: ____ wrote on May 18th, 2016 at 4:53pm: You don't come up on my radar of course not, I'm not gay ... your gaydar only picks up poofs My gaydar pick up men. generally a requirement to being a poof, yes .... your point? That's why you don't register.

I don't register cause I'm not a faggot like you ....