Federal Budget 2019: Bill Shorten delivers Budget reply as Australian federal election looms

Cancer patients will have their medical bills slashed under a $2.3 billion Labor plan to help Australians in the "fight of their life", Bill Shorten has announced in his Budget reply.

Cancer patients will have their medical bills slashed under a $2.3 billion Labor plan to help Australians in the "fight of their life", Bill Shorten has pledged in his Budget reply tonight.

The Labor leader promised six million free cancer scans, three million free consults with cancer specialists and that "every drug recommended by independent experts" will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. 

"Cancer is a curse. I wish I could stand here tonight and tell you that we will find a cure. But no politician can give that promise," Mr Shorten said.

"We will continue to support our scientists in their work, we will invest in the research and the clinical trials. 

"And until the day we find a cure, I can promise you this. Under Labor, if you are battling cancer, you can focus on getting well without worrying about going broke."

RELIVE BILL SHORTEN'S BUDGET REPLY  BELOW:

Updates

8:54 pm April 4, 2019

LABOR DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE MONEY: CORMANN

Maria Bervanakis

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has wasted no time in warning Australians Bill Shorten's election pitch shows it has "no plan to keep our economy strong". 

"Labor still haven't learned that a strong economy is central to everything," he told reporters in Parliament House tonight

. 

He said all Labor had to offer was $200 billion in higher taxes on retirees, housing, income, investments, small and family business and electricity.

"That would harm the economy, put jobs at risk and hurt families. The truth is Labor does not know how to manage money. That is why they are coming after yours," he said. 

"We have finally turned the corner. We are back on track and back in the black. We are about delivering a surplus in 2019-20. This is not the time to go back. This is not the time to go back to the discredited Labor ways of the past. Australia cannot afford Labor."

3:07 pm April 13, 2019

Darren Prendergast

Bill Shorten raced off to an interview with the ABCs Leigh Sales straight after his Budget reply speech.

The interview finished on an awkward note to say the least.

Leigh Sales: "I want to ask you something completely blunt – and I don't want to seem rude, but Australians value authenticity, and so I just want to speak plainly. You would know that opinion polls for a long time have shown that your personal popularity is a bit lacklustre. What would you say to the Australian voter who thinks, "Jeez, I just don't like that Bill Shorten bloke very much. I don't know if I can vote for him." ?

Bill Shorten: "Wait until you meet me and see our fair go plan in action."

Leigh Sales: "Not every voter, though, is gonna be able to meet you in person?"

Bill Shorten: "What do people dislike more? Do they dislike everything going up except your wages? Are they frustrated that their adult children can't get into the housing market? Are they annoyed there's been no action on climate change? Are they annoyed that in Tasmania you've gotta wait over a year for colonoscopy treatment? I've got a united team. I think one thing, I guarantee you, if you ever want to have a barbecue conversation with random strangers, talk about the fact we've had three Liberal prime ministers, in fact, five, in the last three years. People are craving stability. I think the more people see our plans, our unity and talent on the frontbench and backbench, people will realise we've got a fair-go plan for Australia. The other side are basically consumed by themselves."

8:42 pm April 4, 2019 Highlight

SHORTEN IN AWKWARD INTERVIEW WITH SALES

Maria Bervanakis

Bill Shorten raced off to an interview with the ABCs Leigh Sales straight after his Budget reply speech.

The interview finished on an awkward note to say the least.

Leigh Sales: "I want to ask you something completely blunt – and I don't want to seem rude, but Australians value authenticity, and so I just want to speak plainly. You would know that opinion polls for a long time have shown that your personal popularity is a bit lacklustre. What would you say to the Australian voter who thinks, "Jeez, I just don't like that Bill Shorten bloke very much. I don't know if I can vote for him." ?

Bill Shorten: "Wait until you meet me and see our fair go plan in action."

Leigh Sales: "Not every voter, though, is gonna be able to meet you in person?"

Bill Shorten: "What do people dislike more? Do they dislike everything going up except your wages? Are they frustrated that their adult children can't get into the housing market? Are they annoyed there's been no action on climate change? Are they annoyed that in Tasmania you've gotta wait over a year for colonoscopy treatment? I've got a united team. I think one thing, I guarantee you, if you ever want to have a barbecue conversation with random strangers, talk about the fact we've had three Liberal prime ministers, in fact, five, in the last three years. People are craving stability. I think the more people see our plans, our unity and talent on the frontbench and backbench, people will realise we've got a fair-go plan for Australia. The other side are basically consumed by themselves."

3:04 pm April 13, 2019

Full house ...

Darren Prendergast

Shorten wrapped up his speech by telling voters not to be afraid of change or new ideas as a final pitch to voters. 

He said Labor is offering stability and a "vision for the nation," while stirring a class war argument by asking if Australians want "the best healthcare system in the world or the biggest tax loopholes".

"We choose hope over fear, we choose the future over the past," he said. 

"We choose the best support possible for people with cancer. We choose fair wages and good jobs. 

"We choose TAFE and apprenticeships, we choose a voice to First Australians enshrined in our constitution.

"We choose renewables and we choose real action on climate change. We choose the ABC." 

"We choose equality for women of Australia, equality for everyone. If these things matter to you, if you believe that when all is said and done … the most important things are family and health, if you believe that handing on a better deal to your kids than the one you inherited from your parents, if you believe that is what is the sort of vision we should have for Australia, then when you cast your vote in May, choose a Labor government for all Australians."

8:33 pm April 4, 2019 Highlight

SHORTEN STIRS CLASS WAR IN CLOSING REMARKS

Maria Bervanakis

Shorten wrapped up his speech by telling voters not to be afraid of change or new ideas as a final pitch to voters. 

He said Labor is offering stability and a "vision for the nation," while stirring a class war argument by asking if Australians want "the best healthcare system in the world or the biggest tax loopholes".

"We choose hope over fear, we choose the future over the past," he said. 

"We choose the best support possible for people with cancer. We choose fair wages and good jobs. 

"We choose TAFE and apprenticeships, we choose a voice to First Australians enshrined in our constitution.

"We choose renewables and we choose real action on climate change. We choose the ABC." 

"We choose equality for women of Australia, equality for everyone. If these things matter to you, if you believe that when all is said and done … the most important things are family and health, if you believe that handing on a better deal to your kids than the one you inherited from your parents, if you believe that is what is the sort of vision we should have for Australia, then when you cast your vote in May, choose a Labor government for all Australians."

8:28 pm April 4, 2019

POLITICIANS AND CANCER

Maria Bervanakis

Bill Shorten stated that no politician can promise to cure cancer, but his announcement of a $2.3 billion Medicare Cancer Plan will stir memories, for some, of the US TV series The West Wing.

In the series three episode 100,000 Airplanes, President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen – PICTURED BELOW) gets obsessed with the idea of announcing a cure for cancer during his annual State of the Union speech.

The fictional Bartlet eventually – and regretfully – lets go of the idea, but Barack Obama touched on a similar plan in his last State of the Union speech in 2016, calling for a massive funding boost for cancer research.

Has Bill Shorten just had his Josiah Bartlet moment?

3:02 pm April 13, 2019

Darren Prendergast

Labor has offered up some bi-partisanship on infrastructure funding. 
Shorten says he will allow the Opposition to be involved in nominating directors to Infrastructure Australia to "take the politics out" and "make generational decisions in infrastructure". 
He re-announces a series of projects for NSW, Queensland, Victoria and WA and says Labor will also deliver a $1.5 billion upgrade for the Gateway Motorway from Bracken Ridge to the Pine River and the next stage of the Bruce Highway from the northern suburbs to Caboolture. 

8:22 pm April 4, 2019 Highlight

LABOR AND LIBS EQUAL ON INFRASTRUCTURE

Maria Bervanakis

Labor has offered up some bi-partisanship on infrastructure funding. 
Shorten says he will allow the Opposition to be involved in nominating directors to Infrastructure Australia to "take the politics out" and "make generational decisions in infrastructure". 
He re-announces a series of projects for NSW, Queensland, Victoria and WA and says Labor will also deliver a $1.5 billion upgrade for the Gateway Motorway from Bracken Ridge to the Pine River and the next stage of the Bruce Highway from the northern suburbs to Caboolture. 

8:20 pm April 4, 2019

REANNOUNCED TONIGHT

Maria Bervanakis

Shorten has re-announced a series of policies, including:

– Labor's commitment to offer 15 hours free pre-school to three and four-year-olds.
– It's plan to give families that install battery storage systems for solar energy $2000 rebates.

– It's schools funding promise.

– It's plan to offer an extra 3.6 million low income workers tax cuts.

 

2:55 pm April 13, 2019

No ticket, no worries ...

Darren Prendergast

One hundred thousand Australians will go to TAFE for free under Labor, Bill Shorten says as he pitches a "fully-funded fair-go action plan".

"We believe that Australia does best when working class and middle-class Australia gets a fair go, when the economy is managed in the interests of everyone, when the people who create our national wealth get their fair share of the national wealth and when everyone has an equal chance to fulfil their personal potential," he said. 

Labor will also commit to 150,000 additional Apprentice Incentives in industries with skill shortages and will double the size of its "rebuilding tafe" fund to $200 million.