It’s 100 days since the Federal Budget - so where are we at?

IT has been 100 days since Joe Hockey handed down his first budget and we’re still talking about it. So what has actually been passed and what is still in limbo?

Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said they wish the budget conflicts were resolved. Picture: supplied.

ONE hundred days ago Joe Hockey handed down his first budget – and we’re still talking about it.

The Treasurer insists much of the day to day business of the budget is already passed and what’s left is the “structural challenges”.

The government has been busy negotiating with key crossbenchers on a raft of those key measures it announced back in May and is yet to legislate.

Business wishes all the talking was done and dusted and they could get on with certainty.

“We’d rather the budget debate was run and won and had been largely resolved,” Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, told ABC Radio this morning.

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Negotiating... The Government has been busy negotiating with key crossbenchers on a host of key measures it announced back in May. Picture: Karen Dodd

“It just leads to the continuing perception of uncertainty coming out of Canberra that there are no legislative decisions of real impact really being made at the moment and that’s obviously of some concern to the business community.”

Labor has been relentless in criticising the budget as unfair and unpopular and wants the Abbott government to rethink it.

“After 100 days of bluster, bloopers and blunders, Joe Hockey and his Prime Minister still don’t understand how rotten their Budget is,” Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen said.

“The Australian people don’t want Joe Hockey’s unfair Budget.”

The government will ramp up its push to secure its budget measures when Parliament resumes next week after the winter break.

So where do things currently lie?

PASSED

Debt levy

Despite causing controversy in the weeks leading up to the May budget, the government got Labor’s help in passing the debt levy on those with incomes over $180,000.

But not all Coalition Senators backed the temporary measure, with Ian Macdonald and Cory Bernadi raising objections.

Not a fan....Federal shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said the Government still doesn’t understand how bad the Budget is. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Appropriations Bills

These are the bills which allow the government to spend money, and are traditionally backed by the Opposition.

According to Treasury figures obtained by The Australian yesterday, 98.9 per cent of ­expense measures have already been legislated.

Carbon Tax repeal

The government was able to deliver on its key promise of repealing the carbon tax before the winter break.

But it wasn’t smooth sailing, with the Palmer United Party causing headaches for the Coalition as it stood by a key amendment to make power companies pass on price cuts.

NOT PASSED

$7 GP Co-payment

The government is still negotiating on its proposed $7 GP co-payment, with the Australian Medical Association pushing for exemptions.

The Coalition argues the measure will help make Medicare sustainable and boost medical research, with $5 of the co-payment to go towards a Future Fund.

Not happy...Students protest the budget university cuts outside State Library in the city. Picture: Brendan Francis.

Higher Education Reforms

It’s the same story with the Education Minister’s higher education reforms, which are still being talked over with the crossbenchers.

Christopher Pyne has admitted it will take months to get the package – which includes deregulating university fees - through the Senate.

Fuel Excise

Joe Hockey recently upset low income earners when he claimed that the poor would not be severely impacted by the fuel excise hike, because they don’t drive cars or travel very far.

Labor, the Greens and the Palmer United Party are all against the plan to reintroduce biannual indexation, but the government argues the revenue will help build new roads and create jobs.

Welfare Reforms

The Coalition faces a tough task to get support for its earn or learn proposal for young Australians, making them wait six months for the dole.

It’s currently discussing the measure with crossbench Senators, with its opponents against the plan.

Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said they wish the budget conflicts were resolved. Picture: supplied.

Paid Parental Leave Scheme

Senior Abbott government Ministers say the controversial PPL Scheme will come into force next July.

But that’s despite legislation for the policy, which has already been scaled back once, not having been introduced to Parliament yet.

Mining Tax repeal

Before the winter break the Senate was prepared to repeal the mining tax, but wanted to force the government to keep the associated tax cuts and School Kids Bonus.

The Coalition says the policies are meant to be paid for by the tax’s revenue.

Originally published as It’s 100 days since the Federal Budget - so where are we at?