PoliticsNow: Josh Frydenberg hits back at Labor’s budget criticism
Josh Frydenberg hit back at criticism of his budget in QT, saying the last time Labor delivered a surplus, he had a mullet.
- ‘Labor surplus? I had a mullet’
- ‘Shorten means biz chaos’
- Senate censures Anning
- Wong slams ‘shameful’ Anning
- Return to Lib values
- PM leaves open poll date
Josh Frydenberg says big business are winners from his budget, and issues a warning on Labor’s policy. The Treasurer also responded to Labor’s criticism of his budget, claiming the last time the ALP delivered a surplus, he had a mullet.
The first order of the day was to censure Fraser Anning, but he will escape suspension.
Richard Ferguson 3.16pm: ‘Demand wasn’t expected to be met in current budget’
Independent MP for Indi Cathy McGowan asks Scott Morrison about underspending in the NDIS and calls on him to take immediate action to help disabled regional and rural Australians.
“It is important that we are very aware of those concerns. As I know, members on this house are often raising the challenges in rolling out what is one of the biggest programs in social policy,” the Prime Minister responds.
“Now, the estimates that have been provided to the budget process in the past, that was based on the state government and Commonwealth demand and that demand was not expected to be met in the current budget, and that would see the underspend that you have referred to.
“Now, it is not uncommon that when you have programs as the previous government understood, when it came to carer’s payments, whether demand is not met those years you have an estimates variation.”
Richard Ferguson 3.11pm: Price responds to emissions funding
Opposition climate change spokesman Mark Butler asks Environment Minister Melissa Price why she promised $2 billion for the Emissions Reduction Fund over 10 years, when the budget yesterday stretched the funding over 15 years.
“What a good opportunity to refer to the $3.5 billion climate fund, only with a strong economy can you devote that amount of money to the environment,” Ms Price responds.
“The fund will deliver an extra 103 million tons of abatement to 2030. That was very clear. The options to deliver this abatement will be conducted over this 10-year period.
“Of course, of course, and I’m sure the member will understand this, there is cause to discuss additional abatement from 2021-2035.”
Richard Ferguson 3.06pm: Labor probes institute grant
Opposition environment spokesman Tony Burke asks Environment Minister Melissa Price why the government gave $25m to an institute run by oil giant Chevron, who are running a project in the minister’s electorate.
“I will have to take that question on notice with respect to Chevron. I don’t have the information on that,” she responds.
Richard Ferguson 2.53pm: Plibersek presses on tax cuts
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek asks Scott Morrison if he will do “another backflip” and give bigger tax cuts to lower income workers.
Josh Frydenberg responds for the Prime Minister.
“On this side of the house we are proud of the fact, in the budget last night, 13.3 million taxpayers will be better off,” the Treasurer says.
“We believe on the side of the house, with lower taxes, we believe in lower taxes, people should earn more and keep more of what they earn.
“We believe, we need a flatter, simpler tax system that remains progressive.”
Richard Ferguson 2.38pm: Labor relentless on Newstart
Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers asks when Josh Frydenberg first decided to add Newstart recipients to the list of one-off energy supplements.
“Mr Speaker, as has been said many times, it was this government that has provided an energy supplement to the people to is the cost of living.
“And we have done that with a strong budgetary position, Mr Speaker.”
Labor MPs keep shouting out: “When? When? When?”
Richard Ferguson 2.34pm: Energy ‘blow out’?
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen asks Josh Frydenberg why the energy supplements have “blown out” to $365 million after he added Newstart recipients overnight.
“At the end of the day, what we have done is provide energy support, energy assistance payments to people who need it most,” the Treasurer responds.
“I can also tell the house, we have announced a budget surplus, Mr Speaker, when it comes to our previous forecast, we have outperformed them.”
Richard Ferguson 2.31pm: ‘Very nice, very nice’
Scott Morrison has labelled Labor’s plan to allow trade in international carbon credits the “Borat tax” as he claims Bill Shorten will force companies to buy credits from Kazakhstan.
The Prime Minister employed a catchphrase from Borat, the fictional Sacha Baron Cohen character, to attack the Opposition Leader.
.@ScottMorrisonMP: Over in Kazakhstan, I'm sure they're absolutely thrilled about this. Some call it a carbon tax, but I call it the Borat tax.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 3, 2019
I know what Borat would think of Labor's policies on emissions reduction...
... 'Verrrrry Niiiiice'
MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK pic.twitter.com/khTrHUx2gU
“Some may call this a carbon tax, Mr Speaker. I call it the Borat tax, with carbon credits for Kazakhstan,” he says.
“I know what Borat would think of the Labor Party’s thoughts on carbon trading policies — ‘Very nice, very nice’.
“He wants to put $36 million offshore, sucking jobs and profits offshore, wage increases offshore, Mr Speaker.”
Richard Ferguson 2.23pm: Phelps presses PM on climate
Independent MP for Wentworth Kerryn Phelps asks Scott Morrison why the budget did not have more focus on climate change and an independent environmental regulator.
“The government agrees action needs to be taken to address climate change, that’s why in the budget last night, there was a $3.5 billion climate solutions plan included,” the Prime Minister responds.
“I outlined in precise detail, exactly how we would meet the 26 per cent emissions reduction target.
“Through various measures outlined, including the emissions reduction from the fund which provides the reverse option of purchases, the abatement achieved within industry and others, the program has been extremely effective over the last five years.”
Richard Ferguson 2.21pm: ‘The last time Labor delivered a surplus, I had a mullet’
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen asks Josh Frydenberg to confirm he added Newstart recipients to one-off energy payments just hours after delivering his budget.
“What I can confirm to the house is that we announced a surplus. A surplus the Labor Party never dreamt of,” the Treasurer responds.
“I can confirm to the house the last time Labor delivered a surplus I had a mullet. It is long gone now.
“The reality is, we have produced a budget surplus and we have provided assistance to those low income earners, those people on a disability support pension, people on an aged pension, those on carers payment, those veterans.”
Richard Ferguson 2.17pm: PM attacked on Newstart
Bill Shorten attacks Scott Morrison for adding Newstart recipients to a list of one-off energy supplements just hours after the budget was handed down and adding an extra $80m.
The Prime Minister says the Coalition is an position to provide any one-off relief payments because of the budget’s strong bottom line.
“We believe that if we are in that position where we have outperformed on a budget and we have been able to deliver a better financial outcome, then we should take the opportunity to ensure those that need it most are given the opportunity to ease the cost of living pressures,” he says.
“But I can tell you, if the Labor Party ever gets to occupy the Treasury benches,
there won’t be the opportunity to share the best performance of a budget, Mr Speaker, because what we know, when Labor was in government, budget after budget after budget they promised and failed to deliver.”
Richard Ferguson 2.12pm: Shades of Howard, Costello
Scott Morrison tells the House of Representatives he will “pay down Labor’s debt” like John Howard and former treasurer Peter Costello in his first post-budget Dorothy Dixer.
“In the budget handed down by the Treasurer, the first budget surplus handed down in 12 years,” he says.
“Getting the budget back in balance by getting expenditure under control, keeping taxes under control, and ensuring we are growing the economy to bring the budget back to surplus, but now the job begins of paying back Labor’s debt.
“That job was done by the Howard and Costello government, it will be done by my government in the same way it was done by the Howard and Costello government.”
Richard Ferguson 2.05pm: Coalition ‘committed to NDIS’
Opposition social services spokeswoman Linda Burney opens up today’s question time and accuses Scott Morrison of building his projected surplus on underfunding the NDIS.
The Prime Minister responds: “We are committed to every single cent that the NDIS requires, It is fully funded under this government, 100 per cent fully funded.
“What the member has put forward is a blatant and ugly untruth and she should withdraw it, Mr Speaker.”
Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher is called by Mr Morrison.
“Let me tell you how much we are providing for the NDIS. Last year, $33 billion, this year $29 billion, it will be $17.9 billion, that is a $4.5 billion increase, increase in the funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Mr Fletcher says.
“The following year it would be $22.2 billion, the following year it will be $23.6 billion, this is finding out a record level for disabilities.”
Alice Workman 1.16pm: Anning suspension fails 40 — 10
The Greens’ attempt to suspend Fraser Anning failed 40 votes to 10.
South Australian independent Tim Storer was the only senator to back the motion to boot Mr Anning from the chamber and committee activity for 24 hours.
The government and opposition did agree to condemn Mr Anning for a second time today, after he again repeated comments linking the Christchurch terror attacks to Muslim immigration in response to a censure motion against him.
The Senate noted that Mr Anning’s “inflammatory and divisive comments” did not reflect the “opinions of the Australian Senate or the Australian people”.
Richard Ferguson 1.13pm Shorten ‘means biz chaos’
Josh Frydenberg says big business are winners from his budget, but will not say whether the Coalition has given up on delivering big business tax cuts for good.
“What we have delivered for big business is a stronger economy out of last night’s budget. And ultimately they are the beneficiaries,” he tells the National Press Club.
“So, what we have done by lowering the tax rates for more than 13 million Australians, what we’ve done with $100 billion infrastructure spend over the decade, what we have done with the skills package is actually strengthen the workforce, strengthen roots to markets and supply chains.
“And, of course, put more money in people’s pockets so they can spend more in those businesses. That’s what big business will get out of this budget.
“The other thing I would say to big business — don’t sign up to Bill Shorten’s industrial relations plan. It will mean chaos on your shop floor.”
Richard Ferguson 1.10pm: ‘Fairer tax system’
Josh Frydenberg defends his tax cuts against Labor claims it will not provide significant enough relief for lower-income Australians, saying they will end up with more of their own money through a change in the tax threshold.
“There’s the immediate relief with the adjustments to the low- and middle-income tax off-set, which will put that money in people’s pockets — $1,080 — in 13 weeks’s time,” he tells the National Press Club.
“But there is the structural reform of bringing 32.5 down to 30% for that particular tax bracket. That’s going to create a fairer, simpler tax system.
“And the people at the lower end of the income scale will actually get a higher proportion of their tax bill reduced as a result of the policies that we have put in place.”
Richard Ferguson 1.05pm: Why Newstart got supplement
Josh Frydenberg reveals he and Scott Morrison made the decision to ultimately give Newstart recipients a one-off payment to help with their energy bills late last night.
People on Newstart had originally been left off a list of beneficiaries of the energy supplements in the budget presented yesterday.
“The reason why Newstart was not included in those original suite of payments that people receive, and they are going to get the energy assistance, was because with Newstart, three-quarters of people move off it within 12 months. 99 per cent of people who are on Newstart get another payment,” he said.
“Last night, the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister (Mathias Cormann) and myself discussed the issue. We thought it was appropriate to extend it.
“It is going to cost the budget an extra $80 million because this payment will be out before the end of the financial year. That hits the numbers for the 18-19 year. It doesn’t affect the surplus numbers for 19-20.”
.@JoshFrydenberg: The reason Newstart wasn't included in the original suite of payments people received is that three-quarters of people move off it within 12 months.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 3, 2019
99 per cent of people on it also receive another payment or allowance.
MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #PressClub pic.twitter.com/10dGbVhjCa
Richard Ferguson 12.50pm: ‘Best way to keep AAA’
Josh Frydenberg says his budget is the best path to securing Australia’s AAA credit rating and preventing “higher interest rates, higher mortgages, and higher costs to business loans.”
“Our strong budget management has been recognised with Australia maintaining its AAA crediting rating- one of only 10 countries in the world to do so,” he tells the National Press Club
“And Standard & Poors said last night, in response to the budget, that the central government will achieve stronger fiscal outcomes than we anticipated. Going on to say, ‘Better labour market conditions have lowered expenditure outflows compared with previous budgets. These stronger outcomes have helped to fund new policy announcements in today’s budget.’
“Ladies and gentlemen, if we were to lose our AAA credit rating, all Australians would suffer. It would mean higher interest rates, higher mortgages, and higher costs to business loans. This is why sticking to our economic plan is so important.”
Richard Ferguson 12.43pm: Economy ‘means to an end’
Josh Frydenberg is selling his budget at the National Press Club in Canberra, and framing it as a document aimed at helping the most needy in society.
“I firmly believe that this budget sets Australia up for a brighter future. One with lower taxes, more infrastructure, better skills and record spending on schools and hospitals,” he says.
“You would have seen the headlines this morning about some of the big numbers … But it’s some of these smaller measures that will make a real difference to people’s lives.
“Because a strong economy is not just a piece of paper or numbers on a page. It matters to people. It allows you to do things that you might not have otherwise done. It’s not an end in itself.
“It’s merely a means to an end.”
He is highlighting increased funding for mental health, new medicines and aged care in particular.
Richard Ferguson 12.22pm: Suspension fails
Labor and the Coalition will not support a suspension of even one day.
Richard Ferguson 12.20pm: Di Natale tries 1 day suspension
Greens leader Richard Di Natale is now trying to get far-right senator Fraser Anning to be suspended for only one day.
“He deserves at the very least to be suspended for 24 hours,” Senator Di Natale says.
“Why don’t we have the courage to come together and suspend him?
“Why don’t this parliament make a statement today? … We can say we’re not with them, we’re not with One Nation and those other voices of hate.”
Mr Di Natale’s motion reads:
I move the following motion — That—
(a) the Senate —
i. notes with alarm the shameful comments made by Senator Anning following the Christchurch terror attacks;
ii. has censured Senator Anning for his inflammatory and divisive comments seeking to attribute blame to victims of a horrific crime and, to vilify people on the basis of religion and invoking the final solution while speaking in the Senate, which do not reflect the opinions of the Australian Senate or the Australian people; and
iii. is further horrified that Senator Anning continues to use the Chamber to vilify Muslims, as evidenced by his hateful speech on 3 April in response to a censure motion against him; and
(b) Senator Anning be suspended from the sittings of the Senate and its committees for a period of one day.
Richard Ferguson 11.43am: Anning censured
The Senate has voted to censure far-right senator Fraser Anning over his controversial comments linking the murders of 50 Muslims in the Christchurch terror attacks to Muslim immigration.
The motion was carried on the voices. Cory Bernardi was the only one to vote against it. One Nation abstained.
Senator Fraser Anning has been formally censured by the Senate, for his comments following the Christchurch attack. Censure recieved bi-partisan support @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/dHYdFR3fUM
— Annelise Nielsen (@annelisenews) April 3, 2019
Richard Ferguson 11.39am: ‘He is not us’
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has attacked far-right senator Fraser Anning for smiling throughout the censure debate and said he is not fit to be even be referred to as “Senator”.
“You are a disgrace. Don’t smile at me, don’t smile at me. People lost their lives,” she says.
“I won’t even call him a senator … He is not fit to call himself an Australian. He is not us.”
Richard Ferguson 11.35am: ’My only crime is telling truth’
Far-right senator Fraser Anning has attacked Scott Morrison for leading “a blatant attack on free speech” for condemning his comments on Christchurch and supporting a censure against him.
“This censure motion is a blatant attack of free speech and leftist virtue-signalling of the worst kind,” Senator Anning says.
“What’s most shocking is that it is a Liberal prime minister leading the charge against me.
“My only crime is that I told the truth when the left-wing media least wanted to hear it.
“Prime Minister Morrison … has a nerve to condemn me.”
Richard Ferguson 11.20am: ‘Welcome to public flogging’
Pauline Hanson is not in the Senate for the censure motion against her former One Nation colleague Fraser Anning, but she has got her Western Australian senator Peter Georgiou to make a statement on her behalf.
“I’d like to welcome the Australian people to the public flogging of an elected senator,” Senator Georgiou says on his leader’s behalf.
“He still maintains a right to his opinion … our vote will not contribute to the death of free speech.
“The people will judge Senator Anning at the ballot box, not us.”
One Nation will abstain from the motion.
Richard Ferguson 11am: Bowen blasts backflip
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen says the budget is “unravelling” before “the ink is dry” after Josh Frydenberg added Newstart recipients to a series of one-off energy bill supplements at the last minute.
“Today, the Government has introduced legislation for the energy supplement. The Budget introduced — not last year, not last month, not last week, but last night —. said it would cost $284 million but there was no mention of Newstart and other payments,” Mr Bowen said.
“The legislation introduced today says that bill will cost $365 million. A blowout in slightly more than 12 hours.
“So to see a Budget unravel like this — the ink is not dry on this Budget. And to see a Treasurer have to justify, 12 hours later, why he got it wrong — I mean Josh Frydenberg should come out here and hold a press conference and fess up that they forgot recipients of Newstart, the double orphan pension, the widow’s pension, and apologise.”
Richard Ferguson 10.45am: Bernardi opposes censure
Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi says he will oppose the censure motion because it discusses hate speech, despite condemning far-right senator Fraser Anning.
“Senator Anning’s comments were imprudent, impolitic, and flat out wrong,” he says.
“I’m disappointed the government is adopting the language of the left … hate speech is whatever the left wants it to be.
“I’m in the Greens’ dystopian world of hate speech … you will open up a process that will send us into an abyss.”
Richard Ferguson 10.40am: Di Natale pushes for suspension
Greens leader Richard Di Natale says he will still advocate to suspend far-right senator Fraser Anning, despite the government and Labor deciding not to support him.
“I don’t accept that we simply censure someone … it is not enough,” he says.
“When you say someone has a right to be a bigot, we give permission … we need to do more. We need to embrace that principle of multiculturalism.”
Senator Di Natale also notes that the Senate motion is being led by two examples of the success of multicultural Australia — Belgian-born Mathias Cormann and Asian-Australian Penny Wong.
Richard Ferguson 10.31am: Wong attacks Libs
Labor senate leader Penny Wong is now tying the censure motion against far-right senator Fraser Anning to an attack by Liberal senators on issues like One Nation preferences and 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
“There are times in our history where bipartisanship has enabled us to confront racism and hatred: the White Australia policy abolished, the Racial Discrimination Act, the confrontation of One Nation and its previous incarnations, the acceptance of Indochinese refugees despite community concerns in dealing with them, this was bipartisanship,” she says.
“It is a great sadness and I say this not as a partisan point, but as an Asian Australian, it is a great sadness to me to see the way in which some on those side do not honour that history.
“It is a great sadness in me to see the way in which some on that side have failed to repudiate the ideology and the hate speech that we have seen in recent times.”
Richard Ferguson 10.25am: ‘Pathetic, shameful’ Anning
Labor senate leader Penny Wong speaks on the censure motion against far-right senator Fraser Anning, which she is jointly moving with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann.
“In the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attacks, in the aftermath of horrific acts of hatred, while people were grieving, while the nation was grieving, the senator in this place made extraordinarily offensive and divisive statements,” she says.
“While families, friends, communities of those lost were still reeling from the shock, the senator blamed the victims. While those injured were being treated, this Senator sought to further fan the
flames of division.
“How pathetic. How shameful. A shameful and pathetic attempt by a bloke who has never been elected to get attention by exploiting diversity as a fault line for political advantage.”
.@SenatorWong: Hate speech cannot be defended on grounds of freedom of speech because it is an attack on our democracy; it inflicts real and direct harm.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 2, 2019
Hate speech is inimical to democracy. We can't normalise it.
MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #Newsday pic.twitter.com/JnmPwGEUWY
Richard Ferguson 10.24am: Cormann moves censure motion
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann is now moving a motion to censure far-right senator Fraser Anning for blaming Muslim immigration for the Christchurch terror attacks.
“It is very important that the parliament is unified in its condemnation of these appalling
comments that have been made,” Senator Cormann says.
“These comments were appalling and sadly made worst given Senator Anning’s position in this parliament and the platform he enjoys as a senator.
“Senator Anning’s comments were ugly and divisive. They were dangerous and unacceptable from anyone, let alone a member of this place. “
Rosie Lewis 9.50am: Anning saved from suspension
The government and Labor will not support the Greens’ suspension motion against Queensland senator Fraser Anning, warning it will set a dangerous precedent that would allow politicians to decide who sits in the chamber.
It would have been the first time a senator was kicked out of the Senate for conduct outside the chamber but the suspension motion is destined to fail.
The Greens vowed to try and suspend Senator Anning after he blamed the Christchurch terrorist attack on New Zealand’s immigration program “which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate”.
David Uren 9.40am: Budget speech decoded
David Uren has decoded Josh Frydenberg’s full Budget 2019 speech, analysing each of the key themes. Click here to see all the speech highs and lows.
Chris Kenny 8.30am: Light shone on Labor
This was the budget where the twin suns of politics and economics collided. They have long moved ever closer in their annual orbits but an election-eve budget brought forward to accommodate the poll created an irresistible force between these stellar bodies.
For the article in full, click here
Peta Credlin 8.25am: Return to Lib values
With an election expected to be called as early as Friday, last night’s budget was as much an election manifesto as it was the government’s fiscal priorities for the coming year.
After all, given the polls, there’s every likelihood this budget will never see the legislative light of day; so it’s drafted not only in the hope of delivering the government momentum as it moves into the official campaign, but as a document to capture the Coalition’s two-term economic legacy, and to act as a marker, should it end up in opposition, of the Coalition’s six-year budget repair effort.
For the article in full, click here.
Richard Ferguson 8.20am: Newstart help
Josh Frydenberg has revealed Newstart recipients will get a one-off payment to help with their energy bills, despite initially being left of a list of beneficiaries.
“We will be applying to Newstart recipients the energy supplement. So $125 for couples and $75 for individuals, that will be in the legislation we introduce in the Parliament,” he told ABC News.
But the Treasurer has defended not raising the dole, despite calls from industry and welfare groups to do so.
“Firstly — Newstart does go up twice a year. It is indexed. Secondly — unlike those other payments, people are on Newstart tend to be on other payments. A parenting payment or a family tax benefit,” he said.
“And many people, the majority of people, on Newstart move within 12 months into a job … That’s why it’s different to the disability support pension or the aged pension, for example.”
Josh Frydenberg on Newstart pic.twitter.com/yCuznTseMl
— ABC News (@abcnews) April 2, 2019
Richard Ferguson 8.09am: Labor’s vehicle ‘suicide note’
Scott Morrison has ridiculed Bill Shorten’s plan to boost the number of electric cars and agreed with a claim the Labor vehicles policy is an “economic suicide note.”
When 2GB radio host Alan Jones called the electric car policy an “economic suicide note”, the Prime Minister said: “It is, Alan. I couldn’t agree with you more on that.”
“Frankly, they want to tell you what car to drive? This will put up the price of everything.
“So whatever you’re driving, Bill Shorten doesn’t think you should. It’s 0.2 per cent of the market now, and he thinks he’s going to take it to 50 per cent in 10 years.”
Richard Ferguson 7.39am: PM — we’ll deliver surplus
Scott Morrison claims he will deliver his projected surplus — unlike Julia Gillard’s Labor government which projected a number of surpluses and failed to follow through — due to a more conservative approach to commodity price forecasts.
“In the last two budgets we bettered by what we said we would do by $10 billion,” he told the Nine Network.
“(Former treasurer) Wayne Swan put a budget together that assumed an iron ore price at $175 US a tonne, he probably still thinks it’s that price, it’s not anywhere near that.
“Our price forecasts with commodities are conservative, always have been. That’s why we outperformed with the budget and further ahead than a couple of years ago we said we would be.”
“I want Australians to earn more in a stronger economy and I want them to keep more of what they earn in a strong economy.†@ScottMorrisonMP on #Budget2019 #9News pic.twitter.com/J4ylWOMRh1
— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) April 2, 2019
Richard Ferguson 7.35am: PM leaves open poll date
Scott Morrison says he has not yet decided on an election date and left open the possibility of a late May election.
“There is 11, 18 or 25 May, they’re the options we have,” he told the Nine Network.
“When I decide to go out to the Governor-General then people will see that car drive to Yarralumla.”
.@ScottMorrisonMP says he hasn't made a decision about when the election will be. #9News pic.twitter.com/sHKW9znKjS
— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) April 2, 2019
Richard Ferguson 7.27am: Tax threshold vow ‘void’
Bill Shorten has declared the budget promise to bring down the tax threshold void as the Prime Minister would need three more terms to implement the plan.
“I have noticed the government’s making promises for halfway through the next decade,” he told ABC News.
“For that promise to be real, you have to vote for Scott Morrison two more times.
“So what we’ll do is we’ll do the first round of tax cuts, that makes sense, but beyond that, we’re not convinced that a person who earns $200,000 a year should get a tax cut 11 times the person on $40,000 a year.”
We will deliver a fair go for all Australians, not just the top end of town.
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) April 2, 2019
Richard Ferguson 7.25am: Shorten — we’ll deliver on cuts
Bill Shorten promises to deliver Scott Morrison’s tax cuts if Labor is elected next month, and bigger tax relief for low income voters.
“The Government has pretty much matched our tax cuts we offered last year, but yes, from 1 July whoever Australians vote for will get these tax cuts,” the Opposition Leader told ABC News.
“If you’re a married couple on $90,000, $65,000, whoever you vote for, you probably going to get a tax refund each year of about $2,000.
As ever with this government, the devil is always in the detail. If you earn $35,000, an amount less than $40,000, this government hasn’t given you the same improvement in tax cuts.
“So there’s two to three million Australian workers, low paid retail, many of them women, Labor will offer a slightly better deal to those people as well because just because you get $35,000 a year, doesn’t mean it should be ignored by a government.”
Richard Ferguson 7.20am: ‘It’s not about us’
Josh Frydenberg has batted off questions about whether Australian voters will trust the Coalition to deliver a surplus, since it has had three prime ministers in four years.
”I’m focused on the future and this government’s record is that since we have come to government, growth is higher, unemployment is lower, business investment is stronger and more than 1.2 million people are in a job,” he told ABC News.
“That is the product of hard work, disciplined decision-making. It is no accident.
“We are focused on the Australian people. It’s not about us, it’s about them.”
Great to join @Mjrowland68 on @BreakfastNews to chat about Australia's first surplus in over a decade. #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/0pIDkKbXuG
— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) April 2, 2019
Richard Ferguson 7.15am: ‘Wages growing faster’
Josh Frydenberg says higher productivity and lower taxes are the key to wages growth, as some commentators labelled wage forecasts in the budget “heroic.”
“The indicator of wage growth is 2.3% which is faster than inflation,” the Treasurer told ABC News.
“What the Reserve Bank Governor has said is that wages are growing faster across every state and major industry then they were a year ago.
“The policies that were put in place will boost the productive capacity of the economy and that will drive wages. What will not drive wages up is higher taxes.
“That’s what Bill Shorten is offering, we’re lowering tax.”
Richard Ferguson 7.10am: Labor ‘pretends to help’
Scott Morrison has tried to fight off a possible Labor gambit to offer bigger tax cuts by saying Bill Shorten is hiking taxes on some while “pretending to help others.”
“Labor’s tax plan is about taxing some people more to pretend they’re providing relief for others,” he said.
“We’re providing tax relief right across the board … that tax relief is designed to encourage Australians to keep doing what they’re doing.
“We’re not going to put a 45 per cent reckless emissions target, we’re not going to put a $5bn retirees tax, we’re not going to increase taxes for half the population.”
Richard Ferguson 7.00am: ‘I’ll let Aussies decide’
Scott Morrison will take his tax cuts to the polls next month and will not try to ram relief for low-and-middle-income earners through parliament this week.
“I’m going to put this budget to the Australian people,” he told ABC radio.
“Labor played this game last year and tried to split our tax plan last year and play games, and try to put up taxes for other people while pretending to help others.
“I’m going to let the Australian people decide on this. This will go to an election.
“If people think they can trust the Labor Party to lower taxes, well their form goes completely against that.”
What’s making news:
Scott Morrison will double tax cuts for low and middle-income earners in a $300 billion battle for middle Australia after confirming the pre-election budget is “back in the black” after more than a decade of deficits.
Among the billions in spending in last night’s budget is a carefully targeted plan to win back a wavering tribe of Coalition voters: outer-suburban and regional workers who travel long distances, who battle to make ends meet, who worry about their kids’ prospects and what will happen to their parents.
Bill Shorten has pledged to support the first stage of Scott Morrison’s expanded tax cut package for working and middle-class Australians, but will boost the size of tax relief for those earning less than $40,000.
Scott Morrison has pledged to avoid the mistakes of John Howard’s ill-fated 2007 campaign as he leaves open the possibility of holding an election as late as May 25.
Bill Shorten’s plan to revive car making in Australia through electric vehicles has been attacked by captains of industry who say the nation’s high manufacturing and energy costs have made the industry unviable.
Health Minister Greg Hunt has been accused of running a “Greens-style” re-election campaign, after publicly declaring his opposition to AGL’s plan to build Australia’s first liquefied natural gas import plant in his outer Melbourne electorate of Flinders.
A Queensland Nationals MP says the party’s more rebellious northern faction is providing a blueprint for election victory as the federal members of the regional party met for the first time since a backlash in its NSW heartlands.
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