LABOR’S BUDGET CREATES MAJOR COST OF LIVING PRESSURES
Labor’s big spending and taxing budget will drive up cost of living and put additional pressure on locals, Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie said today.
Dr Gillespie said despite Labor’s cash handouts, electricity prices would continue to rise substantially for households and businesses.
“Mr Albanese promised he would reduce household power bills by $275, yet even with the budget measures, they are projected to rise by more than $500,” Dr Gillespie said.
“We need practical energy policies to help combat rising electricity prices. Instead Labor is more concerned with funding an entirely new grid and supporting the closure of coal-fired power plants before there is an appropriate replacement, and all this will do is drive up household electricity prices.”
Dr Gillespie also said Labor’s Budget will introduce a new food tax on Australian families, right in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
“A new tax on farmers to pay for the biosecurity risk of international importers makes no sense, and will be passed on to consumers, which means even higher grocery bills for all families.
“Why should Australian farmers be forced to pay for the biosecurity costs of importers from other countries,” Dr Gillespie said.
The Albanese government is also increasing the road user charge on truckies by 19 per cent, over three years.
Truckies will be forced to pay an additional 5.2c/L charge which will add to grocery bills for families.
“Whether you’re at the supermarket buying nappies, toilet paper, bread or fresh fruit and vegetables, what you’re putting in your trolley is going to be more expensive because of Labor’s new taxes.”
This Budget confirms:
• Your cost of living continues to go up;
• Your gas and electricity bills continue to skyrocket;
• No growth in real wages this year;
• Inflation remains stubbornly high;
• Debt will rise;
• Unemployment will rise; and
• Higher taxes for Australians.
Dr Gillespie said the region would continue to bear the brunt of cuts to regional infrastructure.
“Labor has delayed or axed several regional and infrastructure programs that are important to our community and the local economy.”
“Not only is the Albanese government making us all pay for their excessive spending, but they are also penalising Regional Australia and making it harder for farmers to produce food and get it on your table at a reasonable price.”
Labor will also force local communities to wait two years to access regional grant programs, with funding that was available in 2022 under the Coalition now delayed until well into 2024.
“Labor has pushed back critical funding needed for our community, while only targeting projects worth more than $1 million. It means smaller projects like sports ovals, playgrounds and libraries will be ineligible for funding in most communities.
“Ripping up or delaying investments in roads, rail, bridges, dams and community facilities, while increasing costs on heavy vehicles and taking away regional grants programs, is not how we build a more prosperous, stronger and sustainable Australia.”
“Labor has increased welfare spending on programs like JobSeeker, but when we have 438,500 job vacancies and businesses crying out for employees they need to be more proactive about getting people back into the workforce,” Dr Gillespie said.
“The government has taken months to put this budget together and as we continue to get across the detail, it is clear that Labor is trying to implement their pet projects without having the money to fund them. Instead, they are ripping the regions apart, taking Australia further into debt and relying on the economic windfall they have just received from both the resources sector and the economic dividends of the Coalition’s Post-Covid Economic Strategy,’ he added.