Federal Opposition Leader Blames Albanese Government for Potential Interest Rate Increase
In his second budget reply speech in less than a year, Peter Dutton, the federal opposition leader, has blamed the Albanese government for any future increase to interest rates. He argued that their second budget would fuel inflation and make life harder for millions of Australians. Dutton labelled Jim Chalmers’s second budget as treasurer big spending, posing temporary ‘Band-Aid’ relief that will result in more pain.
Cost-of-Living Measures
Dutton criticised the temporary nature of cost-of-living relief and argued that it was targeted at Australians on welfare but at the expense of the many, including Labor’s working poor. He called it a band-aid now, but much more pain later. The budget’s $1.5 billion package to give up to $500 relief on power bills for 1 million small businesses and 5 million households on government assistance has been modelled to reduce inflation by a quarter of a per cent next financial year.
Jobseeker and Youth Allowance
Dutton remained vague on his position on the government’s $40 a fortnight increase to some income support, including Jobseeker and Youth Allowance. The Coalition will support changes to increase support for over 55s on Jobseeker but has proposed a new policy. “The Coalition is proposing a permanent increase to the income free threshold, meaning people will earn more before their welfare payment is increased,” he said.
Women’s Health
The opposition has proposed allocating an additional $9 million for women’s health and vowed to restore 20 Medicare-subsidised psychological sessions, up from the current 10.
Sports Betting Advertising Ban
Dutton vowed a Coalition government would move to ban sports betting advertising during and an hour either side of sports matches.
Other Proposals
The opposition leader announced support for the government’s 15 per cent increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, $3.5 billion to triple the bulk billing incentive for children under 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession card holders and changes to eligibility for the parenting payment.
Conclusion
Dutton accused the government of backing a ‘Big Australia’ citing a projected increase to migration, which has been fuelled by the return of international students and travellers. He argued that the government’s budget would fuel inflation and make life harder for millions of Australians.
Source: abc.net.au
