FEDERAL BUDGET LETS LOCAL FAMILIES DOWN
IT RAISES TAXES ON CARS, ALCOHOL, ENERGY, COMPUTER SOFTWARE, FRINGE BENEFITS, PASSPORTS, VISAS, PASSENGER MOVEMENTS AND INCREASES THE COST OF PRIVATE INSURANCE.
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today that the 2008 Federal Budget has let local families in my electorate down.
“It is a typical Labor Budget – it increases taxes and massively increases spending,” Mr Ruddock said.
“Clearly the Rudd Government has let my constituents down when the Prime Minister claimed this Budget would ease the pressure on inflation and honour Labor’s election commitments to families. The Government failed its first test.”
“This Budget will do nothing to meet Labor’s promises to keep grocery prices, petrol prices and home interest rates down.”
“Local residents in the electorate of Berowra should take no comfort from Labor’s decision to raise taxes on cars, alcohol, energy, computer software, fringe benefits, passenger movements, passports, visa applications and increase the costs of private health insurance,” Philip Ruddock said.
“Labor was left a strong economy by the Coalition Government, which had a clear strategy to keep the economy growing.
“In contrast, Labor’s Budget is a political ‘grab-bag’, not an economic strategy. Constituents deserve better than that.
“What should concern the electorate greatly is that unemployment will increase as a result of this Budget - with Treasury forecasts showing 134,000 fewer people in jobs.
“When it comes to the various Investment Funds on infrastructure, education and health, there is an appalling lack of detail with no clear explanation of what criteria will be used for the administration and expenditure of billions of dollars in taxpayers’ money.
“The bottom line is that Labor has not kept their election promises. Labor promised not to touch private health insurance but they’re gutting it. Labor promised to leave the baby bonus alone but they’re slashing it. Labor promised not to increase tax, but taxes have gone up.
“After promising so much before the election, Labor has let local families down,” Philip Ruddock said.