"The federal budget steals from the poor to give to the rich. It's a sick case of Robin Hood in reverse." That's the verdict on Peter Costello's 10th budget from the Socialist Alliance, a party that mobilises in the interests of workers, the poor and the vulnerable.
"At least two thirds of workers will get $6 or less in proposed tax cuts. This is an insult — especially given that big majorities in opinion polls have shown they prefer better public services to tax cuts", said Socialist Alliance co-convenor David Glanz.
"Yet the wealthiest will be getting $86 a week back by July next year. Just how many of those are scrambling to pay bills and put food on the table for their kids?"
"It gets worse", fellow Socialist Alliance national convenor Louise Walker said. "The affluent get another $2.5 billion in cuts to the superannuation surcharge and business gets $1.8 billion in tax cuts. Yet the government is going to put the boot into people with disabilities and single mothers."
"This is naked class hatred and class war from the Liberals — all the more reason for unionists and welfare recipients to get out on the streets on June 30 in the union protests planned around the country", Glanz stressed.
"Labor is right to say it will block the tax cuts. But it will lose its lose its influence in the Senate from July 1. It's about time Kim Beazley and his MPs stopped giving ground to the Liberal agenda and did the right thing by their voters and supported the union rallies.
"The Liberals are launching assault after assault on Australian workers and their families. It's time for us to unite on the streets and give them a taste of their own medicine", Walker concluded.
From Green Left Weekly, May 25, 2005.
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