Don’t give up on Australian families, Kevin
23rd May, 2008
There is plenty the Federal Government can still do to help Australian families, despite Kevin Rudd admitting he had failed to reduce cost of living pressures. The Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss, will today send the Prime Minister a list of suggestions for cutting household bills.
“I was astonished to see that less than six months after he assumed the job of running Australia, Mr Rudd now believes there is nothing more he can do,” Mr Truss said.
Mr Rudd’s words yesterday – “We have done as much as we physically can to provide additional help to the family budget. Recognising that the cost of everything is still going through the roof, the cost of food, cost of petrol, cost of rents, cost of childcare” – will anger anyone who voted Labor believing Mr Rudd had an economic plan.
“This astonishing admission comes only days after Mr Rudd stated that his dreadful first Budget would lead to a ‘modest increase’ in unemployment. That ‘modest’ number of people who face the sack next year is 134,000 – more than the entire population of Darwin or Toowoomba, and almost as many people who live in Cairns.
“I know Mr Rudd and his inexperienced team are finding it tough – Government always is. But giving up now, less than six months into the job, is a betrayal of 21 million people who expect a Government to lead and make decisions.
“So, in a spirit of doing what’s best for the nation, I offer Rudd Labor the following ideas.
“Firstly, follow the Coalition’s decisive lead and cut fuel excise by five cents a litre. Labor has a dreadful record on fuel excise – driving it up 500 percent between 1983 and 1996 – but cutting it now will be a relief for household budgets as petrol prices go through the roof.
“Secondly, Labor should dump its plans to increase diesel fuel excise and registration charges for heavy vehicles. The Government has admitted these rises will flow straight through to consumers and drive up grocery prices for all families.
“Thirdly, halt the inflationary Budget tax binge that will send up the price of working people’s Friday drinks, cars, private health insurance and energy.
“Mr Rudd inherited the strongest national economy of any first term government in Australian history, and now has a $22 billion Budget surplus. If he’s given up now, perhaps it is time he tried a different line of work,” Mr Truss said.
“No government has all the answers. But Mr Rudd has admitted that Labor has none.”
