14-May-2008
Goldstein Media Releases, The Economy
The 2008 Federal Budget failed to take decisive action to help Bayside residents battling with rising costs of petrol, groceries, private health insurance and home interest rates.
“This is a return to Labor Budgets of yesterday – it increases taxes, increases spending, increases unemployment, plays the politics of envy and shows that Labor has no clear economic strategy,” Federal Member for Goldstein, Andrew Robb said today.
“The Treasurer is out of his depth. Mr Swan claimed this Budget would ease the pressure on inflation and honour Labor’s election commitments to families. But he’s failed at his first test.
“This Labor Budget is not ‘new leadership’ but ‘old Labor’.
“Bayside residents will be hurt by 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. Higher taxes put upward pressure on inflation,” Mr Robb said.
The previous Coalition Government left a strong economy, a strong surplus and a clear economic plan to keep the economy growing for all Australians.
“Labor’s Budget is a political ‘grab-bag’, not an economic strategy. This is proved by forecasts that unemployment will rise,” Mr Robb said.
In contrast, between 1996 and 2007 the unemployment rate in Goldstein was more than halved from 6.2% to 2.9%.
Media contact: Andrew Hudgson (03) 9557 4644 or 0404 020 896