MEDIA RELEASE: LIBERALS THINK BUDGET MEASURES ARE “100 PER CENT DESIRABLE”

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann today confirmed ripping unemployment benefits away from jobseekers for six months, introducing a GP Tax and $100,000 degrees are all still 100 per cent desirable.

“We will always focus on what is achievable over what is 100 per cent desirable,”

MATHIAS CORMANN – ABC RADIO NATIONAL – 2 MARCH 2015 

With reports today suggesting the Government is preparing to drop some Budget measures, Ministers must come clean with Australians and outline if measures are being dropped entirely or simply shelved for a later date.

Tony Abbott is saying and doing whatever it takes to keep his job, but with Government ministers confirming unfair Budget measures are still 100 per cent desirable, how long until dropped measures reappear?

Tony Abbott always says he’ll do the right thing immediately before people vote. He did it before the Federal Election, he did it before the Victorian Election and now he’s doing it before the New South Wales Election.

Labor believes in a universal healthcare system where visiting your doctor depends on your Medicare card not your credit card. We won’t be dropping our campaign against the GP Tax because every Liberal and National MP believes in a GP Tax.

It doesn’t matter who’s leading the Liberal Party; Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop, Scott Morrison – they’d all introduce a GP Tax the first chance they get. The Prime Minister’s claims mean nothing.

The Government needs to realise it’s not the selling of the Budget that’s the problem, it’s the unfair measures.

Instead of favouring people who need help the least and hurting those who can least afford it, the Government needs to go back to the drawing board and start again.

Labor believes in a strong and growing economy that delivers for all Australians and doesn’t leave anyone behind.