ID :
174878
Tue, 04/12/2011 - 13:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/174878
The shortlink copeid
Australian greens step up budget fight
SYDNEY (AAP) - 12.04.2011 - The Australian Greens say they'll fight medical research cuts and push for proposed corporate tax cuts to be shelved in the federal budget, as a test of the federal government's "values".
As part of forming minority government last year, the Greens have agreed not to block budget supply.
But the party - which will hold the balance of power in the Senate from July - is battling the government over budget priorities, and is set to bring a number of amendments to parliament.
"We'll judge each measure on its merits and amend them as appropriate," a spokesman told AAP.
Greens MP Adam Bandt addressed a rally in Melbourne on Tuesday, held to raise concerns about a possible $400 million cut to medical research funding over four years.
Mr Bandt gave the clearest indication yet that the Greens would not accept such a cut, and that they would push for the one per cent corporate tax cut - funded by the proposed mining tax - to be reconsidered.
"The government is planning on cutting the big business tax rate by a per cent, which is going to cost the Australian revenue $18 billion over the next decade," Mr Bandt said.
"This budget is going to be a very clear test of the government's values.
"Are you prepared on the one hand to hand out billions of dollars to big business while at the same time cutting health and medical research and all the important discoveries and benefits for Australian society that will bring?"
Greens leader Bob Brown met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard to discuss the budget on April 7 and plans further meetings ahead of its delivery on May 10.
He has proposed a flat 20 per cent fringe benefits tax on company cars, which Treasury says will save just under $1 billion over the next four years.
And he wants the money saved from not advancing the corporate tax cut to go to a dental health scheme, which was promised in Labor's minority government agreement with the Greens.
But while Health Minister Nicola Roxon has said the government will honour the commitment this term, she noted that "this term doesn't end with the budget that's coming up".
Researchers have backed the Greens push, with Universities Australia chairman Professor Peter Coaldrake telling the prime minister in a letter on Tuesday that research should be a "key plank" in the budget.
"Australia will risk weakening its place in the global knowledge economy if we do not sustain and continue to grow investment in our research endeavours," the letter said.
Ms Gillard told reporters in Canberra she would not speculate on budget cuts.
The government is budgeting to keeping real spending growth at three-quarters of a per cent a year on average over the next three years.
"We have an economy that is strong ... and the right thing to do with an economy that is moving towards full capacity and full strength is to deliver a budget surplus," Ms Gillard said.
"That is the best way we can help Australian families with cost of living pressures, to help manage inflationary pressures and that's what the budget is going to do."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the idea of cutting medical research funding was "bizarre" and there were many other areas that could be cut.
"It shows that this is just a government with no sense of priorities," Mr Abbott said.
As part of forming minority government last year, the Greens have agreed not to block budget supply.
But the party - which will hold the balance of power in the Senate from July - is battling the government over budget priorities, and is set to bring a number of amendments to parliament.
"We'll judge each measure on its merits and amend them as appropriate," a spokesman told AAP.
Greens MP Adam Bandt addressed a rally in Melbourne on Tuesday, held to raise concerns about a possible $400 million cut to medical research funding over four years.
Mr Bandt gave the clearest indication yet that the Greens would not accept such a cut, and that they would push for the one per cent corporate tax cut - funded by the proposed mining tax - to be reconsidered.
"The government is planning on cutting the big business tax rate by a per cent, which is going to cost the Australian revenue $18 billion over the next decade," Mr Bandt said.
"This budget is going to be a very clear test of the government's values.
"Are you prepared on the one hand to hand out billions of dollars to big business while at the same time cutting health and medical research and all the important discoveries and benefits for Australian society that will bring?"
Greens leader Bob Brown met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard to discuss the budget on April 7 and plans further meetings ahead of its delivery on May 10.
He has proposed a flat 20 per cent fringe benefits tax on company cars, which Treasury says will save just under $1 billion over the next four years.
And he wants the money saved from not advancing the corporate tax cut to go to a dental health scheme, which was promised in Labor's minority government agreement with the Greens.
But while Health Minister Nicola Roxon has said the government will honour the commitment this term, she noted that "this term doesn't end with the budget that's coming up".
Researchers have backed the Greens push, with Universities Australia chairman Professor Peter Coaldrake telling the prime minister in a letter on Tuesday that research should be a "key plank" in the budget.
"Australia will risk weakening its place in the global knowledge economy if we do not sustain and continue to grow investment in our research endeavours," the letter said.
Ms Gillard told reporters in Canberra she would not speculate on budget cuts.
The government is budgeting to keeping real spending growth at three-quarters of a per cent a year on average over the next three years.
"We have an economy that is strong ... and the right thing to do with an economy that is moving towards full capacity and full strength is to deliver a budget surplus," Ms Gillard said.
"That is the best way we can help Australian families with cost of living pressures, to help manage inflationary pressures and that's what the budget is going to do."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the idea of cutting medical research funding was "bizarre" and there were many other areas that could be cut.
"It shows that this is just a government with no sense of priorities," Mr Abbott said.
