The 2013-14 Federal Budget finished with a deficit of $48.5 billion.
The Final Budget Outcome was announced today by the Treasurer, Joe Hockey, and the Minister for Finance, Senator Mathias Cormann. [Read more…]
Hockey And Cormann Hail Mining Tax Repeal As Best Possible Deal In The National Interest
Sep 02, 2014
Following today’s vote in the Senate to repeal the mining tax, the Treasurer, Joe Hockey, says the government has delivered on another of its election commitments.
Hockey, speaking at a joint press conference with the Finance Minister, Senator Mathias Cormann, said the government had secured the best possible deal it could in the national interest. He attacked the Labor Party for dealing itself out of negotiations. The Palmer United Party was only relevant, Hockey said, because the ALP would not negotiate. [Read more…]
Clive Palmer Addresses The National Press Club; Confirms PUP Opposition To Budget Cuts
Jul 07, 2014
Clive Palmer has addressed the National Press Club and confirmed that his party will oppose $9 billion of Budget cuts.
Palmer said that the Palmer United Party (PUP) senators would oppose measures linked to the repeal of the mining tax, including the abolition of the Schoolkids Bonus, low income support and superannuation rebates for low-income earners. [Read more…]
Clive Palmer And Andrew Wilkie Vote Against Budget Bills
Jun 23, 2014
Clive Palmer and Andrew Wilkie were the only members of the House of Representatives to vote against three Appropriation Bills late today.
Palmer, the member for Fairfax in Queensland, and Wilkie, the member for Denison in Tasmania, voted against Appropriation Bill No.1, Appropriation Bill No.2 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill No.1. The first two bills constitute a significant proportion of the Budget, including the “ordinary annual services” of the government, such as public service salaries. They used to be known as the Supply Bills.
In a bizarre media statement, Wilkie called on the Senate to block the Appropriation Bills as a means of forcing the government “back to the drawing board to prepare a fair budget”. Wilkie argued that blocking the bills would not cause a constitutional crisis because pension payments are covered by Standing Appropriations, “and Clive and I did not move to block the other Appropriation Bills”.
Wilkie said: ““If the Senate blocks the key Appropriation Bills the Government could give itself time to remedy the Budget. Interim budgets were implemented in 1984, 1987 and 1996. And even if an election was triggered then so what?” [Read more…]