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MYEFO: Greens Say Focus Should Be On How To Raise Revenue, Call For End To Panic On Debt

The Australian Greens have reacted to the release of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) by calling for an end to the panic about debt in favour of a new focus on how to raise revenue to fund services and jobs.

Milne

“Now is not the time to be talking about spending restraint because of a panic on debt,” said Greens leader Senator Christine Milne.

“The old parties wasted the resources boom,” Milne said. “A serious look at raising revenue is necessary to address subdued unemployment, an ageing workforce and increased demand for services.”

  • Listen to Milne (12m)

Text of media release from the Australian Greens.

End panic on debt and let’s talk about revenue and jobs – Greens

Responding to the release of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne has warned against deep budget cuts and says the focus should now be on how we can raise revenue to spend on public services and the infrastructure of the future. [Read more…]


“A Plan For Australian Jobs” – Gillard Launches Industry And Innovation Statement

The federal government has announced a $1 billion plan to promote jobs and productivity.

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, appeared today at the Boeing factory in Melbourne with the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, to launch the plan.

Gillard [Read more…]


Swan Abandons Budget Surplus For This Year; ‘Sledgehammer’ Hits Revenue

The Acting Prime Minister and Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has announced that the government no longer expects to meet its target of a budget surplus this financial year.

“Dramatically lower tax revenue now makes it unlikely that there will be a surplus in 2012-13,” Swan told a press conference in Canberra today.

A “sledgehammer” has hit government revenues, Swan said. “Unusual events” have weighed heavily on revenues which have been written down by $20 billion. Latest figures show a $3.9 billion revenue slump in the first four months of 2012-13. [Read more…]


ALP 1980 Federal Election Advertisement: Mick Young On Jobs And Unemployment

This is an ALP election advertisement telecast on the ABC during the 1980 federal election.

The broadcast was one of the free spots made available by law to the major political parties. It went to air on September 23, 1980.

The advertisement features Mick Young, the ALP’s member for Port Adelaide. Young was a former National Secretary of the party who was a key figure in Gough Whitlam’s campaigns. He went on to become Special Minister of State and then Minister for Immigration in the Hawke government. He retired from politics in 1988 and died in 1996.

  • Watch the ALP advertisement (7m)