May 21, 2014
Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd has defended the Federal Budget.saying it is a myth there have been massive cuts to health, education and pensions.
“Unfortunately, people are being taken in by the scare-mongering campaign going on in the media,” Mr O’Dowd said today.
“People believe the government is bringing in massive cuts to health, education and pensions. Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact the government has increased spending in these areas over this term.”
Mr O’Dowd said it was “time for a dose of reality”.
“We have one of the fastest growing debts of all OECD countries and that is simply unsustainable,” he said.
“The point is not the relative level of debt now, but the trajectory that the debt is headed on.
“Unless the government is allowed to make changes to turn it around, the debt will become virtually insurmountable and future governments will be forced to bring in drastic austerity measures like they have in Greece.
“The simple fact is that Australia cannot keep going the way it is. Surely people must understand that we cannot keep giving everyone everything they want without turning the country into a basket case.
“If you believe the measure of a good government is one that buys votes by giving away money it does not have, racking it up on the credit card, promising even more into the future, knowing that their promises can never be delivered, then Labor and the Palmer United Party are for you.
“I was totally horrified to hear the new Palmer United Party Senator-elect from Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie, say she wants to take $30 billion of profits from the big four banks. If that’s not nationalising the banks what is?”
“This government is making modest changes now to ensure that Australia doesn’t end up like Greece.
“Labor’s Budget reply in essence was to say “What debt? We won’t let the government fix our mess. Instead, we will give you more, make you feel happy in the short term and who gives a damn about the future – not us!”
