Morrison's Pandemic Budget Leaves Too Many Behind

It revealed this Government is set to leave Australians with a trillion dollars in debt.

The Treasurer had hoped that the headline-seeking announcements would distract you from this figure, but the purchase doesn't match the price tag.

We are still without a comprehensive job plan, a roadmap to sustainable renewable energy, or investment in infrastructure that will set the next generation of Australia’s – who might I add will be paying for this debt – for the future.

By the Government’s own analysis, it expects another 160,000 Australians to be added to the jobless queues by Christmas.

Unemployment is too high, and it has been for too long. Sadly, the jobless rate is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels for another four years.

This Budget has left many Australians behind, including the 928,000 people aged over 35 on unemployment benefits who have been deliberately excluded from hiring subsidies.

Also let’s not forget the millions of casuals, higher education providers, and early years educators who were deliberately excluded from the JobKeeper subsidy.

And then we get to the real clanger: women.

Despite being disproportionately affected by the fall out of COVID-19, the Morrison-McCormack Government only devoted three paragraphs in Budget Paper 1 to women’s economic security.

In almost 1,000 pages, the Government still couldn't find space to lay out a plan for childcare.

It's simply not good enough. No Australian should be held back or left behind.

Labor's plans for a better and fairer Australia

In contrast, Labor Leader Anthony Albanese handed down a Budget reply that gives me hope for Australia’s future.

It was all about shaping Australian’s lives for the better, be that through:

• education
• job creation
• childcare
• ageing with dignity
• caring for the most vulnerable, and
• caring for our planet.

Labor has a vision for Australia’s future. A vision where mothers are able to return to full time work if they wish to do so without the barrier of prohibitive childcare fees.

If elected, the Albanese Government will cut childcare fees and put more money into the pockets of working families straight away. This will help thousands of families in our region.

Labor’s reform would see 97 per cent of families within the system up to $2,900 better off per year.

Families cannot continue to be burdened with the prohibitive costs of childcare. Labor’s plan would remove that barrier – which is often the reason why mothers and parents are unable to return to work.

Labor has a vision for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower. A vision for Australia to make things again.

I know many of you in Corangamite are crying out for certainty in the energy space – and you’re not the only ones! 

Labor will provide certainty – we will rebuild and modernise the ageing energy grid and drive down energy prices.

Our plan can bring 90 percent of supply onto renewables by 2035 and create thousands of jobs. 

Renewables are our future: for job creation and clean energy. That is no secret. It’s a shame this Government refuses to accept that.

This week I have returned to Parliament. It’s been a little while since I’ve stepped foot in Canberra, so I’m excited to get back in the Chamber to speak up for our region.

If you have any issues or concerns you would like to bring to my attention, please do not hesitate to drop me a line.

This story was originally published in Libby's October Newsletter. Please click here to subscribe to the email newsletter.