Post by Banker on May 4, 2012 7:03:14 GMT 7
OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has questioned whether the Federal Government will go through with tough cuts in next week's Budget affecting single parents.
The Gillard Government is expected to reap savings of $700 million in next week's Budget by axing support payments to single unemployed parents who are not working when their youngest child turns eight.
"I'm in favour of people working wherever possible," Mr Abbott said on the Nine Network.
"I think that if you're fit and young you should work, preferably you should work for a wage, but if not you should work for the dole."
Under a 2006 arrangement, single mothers receive $648.50 a fortnight until their youngest child turns 16.
The new plan, which would come into effect in July 2013, would end the payments when the child turned eight.
Mr Abbott expressed doubt that the Government would go through with the welfare cuts, which would also reportedly affect disability support pensioners and welfare beneficiaries who travelled overseas for more than six weeks.
"I will believe it when I see it. This is a government which often talks tough but rarely delivers," he said.
Big cuts to defence were another example of the Government not honouring its commitment, Mr Abbott said.
Australia's defence department is expected to surrender about $4 billion in the Budget as the Federal Government looks for savings to ensure its promised Budget surplus for 2012/13.
"They made lots of commitments in a defence white paper just three years ago, now they're walking away from them," Mr Abbott said.
I think the question people are going to ask is, would you entrust the defence of the nation to Julia Gillard given that it seems you can't believe what she says?"
www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news-old/abbott-doubts-governments-tough-budget-talk/story-fn3dxity-1226346481684
The Gillard Government is expected to reap savings of $700 million in next week's Budget by axing support payments to single unemployed parents who are not working when their youngest child turns eight.
"I'm in favour of people working wherever possible," Mr Abbott said on the Nine Network.
"I think that if you're fit and young you should work, preferably you should work for a wage, but if not you should work for the dole."
Under a 2006 arrangement, single mothers receive $648.50 a fortnight until their youngest child turns 16.
The new plan, which would come into effect in July 2013, would end the payments when the child turned eight.
Mr Abbott expressed doubt that the Government would go through with the welfare cuts, which would also reportedly affect disability support pensioners and welfare beneficiaries who travelled overseas for more than six weeks.
"I will believe it when I see it. This is a government which often talks tough but rarely delivers," he said.
Big cuts to defence were another example of the Government not honouring its commitment, Mr Abbott said.
Australia's defence department is expected to surrender about $4 billion in the Budget as the Federal Government looks for savings to ensure its promised Budget surplus for 2012/13.
"They made lots of commitments in a defence white paper just three years ago, now they're walking away from them," Mr Abbott said.
I think the question people are going to ask is, would you entrust the defence of the nation to Julia Gillard given that it seems you can't believe what she says?"
www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news-old/abbott-doubts-governments-tough-budget-talk/story-fn3dxity-1226346481684