Post by trevor on May 5, 2012 18:22:11 GMT 7
An open email to be sent to every Gillard Government Minister and Shadow Minister.
The Hypocrisy of the Gillard Government
If the Gillard Government goes through with their proposed welfare cuts in next week’s Budget, particularly with regards to reducing the portability period of overseas travel for pensioners from 13 to 6 weeks, this would be the benchmark of gross hypocrisy for Treasurer Wayne Swan.
One only needs to look no further than Wayne Swan’s speech to the Australian Parliament on 7th of October 2003 when he was the then Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services. Wayne Swan’s speech was in relation to the Howard Government’s proposed bill to reduce portability from 26 to 13 weeks:
Wayne Swan – Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services – 7th of October, 2003
"I now move to the specific provisions of this bill relating to portability. The measure within this legislation that concerns the opposition is the plan to limit the generosity of the portability provisions relating to work force age social security payments. In particular, this bill seeks to reduce the allowable period of temporary overseas absence for portable social security payments from 26 weeks to 13 weeks. This new portability period will also apply to a range of payments, including the disability support pension and family tax benefit. Labor is particularly concerned about the impact of this measure on some of our larger communities that have a heritage overseas. This includes former UK citizens and also the Greek community.
There are good reasons why the portability provisions should be 26 weeks and not 13. Many families who have parents or siblings living overseas are called upon to go to their aid when they get sick or are dying. In some cases this may involve finalising a person's estate. Often there is a need for a person to spend considerable time overseas. There has never been any evidence presented that shows the current rules have been abused. In fact, the net savings the government is claiming for this provision amount to $4.1 million, and I think they confirm the fact that the government also does not believe that the rules have been abused. These are mean changes that will have a direct impact on people who have loved ones in other countries and they are changes which we will be urging Senator Patterson to join with us in rejecting when this bill reaches the Senate."
The Hypocrisy of the Gillard Government
If the Gillard Government goes through with their proposed welfare cuts in next week’s Budget, particularly with regards to reducing the portability period of overseas travel for pensioners from 13 to 6 weeks, this would be the benchmark of gross hypocrisy for Treasurer Wayne Swan.
One only needs to look no further than Wayne Swan’s speech to the Australian Parliament on 7th of October 2003 when he was the then Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services. Wayne Swan’s speech was in relation to the Howard Government’s proposed bill to reduce portability from 26 to 13 weeks:
Wayne Swan – Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services – 7th of October, 2003
"I now move to the specific provisions of this bill relating to portability. The measure within this legislation that concerns the opposition is the plan to limit the generosity of the portability provisions relating to work force age social security payments. In particular, this bill seeks to reduce the allowable period of temporary overseas absence for portable social security payments from 26 weeks to 13 weeks. This new portability period will also apply to a range of payments, including the disability support pension and family tax benefit. Labor is particularly concerned about the impact of this measure on some of our larger communities that have a heritage overseas. This includes former UK citizens and also the Greek community.
There are good reasons why the portability provisions should be 26 weeks and not 13. Many families who have parents or siblings living overseas are called upon to go to their aid when they get sick or are dying. In some cases this may involve finalising a person's estate. Often there is a need for a person to spend considerable time overseas. There has never been any evidence presented that shows the current rules have been abused. In fact, the net savings the government is claiming for this provision amount to $4.1 million, and I think they confirm the fact that the government also does not believe that the rules have been abused. These are mean changes that will have a direct impact on people who have loved ones in other countries and they are changes which we will be urging Senator Patterson to join with us in rejecting when this bill reaches the Senate."
