JOE Hockey has apologised for his comments about the fuel levy and beats his chest loudly saying he has battled on behalf of the poor all his life.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In his apology he provided no evidence of him ever helping the poor.
Nor is there anything on his ministerial website (let alone Liberal Party policy) that indicates this.
His budget discriminates against the poor, eg charging for a doctor’s visit, a levy on fuel, reduced pension increases and increased university fees.
These measures disproportionately affect the poor.
The only burden on the well-off is a small temporary levy on their income.
He defends the need for a harsh budget pointing to a “budget crisis”, yet he is already talking of tax cuts in the near future. (Note tax cuts aid the wealthy most).
So much for budget crises.
Maybe it’s the Medicare funding crisis?
Why then is the $7 levy not going to fund Medicare — $2 is going to doctors and $5 is being put aside to fund future medical research.
The head of Medicare wasn’t aware there was a crisis.
Finally, Joe Hockey has not released the “traditional” treasury analysis showing the effect of his budget on various families/income levels.
I guess this is because he is aware it disproportionately hits the poor.
More tellingly, despite his apology, he is refusing to change the budget.
If he were truly sorry for the poor he would redo his budget immediately.
— GREG OATES,
Huon Creek