In the News
Mr HAWKE (Mitchell) (11.11 am)—It is a privilege to rise today to oppose this bill. Let us be clear here today about what this government is seeking the parliament’s permission to do.
The government is asking the parliament to validate a tariff—a new tax, an excise, whatever you want to call it—when we know clearly that the intentions of this measure have been a total and utter failure. We know that this is a complete policy failure. We have had member after member on the government benches tell us today that this is all about the health of the Australian community, that these bills are somehow tied integrally to the health of Australians, to the consumption levels of alcohol and to health outcomes that the government is seeking to change or alter. But what is really going on is that this government is seeking to increase the excise, the tax, collected on one category of alcohol—ready-to-drink beverages.
VICTORIAN BUSH FIRE APPEAL 2009
My thoughts this week are with the people of Victoria as they come to grips with the devastation of the weekend's bush fire disaster, the full extent of which is not yet fully known.
I am sure that you would have seen the terrible images of destruction over the past days and I urge all members of our community to do what they can to help those who have been devastated by these fires.
The Red Cross has issued a call for blood donations to assist burns victims as well as establishing the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal 2009.
Donations can be made by phoning 1800 811 700 or by visiting: www.redcross.org.au
For further information please refer to the State Government of Victoria Website.
I thank the many men and women involved in the fire fighting effort and those people providing invaluable support services in the region.
The Rudd Labor Government’s $42 Billion stimulus package is a panicked short sighted response to the Global Financial Crisis.
Almost all economists agree that the economic crisis has a long way to go. In
seeking to urgently borrow 42 billion and spend it immediately, on low
quality measures, the Government appears to be panicking, firing all
our ammunition off at once.
This
latest package follows the failure of the first stimulus package of
$10.4 billion (some 1 per cent of GDP) which by all reports was saved
and not spent in spite of Mr Rudd’s urgings to “spend, spend, spend”.
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) (No.4) 2008-2009
Debate cut off by Mr Rudd:
This was one of 30 speeches cut off by the Rudd Labor Government in an attempt to limit debate and discussion on Labor’s package to plunge Australia into debt and deficit
The global financial crisis we are told by the Treasurer is the biggest crisis since the Depression. As an Opposition we take that very seriously and I take that very seriously as an elected representative of the Australian people.
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) (No.4) 2008-2009
Debate cut off by Mr Rudd:
This was one of 30 speeches cut off by the Rudd Labor Government in an attempt to limit debate and discussion on Labor’s package to plunge Australia into debt and deficit
The global financial crisis we are told by the Treasurer is the biggest crisis since the Depression. As an Opposition we take that very seriously and I take that very seriously as an elected representative of the Australian people.