24 May 2016 1

BILL SHORTEN’S $66.87 BILLION GREAT BIG

BUDGET BLACK HOLE

2016-17

to

2019-20

A Labor’s proposals to increase taxes +$13.97 billion

B Labor’s savings proposals +$2.32 billion

Subtotal +$16.29 billion

C Savings and revenue measures proposed by the Government

that Labor are blocking or have said they would oppose -$18.15 billion

D The cost of Labor’s promises so far -$30.40 billion

E Spending Labor says we must restore from banked savings -$34.61 billion

Labor’s new Budget black hole -$66.87 billion

24 May 2016 2

A. Labor’s proposals to increase taxes - $13.97 billion (estimated over 2016-17 to

2019-20)

A1) Labor's multinational tax proposal (estimated at $1.65 billion)

Treasury analysis of Labor’ thin capitalisation policy that says it is unquantifiable, but we note they

have said their thin cap policy raises $1.65 billion over the forwards out of a total of $1.9 billion, and

so extending that on a pro-rata basis would raise $6.26 billion over 10 years (since the total

multinational package raises $7.2 bn over that period). Labor’s announced policy includes four

elements, including thin capitalisation reduced to 30% - this is the only element included in these

numbers; Hybrid rules - redundant as it is included in the 16-17 Budget; Increased ATO compliance -

redundant as it is included in the 16-17 Budget; 3rd party data matching - redundant as the policy was

to bring forward this measure to start on 1 July 2015 instead of 1 July 2016, which has now passed

Shorten, Bowen and Leigh media release 13 April 2015

A2) Negative Gearing and CGT (estimated at $1.39 billion)

Source: Shorten, Bowen and Gallagher Release, 13 February 2016

A3) Continue Deficit Levy ($4.2 billion)

Source: Chris Bowen interview on Seven News, 3 May 2016

A4) Reversing the Government’s 10 year enterprise tax plan to increase the small business entity

turnover threshold and reducing the company tax rate to 25% ($4.87 billion)

Source: Bill Shorten 2016-17 Budget in reply 5 May 2016

A5) Labor's Superannuation Policy (estimated at $1.86 billion)

Source: ALP Fact Sheet issued by Shorten office 22 April 2015

Labor’s Climate Change Action Plan – Labor are yet to release costings

Source: Shorten and Butler Media Release, 27 April 2016

Labor’s continued increase in tobacco excise (would no longer raise any additional revenue based on

2016-17 Budget measures)

Source: http://www.alp.org.au/bestpracticetobaccopolicy

B. Labor’s savings proposals – $2.32 billion

B1) Not increasing the rate of FTB-B by $1000 for Children under one years ($497 million)

Source: Shorten, Bowen and Macklin media release 10 November 2015

B2) Not increasing FTB-A, Youth Allowance and DSP Child allowances for under 18s living at home

by $10 per fortnight ($1.20 billion)

Source: Shorten, Bowen and Macklin media release 10 November 2015

B3) Not conduct a plebiscite on gay marriage ($158 million)

Source: Tony Burke interview with Greg Jennett on ABC News 24 on 2 February 2016

B4) Not proceeding with the Emissions Reduction Fund ($462 million)

Source: Bill Shorten, Doorstop in Launceston, 8 May 2016 - "we've proposed through going after

wasteful government expenditure, including the joke of a direct action policy, which my opponent’s

now adopted from Tony Abbott, we will do budget repair that is fair"

24 May 2016 3

Cap vocational education loans at $8,000 per student – Labor claim it would raise $6 billion over 10

years, but need to release their costings to prove it. The cash impact of this policy would be negative

without the Public Debt Interest impact.

Source: Bill Shorten 2016-17 Budget in reply, 5 May 2016

C. Savings and revenue measures put forward by Government which Labor are

blocking - $18.15 billion (2016-17 to 2019-20)

C1) Switching under 25s from Newstart to Youth Allowance ($639 million)

Source: Shorten and Macklin media release, 22 October 2014

C2) Ceasing the Pensioner Education Supplement ($284 million)

Source: Shorten and Macklin media release, 22 October 2014

C3) One week waiting period for working age payments ($256 million)

Source: Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Dissenting report from Labor Senators on

the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Youth Employment and Other Measures) Schedule 1:

Ordinary Waiting Period, 11August 2015

C4) Ceasing the Education Entry Payment ($65 million)

Source: Shorten and Macklin media release, 22 October 2014

C5) Revised Higher Education Reforms ($3.27 billion)

Source: Kim Carr media release, 31 March 2015

C6) ARENA Savings ($1.03 billion)

Source: Mark Butler, Hansard, 28 August 2014

C7) Abolish the Seafarer Tax Offset ($16m)

Source: Andrew Leigh, Hansard, 17 June 2015

C8) Maintain Eligibility Thresholds (indexation) ($302m)

Source: Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Social Services Legislation Amendment

(Youth Employment and Other Measures) Bill 2015 [Provisions] August 2015 – Dissenting Report

from Labor Senators

C9) Opposing Government measure of Under 25s one month youth income support waiting period

($245 million)

Source: Macklin and O’Connor media release, 28 May 2015

C10) Phase out the Family Tax Benefit end of year supplements ($6.34 billion)

Source: Shorten, Bowen and Macklin media release, 10 November 2015

C11) Restructure of Family Tax Benefit Part B rates – less ceasing the FTB-B for couple families

with children 13 years or over, which Labor have said they will support ($1.02 billion)

Source: Shorten, Bowen and Macklin media release, 10 November 2015

C12) Changes to diagnostic imaging and pathology services bulk-billing incentives ($923 million)

Source: Catherine King media release, 16 December 2015

C13) Australian Working Life Residence ($246 million)

Source: Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Social Services Legislation Amendment

(Fair and Sustainable Pensions) Bill 2015 [Provisions], June 2015, pp.30-31

24 May 2016 4

C14) New Adult and Child Public Dental Scheme ($1.30 billion)

Source: Catherine King media release, 2 May 2016

C15) Abolishing the Energy Supplement ($1.33 billion)

Source: Jenny Macklin Media Release, 4 May 2016

C16) Research and Development Tax Incentive — reducing the rates of the refundable and non-

refundable tax offsets ($890 million)

Source: Andrew Leigh, Hansard, 17 June 2015

D. The cost of Labor’s promises so far (2016-17 to 2019-20) - $30.40 billion

D1) Waive HECS debts for 100,000 Science Technology Engineering and Maths Uni students

(estimated at $696m)

Source: Bill Shorten, Budget Reply, 14 May 2015 – “we will write off the HECS debt of 100,000

science technology, engineering and maths students.”

D2) New "Smart Investment" fund to back great Australian ideas ($500 million)

Source: Bill Shorten, Budget Reply, 14 May 2015 – “Labor will create a new, $500 million, Smart

Investment Fund, to back-in great Australian ideas.”

D3) Boost the skills of 25,000 current primary and secondary teachers ($127 million)

Source: Bill Shorten, Budget Reply, 14 May 2015 – “Labor will boost the skills of 25,000 current

primary and secondary teachers.”

D4) Train an additional 25,000 new teachers who are science and technology graduates ($306 million)

Source: Shorten and Ellis Media Release, 13 May 2016 - "To help achieve this goal, Labor will invest

$393 million to provide 25,000 teaching scholarships over five years to recent graduates of STEM

degrees, encouraging them to continue their study and become a STEM teacher."

D5) Treasury office set up in Perth CBD with 15 staff ($1.4 million)

Source: West Australian Article, 16 July 2015 – “Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen will today commit

to setting up a Perth CBD office of Treasury with 15 staff including some recruited directly from

WA.”

D6) Doubling of the Humanitarian intake ($17 million)

Source: The Australian Article, 27 July 2015 – “Labor will match the Abbott government’s increase

in the humanitarian intake from the current 13,750 places to 18,750 by 2018. ‘We will be matching

them during that period in terms of the increase and then we will continue increasing it from that

period through until 2025 to take it to 27,000,’ Mr Marles said.”

D7) Additional UNHCR funding ($450 million)

Source: The Australian Article, 27 July 2015 – “Labor now goes to the election with a suite of

measures that includes...dedicating $450 million over the forward estimates to the UN High

Commissioner for Refugees”

D8) Reinstating the Automotive Transformation Scheme ($971 million). Note Labor has said they

would continue the ATS at current funding levels ($300m per year) until 2021 and would widen the

qualifications in order to prevent underspends. This figure is based on the difference between the total

amounts per year and the projected spends in the 2015-16 Budget.

Source: Senate Economics References Committee, Inquiry into the Future of Australia’s Automotive

Industry, Interim Report, Chapter 3, 3.33, 19 August 2015 – “At a minimum, the committee considers

24 May 2016 5

the current level of ATS funding needs to be maintained through to 2021 as provided for in the ATS

Act. IN addition, current underspends in the ATS should be rephrased from stage 1 to stage 2.”

D9) Domestic Violence/Women funding ($72m)

Source: http://www.alp.org.au/familyviolence - “Labor’s interim package will deliver more than $70

million over three years in targeted funding to ensure those suffering from family violence can access

critical service.”

D10) Labor’s fairer plan for universities ($2.5 billion)

This is the net cost over the forward estimates (estimated by the PBO) of introducing a Student

Funding Guarantee, providing $31 million in funding for Tertiary Education Quality Standards

Australia, and establishing an independent Higher Education Productivity and Performance

Commission. Labor has indicated that this $2.5b net cost includes the impact of not proceeding with

the following measures announced by the Government:

Expansion of the demand-driven system to sub-bachelor places and to bachelor places at non-

university higher education providers;

Abolishing FEE–HELP and VET FEE–HELP loan fees; and

Establishment of the Structural Adjustment Fund promised to help regional universities adjust

to a deregulated system.

Source: http://www.nodebtsentence.org/laborsfairerplan - “... Labor has a fairer plan for our universities... The net impact of Labor’s package, costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, is $2.5 billion over the budget forward estimates.”

D11) Extra funding to Australian NGOs in developing countries ($160 million)

Source: Tanya Plibersek media release 16 October 2015 – “Labor commits an extra $40 million a

year to help some of the world’s poorest people.”

D12) New Townsville Stadium ($100 million)

Source: Shorten, Chalmers, Collins and O’Toole media release 4 November 2015 – “A Shorten Labor

Government will provide $100 million to build a new Townsville Stadium in partnership with the

Queensland Labor Government.”

D13) Extra funding of $2 million a year to peak disability advocacy organisations ($4 million)

Source: http://www.alp.org.au/disabilityadvocacyplan - “Labor will provide an additional $2 million

a year to peak disability advocacy organisations.”

D14) Labor schools funding – ($5.45 billion)

Source: Shorten and Ellis media release 28 January 2016 – “Labor’s Your Child. Our Future plan

will see an additional investment in our education system of $4.5 billion over school years 2018 ad

2019 an d a total provision of $37.3.billion for the package over the decade.”

D15) Committing an additional $9 million on Aboriginal vision loss ($9 million)

Source: Shorten Close the Gap Speech , 10 February 2016 - "So, today, I am pleased to announce

that a Labor Government will commit an additional $9 million to close the gap in Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander vision loss."

D16) Funding for Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy and Anaphylaxis

Australia for managing allergic diseases ($1 million)

Source: Catherine King Media Release, 29 April 2016 – “A Shorten Labor Government will commit

$1.1 million to better manage allergic diseases and their associated health risks.”

D17) Royal Commission into the Banking and Financial Services Sector ($53 million)

24 May 2016 6

Source: Shorten, Bowen, Dreyfuss and Chalmers Media Release, 8 April, 2016 – “The proposal for a

Royal Commission into Australia’s Financial Services Industry has been costed by the independent

Parliamentary Budget Office at $53 million over two years.”

D18) Funding to support social cohesion and economic inclusion ($28 million)

Source: http://www.alp.org.au/advancing_multicultural_australia - “Labor has a policy to ensure the

contribution of new migrants is both a social and economic benefit for Australia... The Budget impact

of this package of measures is $28.3m over the forward estimates.”

D19) National Coding in Schools Centre ($9 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/computer_coding_for_every_school - “We will also

invest $9 million to establish a National Coding in Schools centre (NCIS).”

D20) Girls into Code ($4.5 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/girls_into_code - “Labor will launch Girls into

Code – a $4.5 million grants program to support organisations that promote, encourage and inspire

girls to learn code.”

D21) University of Tasmania grant ($150 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/university_of_tasmania_jobs_and_growth_package "A Shorten Labor Government will invest $150 million in the education-driven economic revival of

North and North-Western Tasmania to improve education outcomes and deliver jobs. Under the $300

million co-investment plan with the University of Tasmania, two new campuses will be constructed at

Inveresk in Launceston and West Park in Burnie. "

D22) Regional Incubators and Accelerators ($33 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/regional_incubators_and_accelerators "Labor will

create a Regional Innovation Fund, which will kickstart a range of initiatives to expand the role of

Australia’s regions in contribution to the national innovation effort."

D23) National Digital Workforce Plan ($17.8 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/national_digital_workforce_plan - " Labor will

develop a far reaching blueprint required to tackle the serious skills deficits holding back the sector

and preventing us from extracting the great economic advantage that comes from embracing

innovation."

D24) Additional funding for Independent Schools associations and Catholic education commissions

($82 million)

Source:http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/your_child_our_future_nongovt_school_funding_support - "A new Labor Government will provide $82 million to Independent schools associations and

Catholic education commissions for the duration of the original six-year Gonski agreements."

D25) 100 scholarships for Indigenous students to be teachers ($4.8 million)

Source: http://www.billshorten.com.au/labor_to_invest_in_indigenous_students - "Labor will

provide $4.8 million over the forward estimates to fund 100 scholarships per year for Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander students, and increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

teachers."

D26) Stars Foundation – Indigenous girls program ($8.4 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/empowering_indigenous_girls - “Labor’s $8.4

million investment will direct resources to the only national organisation solely dedicated to the

engagement, development and empowerment of Indigenous girls and young women.”

24 May 2016 7

D27) Youth Jobs Connect ($21 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/youth_jobs_pathway - “Labor’s $21 million Youth

Jobs Connect pilot will help get more young people working and pursue a new approach to helping

young Australians make successful transitions from school into employment.” D28) Referendum on a Republic ($317 million)

Costing assumes a plebiscite and a referendum as outlined in Labor’s policy.

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/republic_timeline - “Labor's roadmap to a republic will include thorough consultation with the Australian people through: A Constitutional Convention;

A plebiscite to gauge support for an Australian Head of State, and a preferred model of appointment

and a referendum to formally adopt a change.”

D29) M1 Gateway merge ($168 million)

Source: Chalmers and Hardman Media Release, 10 May 2016 - "a Shorten Labor Government will invest $168 million towards easing congestion on the southbound M1-Gateway merge by building additional lanes between Eight Mile Plains and Springwood." D30) Schofields car park ($5 million)

Source: Albanese and Rowland Media Release, 11 May 2016 - "A Shorten Labor Government will provide $5 million to expand commuter car parking at Schofields Train Station in Sydney's West." D31) Water Infrastructure Feasibility Study in Townsville ($4 million)

Source: Shorten, Albanese and O'Toole Media Release, 11 May 2016 - "A Shorten Labor Government will invest $4 million to help secure the future of Townsville's water supply... Labor will fund a major Water Infrastructure Feasibility Study, to look at potential upgrades to existing water infrastructure." D32) Additional Funding for National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples ($15 million)

Source: Neumann and Snowdon Media Release, 11 May 2016 - "Labor condemns the Turnbull Government's decision to again refuse funding for the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples...Central to Labor’s efforts to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has been our continuing support for the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples." D33) Glendale Interchange ($13 million)

Source: Albanese, Fitzgibbon, Conroy, Claydon and Swanson Media Release, 11 May 2016 - "A Shorten Labor Government will invest a further $13 million toward... The Glendale Interchange." D34) Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses ($10.6 million)

Source: Catherine King Media Release, 12 May 2016 - "A Shorten Labor Government will provide greater support for men with prostate cancer and their families by committing $10.6 million to double the number of Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses." D35) Beef Australia Week Grant ($3.1 million)

Source: Shorten and Neaton Media Release, 12 May 2016 - "The future of Rockhampton’s world-famous Beef Australia Week will be secured under a Shorten Labor Government, with a $3.1 million investment to the event." D36) G21 Region Opportunities for Work Grant ($2 million)

Source: Plibersek, Marles and Coker Media Release, 11 May 2016 - "This $2 million will mean that a 10 year plan can go ahead. It's a 10 year plan for jobs and growth that will deliver for Geelong and surrounding communities."

24 May 2016 8

D37) Manufacturing Transition Boost ($59 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/manufacturing_transition_boost_fact_sheet - "Labor will commit $58.6 million to the Manufacturing Transition Boost" D38) National Water Safety Education Fund ($41 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/water_safe_fact_sheet - "Labor will establish a National Water Safety Education Fund of $40.9 million." D39) Additional Family Violence Services – 1800 RESPECT, OurWATCh and ANROWS ($40.1

million)

Source: Shorten and Butler Media Release, 14 May 2016 - "A Shorten Labor Government will provide funding certainty to the organisations delivering the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children...Labor will commit an additional $65.7 million over six years, a cost of $40.1 million over the forward estimates." D40) Local Metals Manufacturing and Jobs ($25 million)

Source:

http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/plan_for_australian_metals_manufacturing_and_jobs - "Labor has a Plan for Australian Metals Manufacturing and Jobs to promote a sustainable future for Australia’s metals industry." D41) Access to Justice for Small Business ($1 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/small_business_ombudsman_access_to_justice - "Labor Government will fund the Small Business Ombudsman to provide an initial assessment on whether a private litigant is likely to be granted a no adverse cost order" D42) National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse ($33 million)

Source: http://www.alp.org.au/nationalredressscheme?_ga=1.229744537.465765636.1462951190 - "Labor will commit $33 million to implement the National Redress Scheme, including the initial costs of establishing the National Redress Agency." D43) National Information Policy ($8.5 million)

Source: http://www.alp.org.au/nationalinformationpolicy?_ga=1.66695339.465765636.1462951190 - "Labor’s policy has been independently costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office to cost $8.5 million over the current forward estimate period." D44) Better Union Governance ($4.5 million)

Source: http://www.alp.org.au/betterunions?_ga=1.199840939.465765636.1462951190 - "Labor’s policy has been independently costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office at $4.5 million over four years."

D45) Grant to AdeLINK ($500 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/kickstarting_adelink - "Labor will kick-start construction on the AdeLINK tram network...A Shorten Labor Government will commit $500 million in upfront grant funding to kick-start this project." D46) Kwinana Outer Harbour Planning ($2 million)

Source: Albanese Media Release, 16 May 2016 - "A Shorten Labor Government will provide $2 million to the Western Australian Government to take plans for the Kwinana Outer Harbour to Infrastructure Australia."

24 May 2016 9

D47) Better Targeting of Paid Parental Leave ($1.24 billion)

Source: Shorten, Macklin and Moore Media Release, 8 May 2016 - "A Shorten Labor Government

will put people first by reversing Malcolm Turnbull’s unfair cuts to paid parental leave."

D48) Not proceeding with the indexation pause of MBS ($2.4 billion)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/a_stronger_medicare_for_all_australians_fact_sheet -

“That is why a Shorten Labor Government will end the freeze on indexation of the Medicare Benefits

Schedule from 1 January 2017. This will apply to all services provided by GPs, allied health and

other health practitioners, as well as medical specialists.”

D49) Labor’s micro-business tax cut to 27.5% for companies under $2 million turnover threshold

($550 million)

Source: Bill http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/lowering_the_small_business_company_tax_rate–

“Labor supported the cut in the company tax rate for small businesses to 28.5% and will support the

further cut to 27.5% proposed in the 2016 Budget."

D50) Reversing the Government’s Superannuation Package – except for Low Income Superannuation

Tax Offset ($4.39 billion)

Source: Bill Shorten 2016-17 Budget in reply, 5 May 2016 - "Labor will happily support our own

clear and costed policy to close the unsustainably generous superannuation loopholes at the very top

end. We welcome the fact that three years after they voted to abolish Labor’s Low Income Super

Contribution, the Liberals have decided to keep it and simply rename it. Labor’s reforms to maintain

the fairness and integrity of superannuation will only ever be prospective and predictable - so people

can plan for the future with security."

D51) Scrapping the Working Holiday Makers Visa ($720 million)

Source: Joel Fitzgibbon, Interview on ABC Riverland SA, 18 May 2016 - "The ALP's position is clear. The Government needs to kill this tax and kill it now. Not wait another eight months. They know they've made a mistake. They need to bin it, kill this tax off now"

D52) Restoration of Labor's preferred timetable to increase superannuation guarantee rate to 12 per

cent ($6.73 billion)

Source: Shorten, interview with Patricia Karvelas: RN Drive ABC Radio: 18 March 2015- “See one

way to take pressure off the Age Pension isn’t by cutting the pension, it’s by ensuring that over time,

over the long run by increasing superannuation 12 per cent as Labor would do, then you’ve got

people who will have less reliance on the pension.”

D53) M5 East on ramp at Belmore Rd ($3 million)

Source: Chris Gambian, Labor Candidate for Banks Flyer - "It's time to build the M5 ramps at

Belmore Rd... I have a commitment that a Labor Federal Government will kick start this project with

one third of the cost."

D54) Monash Freeway ($69 million)

Source: Albanese and Curtis Media Conference 29 March 2016 - "And it’s great to be back here in

La Trobe where we announced when in government that we would upgrade the Monash Freeway with

$69 million between Warrigal Road and Clyde Road for the implementation of smart infrastructure."

D55) Ipswich Motorway ($200 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/brisbane_roads_package_m1_and_ipswich - "A

Shorten Labor Government will match the Queensland Labor Government’s $200 million commitment

to the first stage of upgrading the Ipswich Motorway between Rocklea and Darra to tackle traffic

congestion on Brisbane’s southside."

D56) Perth Growth Corridor Program ($170 million)

24 May 2016 10

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/perth_growth_corridor_infrastructure_program - "a

Shorten Labor Government will invest $170 million in new infrastructure in Perth’s key growth

corridors."

D57) Hobart Airport Roundabout ($32 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/hobart_airport_infrastructure - "An elected Labor

Government will invest $32 million to upgrade the Hobart Airport Roundabout to ease congestion

and boost tourism and trade."

D58) High Speed Rail Planning Authority ($54 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/high_speed_rail - "A Labor Government will establish

a High Speed Rail Authority to work through a process for gathering international expressions of

interest over the construction of a High Speed Rail link between Brisbane and Melbourne via Sydney

and Canberra."

D59) Greenway cycle and pedestrian path ($7.2 million)

Source: Albanese Media Release, 19 May 2016 - "That’s why today, we are also announcing that a

Shorten Labor Government will invest $7.25 million in the Cooks River to Iron Cove Greenway to

create a continuous pedestrian and cycleway along the length of the corridor."

D60) Reverse the increased co-payments for subsidised pharmaceuticals ($773 million)

Source: http://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/affordable_medicine_for_every_australian_fact_sheet

- "A Shorten Labor Government will scrap the Turnbull Liberal Government’s cuts to the PBS,

ensuring that there will be no increase to PBS co-payments or safety net thresholds in addition to

regular indexation."

E. Spending Labor says we must restore from banked savings - $34.61 billion (2016-

17 to 2019-20)

E1) Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development has committed Labor to

spend more on foreign aid (overturning the Government’s decisions in the 2014-15 Budget and 2014-

15 MYEFO) ($19.27 billion)

Source: Tanya Plibersek, ABC Radio Newcastle Interview, 30 July 2015- when asked “What would

Labor do if re-elected next year?“ Plibersek: “Well we certainly wouldn’t continue with the aid cuts

that are scheduled by this Government.”

E2) Ceasing the funding guarantees under the National Health Reform Agreement 2011 and revising

Public Hospital funding arrangements from 1 July 2017 ($1.6 billion)

Source: Chris Bowen, Sky, 26 November 2014 – “We want to see the $80 billion cut to health and

education scrapped.”

E3) Terminating the National Partnership on Certain Concessions for Pensioners and Seniors Card

Holders ($1.37 billion)

Source: Jenny Macklin Media Release, 1 March 2016 – “Liberals have proposed... huge pension

cuts... Labor will stand with Australian families against these cuts everyday up to the next election.”

E4) Pausing indexation of Local Government Financial Assistance Grants for three years ($1.32

billion)

Source: Julie Collins, Speech to the Local Government Association, 17 June 2014 – “‘I am extremely

disappointed the Abbott Government decided to freeze the indexation of the Financial Assistance

Grants … The Abbott Government decision to freeze the indexation of the Financial Assistance

Grants is a clear demonstration of the Government’s wrong priorities … I know many of you are

speaking out against this decision and will so over the next few days, and I encourage you to

continue”

24 May 2016 11

E5) Efficiencies resulting from the rationalisation of Indigenous programmes, grants and activities

($315 million)

Source: Bill Shorten, Media release, 14 May 2014 – “Tony Abbott’s claim to be a ‘Prime Minister for

Indigenous Affairs’ has been exposed as a hollow platitude. His budget of broken promises has gutted

more than $500 million from programs that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

No true Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs would be so heartless about one of the most important

policy challenges facing our Parliament.”

E6) Changes to Industry Skills Programmes ($271 million)

Source: Sharon Bird, Hansard, 1 October 2014 - "Finally, the report indicated that we needed to get

seriously into the business of guaranteeing a supply of capable apprentices. They recommended that

many of the programs that were sadly axed in the budget, such as Australian Apprenticeships

Mentoring Program, the Australian Apprenticeships Access Program, the Accelerated Australian

Apprenticeships Program and Apprenticeship to Business Owner were important to that task."

E7) Changes to Industry Support programmes ($502 million)

Source: Kim Carr, Senate Hansard, 17 November 2014 - "The unending cycle of reviews does not do

anything other than add to the uncertainty and the government's cover, when in reality there is an

unmitigated hostility: the destruction of Commercialisation Australia, of Enterprise Connect, of the

Innovation Investment Fund and of the Australian Industry Participation Plan, and the attempts to

destroy the TCF support program—the list goes on and on and on."

E8) Reducing Landcare uncommitted funding for future grant rounds ($644 million)

Source: Joel Fitzgibbon, House Hansard, 15 May 2014 – “One of the less-publicised details was the

$480 million cut to Landcare. This cut is a very bad mistake … This ill-conceived budget decision is a

bad mistake and, for the sake of our farmers, our economy and the environment, it should be

reversed.”

E9) Replacing Tools For Your Trade with Trade Support Loans ($560 million)

Source: Sharon Bird, Media Release, 27 June 2014 - "The Minister must step up and re-introduce the

Tools for Your Trade program.”

E10) ABC funding changes ($277 million)

Source: Bill Shorten, Doorstop, 25 November 2014 - “I can certainly give the commitment that under

Labor, we will increase the funding of the ABC.”

E11) Savings from research funding (CSIRO, ANSTO and Australian Institute of Marine Science)

($76 million)

Source: Chris Bowen, ABC AM, 26 November 2014 - "Now when you look at what they're doing in

totally in research and development, whether it's the $113 million cut to the CSIRO, whether it's the

abolition of many commercialisation and innovation organisations - effectively the halving of

innovation and commercialisation funding when it goes to the allocation of those organisations -

they're fundamentally bad changes, dumb changes."

E12) Reducing uncommitted funding for arts programmes ($108 million)

Source: Mark Dreyfus, Media release, 14 May 2014 – “The worst fears of the arts community have

been confirmed in last night’s Budget, as more than $100 million has been slashed from the Arts

budget... These funding cuts will have a devastating impact on all arts and cultural activities right

across Australia... Labor believes the arts are a vital part of Australia as a nation, and are worth oy

government support.”

E13) Terminating the Australia Network contract with the ABC ($99 million)

Source: Plibersek/Clare, Media Release, 14 May 2014 - “Tony Abbott’s $200 million Budget cut to

the ABC’s Australia Network is a clear broken promise. The ABC was funded to run the Australia

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Network…The Australia Network is a vital public diplomacy tool that reaches up to 167 million

households, giving Asia and the world an insight into Australian life and values. Yesterday, Tony

Abbott ripped the ABC contract to shreds and abolished the network.”

E14) Increased efficiencies in the AFP and ceasing additional recruitment at the end of 2014-15 ($62

million)

Source: David Feeney, Media release, 14 May 2014 – “The Abbott Government has unleashed a

Budget of twisted priorities with $11.7 million aced from the Australian Federal Police... To make

matters worse, the Abbott Government has cancelled $42.5 million of funding allocated by the former

Labor Gov ernment for additional sworn officers. The Abbott government’s Budget of broken

promises will compromise Australia’s national security and capacity to tackle organised and

transnational crime, high tech crime, drug trafficking, major fraud, money laundering and

terrorism.”

E15) Opposition to Social Security Assets Test — rebalance asset test thresholds and taper rate

($3.55 billion)

Source: Shorten and Macklin Press Conference, 16 June 2015 – “We’re here today to talk about

Labor’s determination to defend pensioners against Mr Abbott and the changes he’s proposing and

the cuts he’s inflicting... The Liberal Party has proposed that 330,000 pensions either lose all or part

of their pension. But furthermore, the changes which Mr Abbott’s proposing to the pension will mean

that another 700,000 people now working in their 50s and early 60s will face cuts to their pension.

The Liberals are coming after your pension and the only thing standing between pensioners having

significant cuts to their pension and Mr Abbott, is the Labor Party.”

E16) Reinstating the Schoolkids Bonus ($4.48 billion)

Source: Macklin Media Release 1 March 2016 – “In the last two Budgets, the Liberals have

proposed... Axing the Schoolkids Bonus... Labor will stand with Australian families against these cuts

every day up to the next election.”

E17) Australia Council Funding changes ($68 million)

Source: Dreyfus Media Release, 4 May 2016 – “Labor will return lost money to the Australia Council

and rebuild the trust and confidence in the arts sector.”