News 
 Local News 
 News 
 General 
 Fielding to back budget proposals 

Fielding to back budget proposals

13/10/2008 2:41:00 PM
Family First Senator Steve Fielding, who holds a crucial seat in the Senate, says he will now pass all the government's remaining budget measures.

Senator Fielding said the world economic crisis was so grave that, in the interests of stability in Australia, the government should be allowed to pass all its budget measures.

Remaining - and controversial - budget measures include the alcopops tax, and changes to the thresholds for the Medicare levy surcharge.

Senator Fielding said he would now vote in support of both measures he had previously opposed.

Due to financial uncertainty and the massive economic downturn, economic stability was paramount to Australia, he said.

"We will support the government's remaining tax budget bills to bring about the stability," he told reporters in Canberra.

"We're making it quite clear today that we'll support the government's remaining tax bills.

"There is (sic) absolutely no caveats on it."

Senator Fielding said he would seek to move amendments to the remaining budget bills, but would pass the bills regardless of the result.

Constituents, who were deeply worried about their superannuation being tied to troubled financial markets, had influenced his decision.

Senator Fielding said he still had concerns that the alcopops tax increase would not tackle binge drinking, but would support the measure because it would create more revenue to the government.

But he still has concerns that lifting the income thresholds on Medicare levy surcharge would leave lower-income people worse off.

However, he said he would vote for both measures because it was in the national interest.

"At the end of the day if the economy goes down the gurgler, then families are going to be severely worse off," Senator Fielding said.

Senator Fielding's support for government bills does not extend to Fuel Watch, which is not a budget bill.

The scheme was "dubious" and Family First would only vote for it on the condition that it was introduced in states where the premier and peak motoring body gave their permission.

In response to the world financial crisis, Senator Fielding will introduce legislation restricting the "golden parachutes" paid to executives from failed financial institutions.

Print
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size



Comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Well whoopee do for Fielding. Here is a first hand lesson for the forthcoming ACT elections. You sit on the fence guys and this is the sort of nonsense you will inflict on the rest of us. There isn’t enough of you voting non mainstream to get decent representation, so if you cannot vote for either of the main stream parties, stay in bed Saturday, and don’t inflict more of the Fieldings of the world on us in the ACT for the next few years.
Posted by Chris on 13/10/2008 3:06:58 PM
Chris, I don't think that there are any Family First Party representatives in the ACT elections. No need to use this as an excuse not to back independants or minor parties. Labor/Liberal is not all that is required for sensible government and often some independance is a good thing to make sure those in disadvantaged groups get a voice (exclusing the antics of the Family First evangelical Party who have such a religious agenda re; abortion and women's reproductive rights they shouldn't be anywhere near politics let alone hold the balance of power.
Posted by Felix on 13/10/2008 4:36:59 PM
Exactly how does increasing the medicare levy to the governments wishes reduce the burden on the people when the current medical \ hospital system in every state of Australia struggle to cope with the current levels? How does a blatently obvious tax grab which has no effect on binge drinking help settle the nerves of the paniced investor? Neither of these buget measures will have any effect on reassuring Australians that the country is stable but will send the message that Family First has no ticker, caves at the first sign of pressure and has no right to be part of the Australian Parliamentary System.
Posted by Lazarus on 13/10/2008 5:17:06 PM
Lazarus - just so you know, the government is seeking to increase the threshold for the medicare levy ie a tax cut for applicable individuals and families.
Posted by Chris on 13/10/2008 5:29:51 PM

Post A Comment


Screen name  *
Email address  *
Remember me?
Comment  *
We invite and encourage our readers to post comments. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as our editor has approved them. When posting comments you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding
Family First Senator Steve Fielding

1/12/2008 | A government budget going into deficit as an economy heads towards a recession should evoke no more than a yawn.
Yourguide to Your Toyota
For the latest in sport - click here
 
Classifieds
 
Babies of 2008 - click here to find out more
 
CT Home Delivery
 
Photo Sales - click here
 
Domain.com.au
 SEND...
 SAVE...
 SHARE...