Federal budget fails manufacturing workers

The federal budget announced this week has once again delivered little in the way of gains for working people.

AMWU National Secretary Dave Oliver said it was disappointing that there was no significant investment in manufacturing despite all the spin by the Howard Government in the last few weeks.

"There is no vision, no plan to revive the manufacturing industry and no new commitment to investing in innovation.

Little is offered to reverse an almost 60% drop in Australia's productivity growth compared to the OECD average under the Howard Government.

Even business groups have drawn attention to the lack of support for research and development and infrastructure in this Budget.

Mr Oliver labeled the tax cuts of $14 a week as a "joke."

"Fourteen dollars a week will not compensate families whose take home pay has been cut by the new IR laws and who have to pay the higher interest rates that John Howard lied about last election."

"And once again this government shows its true colours by granting bigger tax cuts to the wealthy."

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