Friday, May 08, 2015

ACTU: Australia needs a Budget for jobs as unemployment rises

7 May 2015

Federal Budget  Budget 2015  jobs  employment  unemployment  Abbott Government  economy
The Abbott Government must make job creation the number one priority in next week’s federal Budget.

Today’s rise in unemployment to 6.2 per cent represents the eleventh consecutive month Australia’s unemployment rate has been at or above 6 per cent.

With Australia facing a real risk of slipping into long-term structural unemployment, the Federal Government must use the budget to stimulate the economy and create economic growth.

Instead of delivering a “dull” budget, as promised by Tony Abbott, the government must deliver a Budget for jobs.

The government can do this by investing in infrastructure, skills and training and the public sector to create new jobs and grow the economy.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has recognised the lack of confidence and weakness in the economy with this week’s historic interest rate cut – but it can only do so much.

The Abbott Government has the financial tools at hand with the federal budget to stimulate the economy and it must do so – now is not the time for a dull budget.

Quotes attributable to ACTU President Ged Kearney:

“Now is not the time for a dull Budget – we need a Budget for economic growth and jobs.

“The Abbott Government needs to invest in infrastructure, skills and training, and the public sector to create new jobs and boost the economy.

“You can’t cut your way to economic growth and the unemployment figures clearly show that.

“The government’s failure to deliver a plan for jobs has been compounded by its obsession with cutting the budget deficit and taking an axe to the public sector - the type of austerity policies that have mired parts of Europe in deep recession for many years.”

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