Abbott's cuts will hurt poor most

Well we've pretty much got the whole picture now. We've had the oh so predictable "opening of the books" and a "shocked" find at just how bad the "debt crisis" is. Followed by people appointed by Abbott to look at where we must cut to get the debt less. 

Not so bad apart from the fact that there isn't actually a debt crisis. But don't let the facts get in the way of looking after your rich mates. Or the fact that the  people Abbott chose to make the audit commission's recommendations only represent business. 

The odds are already stacked against those on low and middle incomes because the audit commission panel handpicked by the prime minister and treasurer represents a narrow part of society, in this case big business (a point well-made by my colleague senator Dastyari earlier this month). The problem isn’t the involvement of business, which is welcome, but that the panel lacks broader representation of working people and those on fixed incomes like pensions and payments. 

From the Business Council of Australia’s last budget submission, we already know the areas likely to be targeted by the panel. Unsurprisingly, for example, they repeat their argument that the burden should be shifted away from businesses in the tax system towards more consumption taxes like the goods and services tax, which disproportionately hit the poorest Australians. Recommendations like these are the predictable but nonetheless disappointing outcome of a panel representing one narrow segment of the population. more

There are also glaring inequalities in Abbott's plans for the country. Take the paid parental leave scheme as a prime example. If you earn $50,000 a year, you can get half that paid by the gov , $25,000, as paid parental leave if you decide to take time off work. But if you earn $150,000 a year, you can get half that, $75,000 if you take time off work for paid parental leave. How is that fair giving money to the most wealthy earners in the country? Or how is it fair that people on pensions or welfare of $20,000 a year and less are being targeted for cuts, whilst the top wage earners who need it least are getting given $75,000 to have a baby? And the gov has the nerve to defend it's position on this!

So it's pretty clear now what Abbott's agenda really is; simply to look after his rich donor mates and fuck the poor wretched godless people.