2014-06-11
Christine Milne
In my 25 years in politics I have never witnessed such a passionate and protracted push-back against a federal budget as we are seeing now in response to Tony Abbott's cruel plan.
Where this Prime Minister wants to take Australia is away from our nation's core values of care for our community and environment, a fair go and equal access to opportunity.
Greens supporters are well aware of the threats to: our universal healthcare system, our public broadcasters, our environment, our schools, universities, youth, pensioners, parents and all those people who most need our support.
Greens supporters are also well aware that these threats can be taken head on. The Greens in the federal parliament, with your help, will #BustTheBudget. I have also witnessed the community anger at this budget, I have stood with the community and I share their anger.
We will prevent the sick being lumbered with Medicare co-payments. We will prevent changes to welfare that would push more people into desperate situations. We will prevent students being burdened with lifelong debt through the deregulation of university fees.
This budget is a terrible attack on the most vulnerable and the Greens will block these extreme measures.
But it is the Australian Greens federal MPs view that we can do this without creating a crisis.
We will not vote against the appropriations bills. We can block the brutality of this budget without resorting to the tactics of extreme right-wing conservatives, like the Tea Party, which has employed it in the United States and the Liberal Party in Australia which threatened it and forced a constitutional crisis in 1975.
I understand why people are so upset and angry at this budget, but blocking supply has serious consequences that people wouldn't intend, like government services grinding to a halt, starting from the 1st of July. This includes 150,000 federal public servants not being paid. These are the public servants that make sure government services, like Medicare payments or social security pension or welfare payments, are paid to the people who need them. Without them government services could not be delivered.
We are, however, ready and willing to fight an election. We are ready to fight an election on Tony Abbott's cruel budget, his efforts to undermine Medicare, his attack on universities, students, the unemployed, single parents and the most vulnerable in Australian society.
We are also ready to fight an election on any of his efforts to destroy climate action. Section 57 of the Constitution provides a deadlock-resolving mechanism whereby if a bill is rejected by the Senate twice, with an intervening three-month period , then a Prime Minister can seek a double dissolution. The first of the double dissolution triggers, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation abolition bill will come before the Senate later this month. The Australian Greens will not be voting for it. We want to retain this terrific institution which is rolling out renewable energy projects around the country. If the Prime Minister chooses to go to a double dissolution election on that or any of his other defeated budget bills, we will stand with the Australian people against him.
I urge everyone to share your concern and outrage at these cuts, and ensure the Abbott government feels the pressure it is putting on you. Talk about how these cuts will affect you with your friends, your family and your parliamentarians.
Already people at rallies around the country have said loud and clear that they will stand against Tony Abbott's push to take this country backwards, and I assure you that the Greens are standing with you. We will vote against these brutal budget measures in the parliament and stand for a decent life in a country that can afford to have not only good quality of life, health, and education, but a great and optimistic future if we have a vision to move quickly in the face of climate change.
The Greens in federal parliament can't wait for the Senate to resume so we can reject Tony Abbott's cruel measures. We will send them back, and if the government won't budge, then it can bring on an election. The Greens are ready.
For more information about how you can get involved go to http://greensmps.org.au/bust-the-budget