2019-09-04
Today's weak economic figures reveal an economy that is spluttering and directionless under a Coalition Government whose plans are nothing more than the same old discredited trickle-down nonsense. That's why the Greens are calling today for the Government to adopt a Green Stimulus package, said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
"The growth figures released today prove what has been clear to so many of us for so long: this Government's lame old trickle-down approach to the economy is a flop and they have no plan to fix it," Di Natale said.
"Today's growth figures, the weakest we've seen since this country was last in recession almost 30 years ago, should be a wake up call for both the Liberals and Labor that business as usual just isn't going to cut it.
"We need a bold approach if we're going to weather the storm that's rattling the global economy, and that's why the Greens are calling on the Government to launch a Green Stimulus package that would boost Newstart, lift wages and accelerate and expand the pipeline of green infrastructure investment in this country."
Key Components of Green Stimulus Plan:
- Immediately increase Newstart and Youth Allowance payments by $75 a week.
- Accelerate and expand the pipeline of Green infrastructure investment in electricity generation, transmission and storage, energy efficient public housing and public transport.
- Remove the Commonwealth public sector wage cap and commit to lifting wages by 4% per annum.
- Unleash private sector wage growth by legislating to reverse the cuts to penalty rates and peg the minimum wage to 60% of the median full-time wage.