2015-11-26
The Australian Greens said today they are disappointed that the amended bill cutting family tax benefit payments has passed the House of Representatives.
“It is extremely disappointing that the Labor party has agreed to legislation that takes payments away from low income coupled families with children aged 13 or over.
“When Labor was in Government Jenny Macklin was happy to pull single parents off the single parent payments to a lower Newstart unemployment payment.
“Labor has once again let families down with their support of this amended legislation.
“We must be clear, multinationals are avoiding billions in Australian tax, superannuation tax concessions unfairly benefit the wealthy, there are major loopholes benefiting the big end of town that we could fix to balance the budget.
“We do not need to target low and middle income families for these savings when they’ve already had blows from successive Governments.
“I urge the Labor party to stop pretending they are looking after families when they support cuts like these.
“The Greens will be opposing cuts to family payments”.