Building a Stronger Australia - An overview of the first year of the Abbott Coalition Government - AWS
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Building a Stronger Australia An overview of the first year of the Abbott Coalition Government
Building a Stronger Australia This document provides a short summary of just some of the progress and achievements of the Abbott Coalition Government. For more information about these and other initiatives and to keep up to date, go to www.liberal.org.au September 2014
The Coalition’s Commitment “This is what a Liberal and National Party government will do. We'll build a stronger economy so everyone can get ahead. We'll scrap the Carbon Tax so your family will be $550 a year better off. We'll get the budget back under control by ending Labor's waste. We'll stop the boats. And we'll build the roads of the 21st century.” Tony Abbott mp Coalition Campaign Launch 25 August 2013
Building 06 08 a Stronger Key Our Australia achievements challenge
Building
a Stronger
Australia
One year ago, the Australian people entrusted the Coalition with the job of building a
stronger Australia.
Since then we have sought to keep your trust by delivering on our commitments to you
and by making decisions that are in the best long-term interests of Australia.
Our focus has been on building a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia.
We’re making progress:
• The Carbon Tax is gone;
• The boats are stopping;
• Our record $50 billion roads and infrastructure programme is underway;
• We’ve given environmental approvals to major new projects worth over $800 billion;
• We’re boosting exports and jobs with Free Trade Agreements with two of our major
trading partners;
• We’re reducing Government debt and getting the Budget back under control;
• And importantly, 109,000 new jobs have been created since the end of last year.
As a nation, we’ve also faced serious challenges in the past year because of the increasingly
uncertain world in which we live.
Uncertainty in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine and the rise of violent extremism has tested
Australia, as it has other nations.
In an increasingly uncertain world, the Coalition Government is determined to keep our
nation safe and secure and is implementing a detailed set of measures to achieve this.
Over the next two years, the Government will continue its work building a stronger
economy and a safe, secure Australia. This will help families get ahead, support our seniors,
create jobs, provide world-class health and education, encourage small business, and build
the roads of the 21st century.
Tony Abbott
11 15 16
A stronger A safer A stronger
economy Australia society
6 Building a Stronger Australia
Key achievements
We’ve abolished the Carbon Tax
Removing a $9 billion a year hit to our economy
and reducing energy costs for all Australians.
We’re stopping the boats
Just one successful people smuggling venture
has arrived in the first eight months of 2014 –
compared to 268 in the same period last year
under Labor.
We’re reducing debt and getting
the nation’s Budget under control
Australian taxpayers are paying $1 billion a
month in interest on Labor’s debt – we’re not
going to pass on a massive debt burden and
higher taxes to the next generation of Australians.
We’re boosting exports and jobs
We’re undertaking the largest Securing Free Trade Agreements with two of
infrastructure investment in our largest trading partners, Japan and Korea.
Australia’s history
A record $50 billion to improve road and We’ve abolished the Mining Tax
rail links, reduce travel times and support Improving competitiveness and certainty for
economic growth. this key job creating and export industry.
We’re paving the way for We’re making things
billions worth of major projects easier for small business
We’ve given environmental approval to major More than 10,000 pieces of legislation and
projects worth over $800 billion to Australia. By regulations have been removed as part of a
removing bureaucratic backlogs, we’re making commitment to reduce red tape costs by
it easier for business to invest and create jobs. $1 billion a year.
Our Scrapped the Stopping
Progress Carbon Tax the boats
Key achievements 7
We’re investing more We’re helping communities
in schools and hospitals tackle local environmental issues
Schools funding is increasing by $4.9 billion The Green Army has been established. Over the
(37%) and hospitals funding is increasing by next three years it will facilitate 15,000 young
$5.3 billion (40%), over the next four years. Australians, working on 1,500 community-led
projects, to improve our environment.
We’re getting the NBN
rollout back on track We’re supporting apprentices
We’ve created Trade Support Loans of up to
More than double the number of homes
$20,000 for apprentices.
and businesses are receiving NBN services
compared to a year ago.
We’ve established the
We’re providing jobseekers with New Colombo Plan
more support and assistance The first group of 1,300 Australian
undergraduate students are studying in our
With Restart (payments up to $10,000 for
region, as part of the New Colombo Plan.
businesses to employ mature long-term
unemployed workers), Job Commitment
Bonuses and Relocation Assistance. We’re committed to the National
Disability Insurance Scheme
We’re making it easier for Trial sites are up and running and more than
people to get qualifications 7,300 tailored packages are now supporting
Australians with disability, with a participant
For the first time Australian Government satisfaction rate of over 90 per cent.
support will be provided for all sub-bachelor
qualifications. 80,000 more students will get
government support by 2018.
Building Getting the Building the
a stronger Budget back roads of the
economy under control 21st century
8 Building a Stronger Australia
LABOR’S LEGACY
Our challenge
After six years of chaos and mismanagement,
Labor left Australia with a mess.
Record deficits Massive debt Soaring interest World’s biggest
Labor produced the six Labor’s government payments Carbon Tax
largest Budget deficits debt blew out to Interest on debt is Labor imposed the
in our history. $320 billion ($13,500 now costing taxpayers world’s biggest Carbon
per Australian) and $1 billion per month Tax – a $9 billion a year
was projected to reach – more than is spent hit to the economy
$667 billion in 10 years on aged care or costing average
(approximately $25,000 universities. The households around
per Australian). interest on Labor’s $550 per year.
debt was projected
to reach $3 billion per
More people
month in 10 years –
more than would be unemployed
spent on schools. Under Labor, the
number of unemployed
increased by over
200,000. Productivity
Government Debt (Gross) ($ Billions)
declined by 0.7% per
year, working days
Coalition Labor Projected (with no policy change)
667
lost to strikes doubled
and business red tape
increased.
310
234
257 Taxpayers are
147
191
paying the price:
111
94 85 76 66 63 57 55 55 54 53 55
101
Interest on Labor’s
debt is costing
taxpayers $1 billion
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
every month.
Source: MYEFO 2013-14
Our challenge 9
“The challenge is not of our making, but we
…accept responsibility to fix it.”
Joe Hockey MP, 13 May 2014
NBN project delays Illegal boat arrivals Health services got Defence spending
and cost blow out were out of control more expensive was slashed
Labor’s National Over 50,000 illegal Hospital waiting The Defence Budget
Broadband Network arrivals came in times increased and fell to the lowest level
would have cost at least more than 800 boats, $4 billion was cut as a percentage of
$29 billion more than causing a cost blow from private health GDP since 1938.
we were told. Crucial out of over $11 billion. insurance, while health
road infrastructure was bureaucracies thrived.
announced but then
cancelled, delayed or Education
left unfunded. standards slipped
Student test results Daily Telegraph, 10/7/2013
Cost of living declined, along with
the international rating
was on the rise The Australian, 14/11/2012
of Australia’s schools.
Over six years,
household costs for
health increased 35%, The Australian, 13/11/2013
education increased
39%, gas increased
71% and electricity
increased 101%.
Australian
Financial Review,
12/11/2013 Herald Sun, 22/3/2013
Australian
Financial Review,
11/12/2012
Canberra Times, 14/3/2014 Australian Financial Review, 22/2/2014
“We’re striving to achieve a stronger Budget because that’s the way to a stronger economy, to a stronger society and to make your life better and your job more secure.” Tony Abbott MP 29 April 2014
A stronger economy 11
OUR PROGRESS
A stronger economy
Removing the Reducing Paperwork
Carbon Tax As part of the Abbott
The world’s biggest Carbon Government’s commitment
Tax has been abolished, to reduce business red tape
removing a $9 billion a year costs by $1 billion a year,
hit to our economy. more than 10,000 unnecessary
and counter-productive pieces
Removing the Carbon Tax of legislation have already
makes our major industries been removed.
more competitive and reduces
costs for the 75,000 businesses For the first time, two days
that paid it. of Parliament each year are
being dedicated to removing
Repairing the Budget Electricity prices will be government red tape.
The Abbott Government’s first around 9% less expensive,
Budget cuts Labor’s waste and gas prices around 7% less
and makes savings that would expensive, than they would
reduce projected debt by otherwise have been.
$277 billion over the next Scrapping the Carbon Tax is
decade, saving $16 billion reducing cost of living pressures
in annual interest payments. for families, who were paying
Returning the Budget to a hundreds of dollars extra on
sustainable position with household power bills and due
reduced interest costs will to the flow on effect on the
mean more money for critical prices of other goods.
services and infrastructure.
Encouraging
Encouraging Job Seekers Developing
Investment Job seekers now have more Australia’s North
To clear the backlog of stalled assistance and incentive, with: The Government’s White
projects under Labor, the • Restart (payments up to Paper on Developing Northern
Government has made over $10,000 for businesses to Australia is underway. It is being
300 decisions to approve or employ mature long-term developed in consultation
progress projects worth over unemployed workers); with the Queensland, Western
$800 billion. Australian and Northern
• Job Commitment Bonuses Territory Governments. It will
The Government is also (to encourage young, long- set out a clear, well defined
working with the states and term unemployed to find and plan to grow our energy,
territories to deliver one-stop keep jobs); tourism, education, health
shops for environmental
• Relocation Assistance (to and agricultural sectors.
approvals, to ensure high
environmental standards can help job seekers move to
be met, without unnecessary take up jobs); Removing the
red and green tape. • Work for the Dole Mining Tax
reinvigorated, with projects
Removing Labor’s Mining Tax
already underway in 18
will improve competitiveness
areas across Australia.
and certainty for this key job
creating and export industry.12 Building a Stronger Australia
Boosting Export 21st Century The Government’s
Opportunities Infrastructure Infrastructure Growth
With the specific aim of Package will drive over
The Government is making
increasing growth and jobs, the largest infrastructure $125 billion of new
Free Trade Agreements have investment in Australia’s infrastructure – the
been signed with two of our history – $50 billion to improve
largest trading partners – modern day equivalent
road and rail links, reduce
Japan and Korea. Significant travel times and support of eight Snowy
progress has also been economic growth. Mountains Schemes.
made toward a Free Trade
Agreement with China. In the Budget, the Government
announced an asset recycling
initiative with the states,
offering substantial financial
incentives to sell old assets and
reinvest the proceeds into new
productive infrastructure.
Together with state government
and private investment,
the Abbott Government’s
Infrastructure Growth Package
will drive over $125 billion of
new infrastructure – the modern There is also an additional
day equivalent of eight Snowy $230 million for a National
Mountains Schemes. Highway Programme.
The Government is investing And after five decades of talk,
$2.1 billion for Roads to this government has decided to
Recovery. This includes build a second Sydney Airport
$565 million for Black Spots at Badgerys Creek.
and $300 million for the
Bridges Renewal Programme.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
New South Wales Victoria Queensland
WestConnex East West Link Bruce Highway
Linking Western Sydney and Providing the missing link Providing up to $6.7 billion
South–Western Sydney with in Melbourne’s road network (to 2022-23) to help fix the
the city, airport and ports. that will slash travel times, Highway, benefiting motorists
boost productivity and create and local businesses.
Western Sydney
more than 6,000 jobs.
Infrastructure Plan Gateway Motorway North
Supporting Sydney’s second Regional Rail Link Improving access to the Bruce
airport at Badgerys Creek. Removing major bottlenecks Highway from North Brisbane
in Victoria’s rail network. and the Port of Brisbane.
NorthConnex
Linking the Central Coast. Princes Highway West Toowoomba Second
duplication Range Crossing
Pacific Highway
Helping link key industries to Cutting travel times
Fully upgrading this major
markets and bring regional and removing traffic from
transport and freight route by
communities together. Toowoomba Town Centre.
the end of 2020.A stronger economy 13
Helping New Opportunities
Small Business for Regions facing
Small business will benefit Difficulties
from the abolition of the Carbon The $155 million Growth Fund
Tax, less paperwork, modern will help generate the jobs of
infrastructure and a stronger the future for employees and
economy. supply-chain businesses in
We’ve changed tax thresholds, Victoria and South Australia
saving business $56 million a affected by the closure of local
year in red tape. automotive manufacturing
operations.
Other initiatives to specifically
help small business include a From next year, the Fixing the NBN
Small Business Helpline in the $1 billion National Stronger
The Government is getting the
Fair Work Ombudsman’s office, Regions Fund will promote
NBN back on track, with more
which has already received economic development in
than twice as many homes and
over 100,000 calls. many communities through
businesses now receiving NBN
investment in small-scale
A review of competition laws services than a year ago.
infrastructure projects.
now underway will help ensure This year, for the first time, the
big and small businesses NBN Co met its rollout target.
compete on a level playing field. Investing in Skills
Trade Support Loans of up to
$20,000 have been introduced
Tackling Union
for apprentices. Corruption
For the first time Australian A Royal Commission has
Government support will be commenced into Trade Union
provided for all sub-bachelor Governance and Corruption.
qualifications. 80,000 more To ensure the rule of law
students will get government is restored in the building
support by 2018. industry, the Government
is seeking to reintroduce
the Australian Building and
Construction Commission.
Western Australia Tasmania South Australia
Perth Freight Link Midland Highway upgrade North–South Road Corridor
Providing a direct, free Safety upgrades on this Completing the Darlington
flowing connection to the north-south corridor between and Torrens to Torrens
Port of Fremantle. Hobart and Launceston. projects as the first stages
of the full upgrade.
Perth Airport Gateway
Reducing congestion around Northern Territory
Perth Airport. ACT
Tiger Brennan Drive
Swan Valley Bypass Duplication of Tiger Brennan Majura Parkway
A new 40km highway to Drive from Berrimah Road to Linking the Federal Highway
improve freight and save the Darwin CBD. and the Monaro Highway.
travel times through the
Swan Valley.“The important thing is not to be deterred from doing what is necessary to protect our citizens, our interests and our values.” Tony Abbott MP 9 June 2014
A safer Australia 15
OUR PROGRESS
A safer Australia
Secure Borders A Stronger Tackling Home
In the first eight months of Defence Force Grown Terrorism
2014, just one successful The Abbott Government To bolster our security
people smuggling venture has committed to restoring agencies in their monitoring and
made it to Australia, compared Defence funding to 2% of GDP disruption activities in Australia
to 268 over the same eight and has commissioned a new and overseas, the Abbott
month period last year. Defence White Paper, due for Government is providing an
Stopping the boats has already release in 2015. additional $630 million over
produced Budget savings of the next four years.
Significant decisions already
$2.5 billion (to 2017-18), stopped announced include acquisitions New legislation will help
people drowning at sea and of: another 58 Joint Strike Fighter monitor, investigate, arrest
reduced the number of children (JSF) aircraft; Triton Broad Area and prosecute returning foreign
in detention by over 35%. Maritime Unmanned Aerial fighters and prevent extremists
Vehicles; and the P-8A Poseidon departing. Additional legislation
Maritime Patrol aircraft. will ensure welfare payments
can be stopped for extremists.
The Government is delivering
for Defence personnel – past,
present and future, through: Representing
• More generous indexation Australia’s Interests
for Defence Forces
The Government’s efforts
Retirement Benefits scheme
overseas have helped secure
(DFRB) and Defence Force
* Only 1 successful people smuggling venture to Free Trade Agreements with
Retirement and Death
Australia between January 2014–August 2014.
Japan and Korea, a historic
Benefits scheme (DFRDB);
Defence technology exchange
• Providing free basic health agreement with Japan and
care to all ADF family a prompt, unequivocal UN
members; Security Council Resolution
in response to the downing of
• Re-starting the ADF Gap
Flight MH-17.
Year Programme.
Australia’s overseas aid is
now reoriented to economic
A safer Australia: development and poverty
New legislation reduction in our region.
will help monitor, 1,300 Australian undergraduate
students are now studying in
investigate, arrest the region as part of the New
and prosecute Colombo Plan.
returning foreign
fighters and prevent
extremists departing.16 Building a Stronger Australia
OUR PROGRESS
A stronger society
Supporting Families Supporting Older
Households are projected to Australians
save, on average, $550 per Older Australians will have lower
year following the scrapping of bills following the abolition of
the Carbon Tax. the Carbon Tax, but still keep
Reducing government debt their Energy Supplement.
and getting the Budget back Pensions will continue to
under control now will create increase twice a year and the
a stronger economy and more family home will continue to
sustainable support for families. be exempt from the pension
The Government is committed assets test.
to making childcare – which Students First in The income thresholds for the
increased in cost by 53% in
six years of Labor – more
School Education Commonwealth Seniors Health
Card will be indexed from 20
accessible, affordable and The Abbott Government is September 2014, enabling up
flexible, with a Productivity increasing funding to schools to 27,000 additional people to
Commission Inquiry underway. by $4.9 billion (37%) over the qualify for the Card.
next four years.
The Abbott Government’s
proposed Paid Parental Leave A Students First approach has The National Disability
scheme will provide mothers been established to ensure this
with more support at this increased investment translates Insurance Scheme
important time. into better results. It will focus The National Disability
on teacher quality, school Insurance Scheme has so
New legislation has streamlined
autonomy, engaging parents in far allocated more than 7,300
the process for overseas
education and strengthening tailored support packages to
adoptions.
the curriculum. Australians with disability, with
a participant satisfaction rate of
Sustainable, World over 90%.
Class Healthcare Trial sites are now operating
The Abbott Government is in Victoria, New South Wales,
increasing funding to hospitals Western Australia, the Northern
by $5.3 billion (40%) over the Territory, South Australia, the
next four years. ACT and Tasmania.
A new Medical Research Future The Abbott Government is
Fund has been announced, taking a considered approach
to be funded by savings from to ensure the NDIS is built on a
a proposed modest co- financially sustainable platform,
contribution for some GP visits. that it delivers for those who
need it most and is there for
future generations.A stronger society 17
Improving the Lives
of Aboriginal People
The Abbott Government is
embarking on a significant
shake-up of Indigenous
Affairs, with a $4.8 billion
Indigenous Advancement
Strategy consolidating over
150 separate programmes
and services into five key
programme areas, with a clear
focus on getting children into
school, adults into work and
safer communities.
The Prime Minister’s
Indigenous Advisory Council,
chaired by Warren Mundine,
will help the Government focus
on practical changes to the
lives of Aboriginal people.
Grassroots
Environmental Action “Australia has always been
The recently launched Green
Army will mean over the next
the land of the fair go, but part
three years, 15,000 Australians of giving people a fair go is
aged 17-24 will work on 1,500
community-led projects to encouraging them to be their best
improve our environment.
selves, making it easier for
them to have a go too.”
Tony Abbott MP
26 June 201418 Building a Stronger Australia
Supporting
Regional Australia
Scrapping the Carbon Tax
Regional Australia benefits
strongly from the abolition of
the Carbon Tax, which saves
farmers and regional small
businesses and households
up to 10% on the cost of their
electricity.
More export opportunities
Recent Free Trade Agreements
with Japan and Korea are of
particular benefit to agricultural
export industries. The re-
commencement of live-export
of sheep, cattle and goats to
Bahrain and Egypt and the
opening of new markets in Iran
also benefits some farming Regional health services Drought relief
communities.
The Government has provided For drought affected areas,
300 more GP training places, the Government is providing
500 new scholarships for nurses a comprehensive $320 million
and allied health professionals, drought support package to
plus new incentive payments help our farming communities.
and infrastructure funding in
order to address shortages Water security
in health services in rural and The Government has also
regional areas. completed an agreement
which brings all states together
Stronger communities to implement the Murray-
Local projects are also being Darling Basin Plan for water
delivered around the country reform and has committed
through the $342 million to over $2.3 billion in water
Better regional roads Community Development infrastructure upgrades.
The Government’s record Grants Programme. Next
year, regional Australia will Protecting our
$50 billion investment in local environment
infrastructure includes major share in the benefits of the
$1 billion National Stronger The Green Army – along
upgrades to the Pacific, Bruce
Regions Fund, which will with the $20 million Tree
and Princes Highways and
provide important community Programme – will improve the
other roads that link regional
infrastructure. local environment in regional
communities.
communities across Australia.
The $2.1 billion Roads to Mobile Black Spots
Recovery Programme will help The Abbott Government is
fix regional black spots, renew also investing $100 million on a
regional bridges and repair Mobile Black Spot Programme.
regional highways.“Our government is turbo-charging infrastructure construction and regional development for a stronger Australia. And there’s more to come.” Warren Truss MP 30 April 2014
“Over the next two years,
the Government will continue
its work building a stronger
economy and a safe, secure
Australia. This will help
families get ahead, support
our seniors, create jobs,
provide world-class health
and education, encourage
small business, and build the
roads of the 21st century.”
Tony Abbott MP
Prime Minister
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