Sticking to Our Plan Backing Hard-working Australians - A progress report on the Coalition's Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and a ...
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Sticking to
Our Plan
Backing
Hard-working
Australians
A progress report on the Coalition’s Plan
to build a strong, prosperous economy
and a safe, secure Australia
September 2015
1
Delivering on
our Plan
Jobs growth over the past year has Tax cuts for small business – taking
been stronger than every G7 nation. the rate to the lowest since 1967.
Reducing Labor’s Budget deficit from Funding for local hospitals up 25%
$48 billion in 2013-14 to $7 billion in over the next four years.
five years. This represents a
reduction in the Budget deficit by
0.5% of GDP every year. Funding for schools up 28% over the
next four years.
335,000 additional jobs have been
created since the last election. Labor’s Carbon Tax abolished –
delivering savings for average
households of around $550 a year.
163,000 new jobs created so far in
2015 – more than 23,000 new jobs
on average per month. Labor’s Mining Tax abolished –
improving the competitiveness and
certainty for this key job creating and
Female workforce participation at export industry.
record levels – over 171,000 more
women are in jobs than at the time
of the 2013 election. New Child Care subsidies – working
families with incomes between
$65,000 and $170,000 will be around
Bankruptcies at the lowest level in $30 per week better off.
20 years.
The NBN on track to deliver high-
Environmental approval given to speed broadband to all Australian
176 projects valued at more than homes and businesses by 2020.
$1 trillion.
Royal Commission into Trade Union
A record 223,013 new companies Governance and Corruption underway.
registered in 2014.
The Medical Research Future Fund
A $50 billion infrastructure created.
programme to improve road and rail
links, reduce travel times and support
economic growth. Labor’s Bank Deposit Tax dumped,
to protect the savings of hard-
working Australians.
2 Backing Hard-working Australians
White Paper on Northern Australia A National Ice Taskforce established
released – a comprehensive plan to to tackle the growing scourge of the
unleash the economic potential of drug ‘Ice’.
the region.
Working with the States and
Livestock export markets opened Territories to implement a National
with Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Cambodia, Domestic Violence Order Scheme.
Thailand, Lebanon and China.
Home care places increased from
Illegal boat arrivals stopped, the current 73,000 to 100,000
13 detention centres closed, deaths by 2017-18.
at sea stopped and integrity of our
borders restored.
Half yearly pension rises at the
highest available indexation rate.
Established the Australian Border
Force with 5,500 officers, including
1,400 at our airports. Green Army launched for more than
350 local environmental projects.
An $89 billion boost to Australian naval
capability over the next 20 years. A comprehensive Reef 2050 Plan
for the Great Barrier Reef.
Free Trade Agreements signed with
Korea, Japan and China. Mobile Black Spot Programme
delivering almost 500 new or
upgraded mobile base stations.
Establishing five Growth Centres
that bring together industry,
research, trade and science to A $333 million drought support
help grow businesses. package to help our farming
communities.
New counter-terrorism units at all
international airports. Agreement reached with the States
to implement the Murray Darling
Basin Plan.
More resources for our security and
law enforcement agencies to better
track and disrupt terrorists and new Introducing the New Colombo
counter-terrorism laws. Plan. By the end of 2016, 10,000
Australians will represent our country
under the Plan.
3
06 / Our Plan Backs 16 / A Safer Nation and Safer 22 / Supporting Regional
Hard-working Australians Communities Australia
08 / A Stronger Economy with 19 / Stronger Communities 24 / Australia can’t afford Labor
More Jobs
26 / Nailing Labor Lies
4 Backing Hard-working Australians
Our Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia is making
significant progress following six years of failure under Labor.
Despite international uncertainty and volatility, our focus is jobs, growth and community
safety.
Our Plan is about strengthening all parts of a diversified economy: helping our services,
manufacturing, education, agriculture and mining sectors invest, compete, export and grow.
By sticking to our Plan, over 335,000 additional jobs have been created since the last election.
We are backing families – with lower power bills, more jobs, affordable child care and
certainty in superannuation.
We are backing small business – with the lowest small business tax rate in half a century,
new instant asset write-offs, new export agreements with key markets and by cutting over
$2 billion in red tape so far.
We are backing communities – with the Green Army repairing the local environment, record
funding for local hospitals and schools, and by protecting local communities from the scourge
of Ice.
We are backing a stronger Australia – by protecting our borders, new laws to combat foreign
fighters and terrorists, more funding for law enforcement and by rebuilding our Defence
capabilities.
We are delivering: the Carbon Tax is gone, as is the Mining Tax, the boats have stopped, the
NBN is rolling out and a record $50 billion infrastructure programme is underway.
We’ve achieved all this, while at the same time making $50 billion in repairs to the Budget
– in coming years the Budget deficit comes down by about half a percentage point of GDP
each year.
Our Plan is about backing hard-working Australians with policies that help the economy grow
and build prosperity for all, while keeping our country safe.
As you will see in this document, we have achieved much in the past two years – and it’s just
the start.
Over the next 12 months, we will lay out our Plan for a second term to the Australian people.
Australians can be confident that the Coalition will stick to the Plan that rewards hard work,
creates jobs, backs families and small businesses, strengthens the economy and keeps our
country safe and secure.
Tony Abbott
5
Our Plan Backs
Hard-working
Australians
Backing Australia’s Future Backing Farmers
Through careful Budget management to
With new tax write-offs for fencing,
put the nation’s finances on a credible
water infrastructure and fodder storage,
pathway to surplus, in order to reduce
small business tax cuts, trade deals
Labor’s debt legacy.
to boost exports and drought relief for
affected communities.
Backing Small Businesses
to Create Jobs Backing Business to Grow
Through tax cuts and instant asset By expanding tax concessions for
write-offs, cutting red tape, removing the employee share schemes, providing
Carbon Tax and measures to help small financial support for entrepreneurs,
businesses hire staff. supporting collaboration between
researchers and industry, greater
tax incentives to help businesses
Backing Families innovate and invest in R&D and
capitalising on our strengths through
Through lower power prices by removing Industry Growth Centres.
the Carbon Tax, more affordable child
care, record funding to support local
hospitals and schools, investment in Backing Consumers
better roads, fixing the NBN and a
stronger economy with more jobs. Through lower power prices and
opposing Labor’s plan for a new Carbon
Tax, lower prices for some imported
Backing Seniors goods through new trade agreements
and new country of origin food labelling.
By providing certainty for superannuants,
fighting Labor’s plan to increase
superannuation taxes, continuing Backing Australians
to increase pensions at the highest Having a Go
available indexation rate, record health
funding, better aged care and lower By removing red tape, cutting the time
power prices. for environmental approval for major
projects and taking a stand against
sabotage of major projects (and jobs)
Backing Homebuyers through “lawfare”.
With the lowest interest rates in four
decades, by tackling debt and deficit
to ensure interest rates stay low and by
enforcing the rules for foreign investment
in real estate.
6 Backing Hard-working Australians
Backing Exporters Backing the Environment
With new trade deals with Korea, Japan Through the Green Army, where some
and China, which independent analysis 3,000 young Australians are working
shows will deliver an additional on more than 350 local environmental
$24 billion in income – and many projects, and by the Government
thousands of jobs for Australians as the putting in place the Great Barrier Reef
economy transitions over the next Sustainability Plan.
20 years.
Backing Law Abiding
Backing Job Seekers Citizens
With a new jobactive network to help By redirecting confiscated crime
jobseekers and targeted initiatives to proceeds to fighting crime, tackling
reward businesses that give eligible the scourge of Ice and introducing
young and mature job seekers a go. legislation for minimum 5 year
sentences for illegal gun trafficking.
Backing Our Troops
Backing Local
By rebuilding Australia’s Defence
capability after it was gutted by Labor,
Communities
providing a more flexible ADF Super By supporting local projects and
Scheme and providing free health care infrastructure through the National
for ADF families. Stronger Regions Fund, the Community
Development Grants Programme, the
Stronger Communities Programme and
Backing our Security and establishing the National Ice Taskforce
Law Enforcement Agencies to tackle the scourge of Ice.
Through a $1.3 billion funding boost
and by passing tough new counter
terrorism laws.
Backing Northern
Australia
Backing Australia’s Way
of Life Through the Northern Australia
White Paper with an action plan for
By making it clear that citizenship is a sustainable development, better
privilege and a responsibility – terrorists roads and new water infrastructure
with dual nationality will be stripped of for Northern Australia.
their Australian citizenship.
Our Plan Backs Hard-working Australians 7
OUR PLAN
A Stronger Economy
with More Jobs
Responsible Budget Tax Cuts for Carbon Tax Abolished
Management Small Business The world’s biggest Carbon
Tax has been abolished. This
We are building a strong and The 2015 Budget included tax
has been important in reducing
prosperous economy for a safe cuts for all small businesses
cost of living pressures on
and secure Australia. Our long- with less than $2 million annual
families and protecting jobs.
term economic plan to reduce the turnover:
It removed a $9 billion a year
overall tax burden, cut business
• 1.5 percentage point tax hit to our economy and led
red tape and deliver sensible
cut for incorporated to the largest cut in retail
savings will grow the economy
small businesses; electricity prices on record.
and create more jobs.
• A 5% tax discount The ACCC recently confirmed a
Despite global headwinds –
(up to $1,000 a year) saving for average households of
including a halving of the price for
for unincorporated around $550 per year – including
our iron-ore exports – the Abbott
small businesses; direct savings (ranging from $153
Government is reducing Labor’s
• Immediate tax deductions to $269 per year) on electricity
Budget deficit from $48 billion in
for every asset purchased and gas bills, plus other savings
2013-14 to $7 billion in five years.
up to $20,000 (each); and due to the flow on cost savings in
This represents a reduction in the areas such as council rates and
Budget deficit by 0.5% of GDP • Immediate deduction of charges, food manufacturing,
every year. professional fees for water charges and transport.
start-ups.
Gross debt is on track in a decade Removing the Carbon Tax
to be $110 billion lower than it is making Australia’s major
would have been under Labor. industries more competitive and
reduces costs for Australian
businesses, particularly
Repairing Labor’s Budget Mess
manufacturers and exporters.
Source: Budget Papers
Coalition Surpluses Labor Deficits Path to Repair
20
16 17
14
7 8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Billions ($)
2008-0
2009-1
2010-1
2011-1
2012-1
2013-1
2014-1
2015-1
2016-1
2017-1
2018-1
3
5
6
7
8
4
2002-0
2004-0
2005-0
2006-0
2007-0
2003-0
SMH, 29/0
7/2015
-7
-14
-19
-26
-27
-35
-41
-43
-47 -48
-54
8 Backing Hard-working Australians
Australia – Open for
Business
The Abbott Government worked
to clear the backlog of stalled
projects under Labor, giving
environmental approvals for
176 projects worth over $1 trillion.
Agreements have been signed
with all States and Territories for a
one stop shop for environmental
assessments and approvals.
The Government is removing
uncertainty for investors by
preventing activists from waging
“lawfare” to sabotage major
projects by repealing section 487
of the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act.
This will help projects like Adani’s
Carmichael coal mine, which
offers up to 10,000 new jobs,
Boosting Export “ChAFTA [the China Australia $16.5 billion of investment in
Free Trade Agreement] will Australia and an expected
Opportunities take investment into Australia $22 billion in royalties and taxes,
to another level, making our avoid being derailed in the
With the specific aim of boosting economy stronger and creating
future exports and jobs, new trade courts, even after it has gone
more jobs for Australians long through a rigorous process of
agreements have been signed into the future.”
with three of Australia’s largest environmental approval.
Jennifer Westacott, Chief Executive,
trading partners – Korea, Japan
Business Council of Australia
and China.
Mining Tax Abolished
Independent economic analysis
shows the new agreements with Labor’s Mining Tax has been
China, Japan and Korea will abolished, improving the
deliver $24 billion in extra income competitiveness and certainty for
to Australians over 20 years this key job creating and export
and create thousands of new industry. It also saves the Budget
Australian jobs. Courier Mail, 27/4/2
around $50 billion over the next
015
decade, by removing expenditure
The new trade agreements will also attached to a tax that wasn’t
lower prices of some goods such raising revenue.
as vehicles, electronics, clothes
and household appliances.
A Stronger Economy with More Jobs 9
More Choice for Australia’s Largest
Working Parents Infrastructure
Our Plan is about offering more
Investment
choice for families. As part of our Plan to grow the
That’s why our 2015 Budget economy, create more jobs and
measures will help more families ease the pressure on families
– especially low and middle the Government is making the
income families – get into work largest infrastructure investment
and stay in work, by making in Australia’s history – $50 billion
child care more affordable. to improve road and rail links,
Reducing Red Tape reduce travel times and support
The new Child Care Subsidy economic growth.
The Coalition has already will mean working families with
incomes between $65,000 and Through an asset recycling
cut around 11,000 pieces of initiative, States are also offered
regulation and legislation that $170,000 will be around $30 per
week better off. substantial financial incentives
will reduce paperwork costs by to sell assets and reinvest the
around $2.4 billion. It is estimated the new child proceeds into new productive
For the first time, two days care measures will encourage infrastructure, including urban rail.
of Parliament each year are more than 240,000 families to
increase their involvement in Together with State Government
being dedicated to removing and private investment, the
government red tape. the workforce, including almost
38,000 jobless families. Government’s Infrastructure
Growth Package will drive over
$125 billion of new infrastructure.
After five decades of talk, the
Government has approved a
second airport for Sydney to be
located at Badgerys Creek.
The Roads to Recovery funding
for local roads has been
increased by 83%, to $3.2 billion
over the next four years and
$500 million has been allocated
Tackling Union to fix road black spots, along with
$300 million for the Bridges
Corruption Renewal Programme.
The Royal Commission into The Coalition’s commitment to the
Trade Union Governance and Inland Rail project will transform
Corruption is underway. It freight movements through
is already casting a light on Victoria, NSW and South East
corruption and dodgy deals, Queensland and stimulate growth
with 9 unions involved in alleged and prosperity in these regions.
illegal activities or corruption
and around 30 individuals
already referred to 11 separate
agencies for further investigation
(with four arrests to date).
To ensure the rule of law is restored
in the building industry, we will
continue to seek Parliament’s
approval of our legislation to
reintroduce the Australian Building
and Construction Commission.
10 Backing Hard-working AustraliansSummary of Major
Infrastructure Investments
NEW SOUTH WALES VICTORIA
WestConnex East West Link
• Linking Western Sydney to the city, airport • While the State Labor Government has wasted
and ports, with up to 52 traffic lights gone and $640 million by cancelling the contract for the
40 minutes saved. Stage 2 construction has East West Link, $3 billion of Commonwealth
commenced (18 months ahead of schedule). Government money remains on the table for the
• 10,000 construction jobs. next state government which is willing to build an
East West Link.
Western Sydney Airport and Road Infrastructure
Regional Rail Link
• Supporting Sydney’s second airport, by building
vital road infrastructure first. • Removing major bottlenecks in Victoria’s rail network.
• 39,000 jobs created by 2035 increasing to 60,000
Princes Highway West
over time.
• Duplication to help bring regional communities
NorthConnex together and link key industries to markets.
• Connecting the Central Coast to Sydney, avoiding
up to 40 traffic lights on the Pacific Highway and WESTERN AUSTRALIA
21 on Pennant Hills Road.
Gateway
• 8,700 jobs.
• Reducing congestion around the Perth Airport and
Pacific Highway surrounding areas.
• Four lane divided road from near Newcastle to • 1,000 jobs.
Queensland, with crashes reduced and travel times
cut by up to 2.5 hours. Northlink WA
• 16,500 direct and indirect jobs. • A new 40km highway to improve freight and save
travel times through the Swan Valley.
Perth Freight Link
QUEENSLAND
• Providing a direct, free flowing connection to the
Bruce Highway Port of Fremantle.
• Upgrades to improve safety, congestion and flood • 2,400 jobs.
immunity, reducing travel times for motorists and
freight – including a range of safety packages and
overtaking lane projects, the duplication of the
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Boundary Road interchange and the upgrade at North South Corridor
Yellow Gin Creek south of Ayr.
• Better connect Adelaide’s port, airport and freight
terminals.
Gateway Motorway North
• 850 jobs.
• Widening from 4 to 6 lanes, improving access and
better connecting the Bruce Highway, Northern
Brisbane and the Port of Brisbane. TASMANIA
• 1,000 jobs.
Midland Highway Upgrade
Toowoomba Range Crossing • Upgrade between Hobart and Launceston, to
• Cutting travel times and removing traffic from improve safety and freight delivery.
Toowoomba Town Centre. • Approximately 200 jobs in initial works – more
over the course of the project.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Tiger Brennan Drive
• Duplication to improve safety and congestion.
• 120 direct jobs, 30 for Indigenous people.
11Investing in Skills and Encouraging Job
Research Seekers
We are investing up to To help more job seekers
$200 million a year to recruit, move from welfare to work,
train and retain more than a new jobactive network has
300,000 apprentices and been established. A network
trainees a year in more than of 66 private and community
420 locations. organisations in 1,700 locations
is matching the right job
The Australian Apprenticeship seekers to the right jobs,
Support Network is the biggest co-ordinating work for the dole,
reform to apprenticeship supporting job seekers who
support in more than two want to start their own business
decades, designed to lift and helping horticultural
apprenticeship completion growers find seasonal workers.
rates, which were less than
50% under Labor. In addition, we are helping
small businesses and job
The P-TECH pilot schools seekers through:
initiative offers secondary A Sustainable Higher
students an industry supported Education System • Restart – payments of up
pathway in science, technology to $10,000 for businesses
and maths (STEM). The Coalition will provide to hire mature long term
around $37 billion to higher job seekers;
Trade Support Loans of up to
$20,000 are helping apprentices education institutions over the • Job Commitment Bonus –
with the costs of living and next four years. to encourage young, long-
tools while undertaking an term unemployed to find
Our approach is to expand and keep jobs;
apprenticeship. Financial opportunities for students
incentives are being paid to – especially disadvantaged • Relocation Assistance (to
around 80,000 employers of students – and ensure the help job seekers move to
apprentices each year. financial sustainability of the take up jobs); and
For the first time also, the higher education system so • National Work Experience
Government is seeking to that universities can continue for small businesses – four
provide support for all sub- to provide world class quality weeks work experience
bachelor qualifications, teaching, research and learning for eligible job seekers,
which would mean 80,000 in the decades to come. followed by a wage subsidy
more Australians would get if the small business takes
government support by 2018. them on.
The Coalition Government is
maximising our $9.7 billion
investment in science and
research, including through our
Boosting Commercial Returns
from Research Strategy.
The $225 million Industry Growth
Centre Initiative will concentrate
research and investment in
areas where Australia has a
competitive advantage.
12 Backing Hard-working AustraliansJobs in our Regions
The $1 billion National Stronger
Regions Fund is promoting
economic development in
many communities through
investment in small-scale
infrastructure projects.
To assist the Victorian and South
Australian economies that are
undergoing transition, the
$155 million Growth Fund is
helping generate new jobs of
the future in those states.
Developing Australia’s
Fixing the National The improvement in NBN rollout North
is so significant that the NBN
Broadband Network recently announced it would The Coalition Government’s
employ another 4,500 people – White Paper on Northern Australia
The Coalition has put the NBN doubling its workforce. provides a comprehensive plan to
back on track to deliver high-
unleash the economic potential of
speed broadband to all Australian Earlier this year nbn, the
the region.
homes and businesses by 2020. company rolling out the network,
launched commercial fibre-to- The plan provides $200 million
In September 2013, fewer than two the-basement (FTTB) products, from the National Water
per cent of premises could obtain following a pilot programme Infrastructure Development Fund
a service on the NBN. About one showing superfast speeds can for the north including feasibility
in ten Australians can currently get be delivered. This technology studies of Nullinga Dam and the
the NBN and by June 2018 about allows nbn to deploy superfast Ord Stage 3 development as well
75 per cent of Australians will have broadband sooner and at less as water resource assessments
access to high-speed broadband cost to homes and businesses in across the north.
over the network. apartments or office blocks.
The White Paper also delivers
$600 million in additional funds to
improve infrastructure, on top of
new initiatives such as the
$100 million Beef Roads Fund to
Fixing the NBN help producers get their livestock
to market.
Premises passed by Premises Connected Labor
the NBN to the NBN The $5 billion Northern Australia
Coalition Infrastructure Facility will provide
for concessional loans to build the
1,244,129
infrastructure needed to further
open Australia’s northern frontier.
566,840
348,189
90,538
13
2013
015
015
20
Aug 2
Aug 2
Sept
Sept
Weekend
Australian,
4/10/2014
A Stronger Economy with More Jobs 13A $203 million boost to the Through our leadership of the
Tasmanian Freight Equalisation G20, Australia has been taking
Scheme will help Tasmanian the lead on global action to
producers and boost jobs. The crack down on tax avoidance
Coalition has also committed by multinationals. A new
$60 million to Tasmanian Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law
Irrigation’s Tranche Two schemes, will, from 1 January 2016, ensure
which will boost Tasmanian that when Australian customers
agriculture and create 150 jobs. deal with an Australian subsidiary,
those Australian sales will be
taxed in Australia. Multinationals
Fairer Rules with will also be subject to a double
penalty regime for tax avoidance.
Greater Enforcement
To ensure foreign companies
The Coalition is ensuring greater are subject to the same GST as
Boosting Australian transparency – and therefore Australian businesses, from 1
Agriculture confidence – in the system July 2017 GST will be charged on
of foreign investment, with a digital goods and services (like
The new trade agreements will reduced screening threshold Netflix) provided to Australians by
particularly benefit Australian for agricultural land of $15 million companies headquartered outside
agriculture. According to the (down from $252 million) and the country.
National Farmers’ Federation, a new foreign ownership
the China-Australia Free Trade land register.
Agreement is a “game changer”
that would, once passed by We’re enforcing the rules on
Parliament, make a $300 million foreign investment in real estate,
difference to Australian farmers with a new enforcement team in
next year alone. the ATO, tougher penalties for
illegal purchases and a new fee to
The 2015 Budget included help pay for better enforcement.
measures to help farmers, This helps ensure any foreign
including immediate tax write- investment in real estate is
offs for new fencing and water directed to building new homes,
infrastructure and a write-off over not competing with Australian
three years for fodder storage. buyers for existing ones.
The recently launched $4 billion Australia’s first Food and Grocery Investing in Medical
Agricultural Competitiveness Code of Conduct is supporting
small business suppliers, with
Research
White Paper will be an investment
in Australia’s farmers and an obligation for retailers to act Australia’s standing as a global
competitiveness. It includes in good faith with suppliers and leader in medical research will
significant investments in: dispute resolution mechanisms. be strengthened through the
water infrastructure, biosecurity, Medical Research Future Fund.
research and development, Better Country of Origin labelling
is being introduced, so Australians Starting with an initial contribution
drought relief and helping of $1 billion, it will grow until it
Australian farmers capitalise on know more about where their food
is grown, made or packaged. eventually provides around
trade opportunities. $1 billion per annum in additional
The Coalition Government has We are protecting people’s research funds.
opened the livestock export savings, by restoring from
trade to seven vital markets in 3 years to 7 years the period
Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Cambodia, of time bank accounts can
Thailand, Lebanon and China. The be inactive before money is
Government has also helped to transferred to the Government.
restore trade with Indonesia after In 2012-13, $550 million was
Labor’s knee-jerk ban. raided from 156,000 accounts
after Bill Shorten reduced this
inactive period to just 3 years.
14 Backing Hard-working AustraliansMore Confidence and Jobs – Our
Plan Is Working. (As at August 2015)
Australia is facing economic challenges:
• The global economic recovery has been slower than expected and financial
markets have been volatile.
• Uncertainty around China’s growth particularly affects Australia, especially
our mining sector (the iron-ore price has halved since last year).
• Large parts of Queensland and New South Wales remain in drought.
Notwithstanding, steps taken by the Abbott Government have helped boost
resilience, confidence and jobs.
More Jobs
• Since the Abbott Government came to office, over 335,000
new jobs have been created.
• This year alone, over 163,000 new jobs created so far.
• The number of jobs created per month has increased
markedly – from an average of just 3,600 per month in Labor’s
last year (2013), to 16,700 per month in 2014 to 23,200 per
month so far this year.
• Annual jobs growth is running at the fastest rate in over four
years. Australia’s jobs growth over the past year has been
stronger than the US, UK, Canada – or any G7 country.
• The job participation rate is up, which means more people are
entering the job market.
• Over 171,000 more Australian women are in jobs since the
2013 election and female workforce participation is now at
record levels. Jobs Growth (Monthly)
25,000
23,267
More Confidence
Jobs growth per month
20,000
• In 2014, there were 223,000 new companies registered in
Australia – an increase of 10.2% from 2013 and the highest 16,744
number since records started. 15,000
• According to the Australian Financial Security Authority,
bankruptcies have fallen to their lowest level in 20 years.
10,000
5,000
3,626
0
2013
2014
r)
2015
(so fa
15OUR PLAN
A Safer Nation and
Safer Communities
Stopping the Boats A New Border Force Tackling Terrorism
The Coalition has stopped On July 1 2015, the new Australian We have provided our
illegal boat arrivals as we Border Force commenced, intelligence and security
promised to do. with 5,500 officers (including agencies with more resources
approximately 1,400 at our ($1.3 billion extra funding) and
Since boat turn-backs began airports), 11 vessels, 12 aircraft new, modernised powers to act,
under Operation Sovereign and a budget of over $900 million so they can better track and
Borders in December 2013 a year. disrupt those who would seek to
only one illegal entry vessel harm the Australian community.
has arrived in Australia – in July This new single agency is
last year – with the 157 illegal dedicated to strengthening The number of high-risk terrorist
maritime arrivals on board our borders and dealing with threats being monitored in
transferred to Nauru. the threats from terrorism and Australia has doubled (to around
transnational crime. 400) in the last year.
Importantly, since December 2013
there have been no lives lost at New Counter-Terrorism Units
sea, in stark contrast to the Labor now operate at all eight major
years when 1,200 people died on international airports and 92
perilous journeys in unsafe boats. additional biometric screening
gates are being fast tracked.
The Abbott Government will
never allow a return to the days The Citizenship Act is being
under Labor when more than updated, so terrorists who hold
800 boats carrying a human dual nationality will lose their
wave of 50,000 illegal maritime Australian citizenship.
arrivals flooded into Australia.
The same cannot be said for
Labor. After years of failure under
Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard,
Labor remains deeply divided Illegal Boat Arrivals
on border protection despite its
attempt to conceal this division 350
Labor
by adopting an “option” to turn- dismantles 302
back boats. 300 Howard 276
Government’s
Boat Arrivals
policies
Mr Shorten will never be able 250
to act because his Deputy
Tanya Plibersek, Senate 200
Leader Penny Wong and other
138
senior frontbenchers remain 150
fundamentally opposed to tough
100 Coalition
action against people smugglers. 70 Operation
55
Sovereign
50 Borders
7
1 0
0
2014
2008
2010
2011
2012
2013
2009
so far
2015
16 Backing Hard-working AustraliansMetadata is the basic building We have brought forward by
block in nearly every counter- three years the build of the
terrorism, counter-espionage and Future Frigates in South Australia
organised crime investigation. and brought forward the build
The Coalition’s data retention of Offshore Patrol Vessels by
legislation will ensure our security two years. In total, the Coalition
and law enforcement agencies Government has committed to an
will continue to have access to $89 billion boost to Australian naval
the information they need to do capability over the next 20 years.
their jobs. At the same time, the
legislation provides safeguards By putting Australian shipbuilding
to protect our rights and liberties, A Stronger Defence on a “continuous build” basis for
including additional oversight Force the first time, the Government
mechanisms covering the security has moved decisively to give
and law enforcement agencies. We are committed to restoring certainty to Australia’s naval
Defence funding to 2% of GDP shipbuilding industry, the Navy
New legislation is helping within a decade. and shipbuilding workers.
agencies to monitor, investigate,
arrest and prosecute returning This path for growth reverses the This follows six years of
foreign fighters. Additional damage from Labor, which cut the inaction by Labor which failed
legislation allows for the Defence Budget by $16 billion to to commission one single
cancellation of welfare payments 1.56% of GDP - the lowest level naval vessel from an Australian
on security grounds. since 1938. shipyard and created the current
shipbuilding ‘valley of death’.
Australia has contributed combat A new Defence White Paper will
and other aircraft, plus 300 ADF be released later this year. Already, The Government is also delivering
personnel to a combined Task over the past two years, the for Defence personnel – past,
Group to train Iraqi forces, as Government has committed to: present and future, through:
part of an international effort to
• Another 58 Joint Strike • More generous indexation
degrade and defeat ISIL.
Fighter aircraft; for Defence Forces
The Government is working Retirement Benefits scheme
• A redevelopment of the (DFRB) and Defence Force
with our communities to counter
RAAF fighter base at Retirement and Death
extremist lies and propaganda
Williamtown (where the JSF Benefits scheme (DFRDB);
and we are cracking down on
will be based) and HMAS
preachers of hate. • From July next year, a new
Stirling in Western Australia;
fully funded and more flexible
• Two additional C-17A ADF Super Scheme will
Globemaster heavy lift aircraft; financially benefit the 80 per
• New generation body cent of ADF members who
armour and other protective serve less than 15 years;
equipment for our soldiers; • Providing free basic health
• State of the art Special care for all ADF family
Forces vehicles, assembled members; and
in Australia; • Re-starting the ADF Gap
• P-8A Poseidon maritime Year Programme.
es, 12/5/2015
Canberra Tim
surveillance aircraft; and
• Triton Unmanned
Geelong Ad
vertiser 4/8/
2015
surveillance aircraft.
A Safer Nation and Safer Communities 17Representing
Australia’s Interests
This year 3,200 scholarships
and grants are being awarded to
students to study in our region
as part of the New Colombo
Plan. By the end of 2016, 10,000
Australians will represent our
country under the Plan.
Our diplomatic efforts overseas
have helped secure outcomes
such as:
• Free Trade Agreements with
Korea, Japan and China; and
• A prompt, unequivocal UN
Security Council Resolution We have passed legislation to
in response to the downing Combatting the Ice crackdown on middle-men and
of Flight MH-17. Scourge drug couriers bringing precursors
into the country to make Ice. We
Australia’s overseas aid is now
The Government has have also changed legislation
sustainable and oriented to
established a National Ice to manage the proliferation of
economic development and
Taskforce to help tackle the dangerous synthetic drugs at
poverty reduction in our region.
growing scourge of the drug our borders.
As an example of Australia’s
Ice. The taskforce will develop
focus on assisting our As well, we are working with
a National Ice Action Strategy
neighbours, around 500 ADF the States and Territories to
to tackle this scourge head
personnel were immediately strengthen our capacity to take
on through law enforcement,
dispatched to Vanuatu in March action against criminals with
education and rehabilitation.
to help the recovery effort unexplained wealth.
following Cyclone Pam. The Prime Minister also recently
announced the establishment of
a national Ice hotline for people
Fighting Crime to dob in drug dealers and the
locations of drug labs across
The Government is ensuring the the country.
/2015
confiscated proceeds of crime The Australian, 8/4
We have strengthened the
are used to fight crime.
crime-fighting capabilities of the
Previously, Labor locked this Australian Crime Commission with Tackling Domestic
money in the Confiscated Assets additional resources – funded
Account in order to boost its from confiscated proceeds of Violence
Budget bottom line. crime. These additional resources
will contribute to: Domestic violence is a national
We have introduced legislation for priority and the Government has
minimum 5 year sentences for • Establishing a new National allocated $100 million over four
illegal gun trafficking. Regrettably, Criminal Intelligence System; years to support actions that will
Labor is blocking it. reduce violence against women
• Deploying transactional crime and children.
analysts to organised crime and
drug importation hotspots; and
• Undermining the business
models of transnational criminal
syndicates that are profiting
from the illegal Ice trade.
ralian,
West Aust
29/1/2015
18 Backing Hard-working AustraliansOUR PLAN
Stronger
Communities
Supporting Families
In addition to the household
savings from abolishing
the Carbon Tax, the Abbott
Government is making a
$3.5 billion investment to
provide greater choices to
1.2 million families with young
children to help reduce cost
of living pressures.
• A new Child Care Subsidy will
mean working families with
incomes between $65,000
and $170,000 will be around
$30 per week better off. And
we’re removing the $7,500
cap for families earning less Funding for local hospitals and From January 2017, 170,000
than $185,000. schools has been increased to pensioners with modest assets
record levels. will have their pensions increased
• Working families earning less
by an average of $30 per fortnight.
than $65,000 will get an 85% To help ease congestion, so For 90% of pensioners, there
subsidy on child care fees families can spend less time in will be no change in pension
(up to an hourly cap). A Child traffic, the Abbott Government arrangements, or higher pensions.
Care Safety Net will help those is undertaking the biggest
earning less than $65,000 that investment in road infrastructure Older Australians now have lower
don’t meet the activity test. in Australia’s history. bills following the abolition of the
• A home based Nannies Pilot Carbon Tax, but still keep their
Most important, we are helping Energy Supplement.
Programme will help people
Australian families through our
like shift workers access
Plan for a stronger economy, We are reforming aged care to
child care.
with more jobs. ensure more funding is allocated
To protect children from to customers based on their
diseases, the new “no jab, no needs. Recognising that most
pay” rule will remove access to Security for Seniors people want to live in their own
child care payments and the home for as long as they can, the
Providing security and certainty to
FTB A end of year supplement number of home care places is
Australians in retirement is at the
for parents who don’t vaccinate being increased from 73,000 to
heart of the Coalition’s Plan.
their children. 100,000 in 2017-18.
Since the Government was
The Coalition will continue The Coalition will continue to fight
elected in 2013, there have been
to fight Labor’s plan to Labor’s plans to increase taxes
four pension increases, which
reintroduce a Carbon Tax, on superannuation.
have increased full pensions by
which would put more pressure
$51.80 per fortnight for singles
on family budgets. The removal
and $78 per fortnight for couples.
of their last Carbon Tax is
saving average households Pensions will continue to
around $550 per year. increase – at the highest available
indexation rate. 15
un, 17/6/20
Herald S
Stronger Communities 19Sustainable, World school hours.
Class Healthcare To help tackle bowel cancer,
the Government has committed
The Government is increasing an additional $95.9 million to
funding to local hospitals by ensure Australians aged 50 to
$3.8 billion (25% increase) over 74 receive a free, at home bowel
the next four years. cancer screening kit every two
years by 2020. This has the
Australia’s standing as a global potential to save up to 500 lives
leader in medical research each year.
will be strengthened though
the Medical Research Future We are also developing a
Fund which starts with an initial National Diabetes Strategy
Action on the contribution of $1 billion, and will that will guide national action
Environment grow until it eventually provides to prevent diabetes and
around $1 billion per annum in support Australians living
Through its Emissions Reduction additional research funds. with diabetes. This is on top
Fund, the Coalition Government of $35 million provided to the
is reducing greenhouse gas We have restored the Juvenile Diabetes Research
emissions far more effectively independence of the Foundation Clinical Research
and at a fraction of the cost of Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Network to help find a cure for
Labor’s Carbon Tax. Committee and listed more than juvenile diabetes.
740 new and amended drugs on
From the Fund’s first auction, the PBS since September 2013. The NHMRC National Institute
it has already secured the This compares to 331 in Labor’s for Dementia Research is
reduction of 47 million tonnes last term in office. being established as the
for $660 million – four times cornerstone of our $200 million
the 12 million tonnes reduced To take one example, the PBS commitment to boosting
under Labor’s Carbon Tax, which listing of the melanoma drug research into dementia.
slugged Australians $15.4 billion. Keytruda will now make this
$150,000 drug affordable to
Australia is meeting its emissions the 1,100 Australians who
reduction targets and has set desperately need it.
a responsible target of 26-28%
reduction on 2005 levels by 2030. To help promote a lifelong
interest in sport and fitness,
The Government is delivering the $100 million Sporting
$140 million to a new Reef Trust Schools Initiative will help
as part of a comprehensive the Australian Sports
Reef 2050 Plan. Recognising Commission – in conjunction
Australia’s strong action to with 30 national sporting
protect the Great Barrier Reef, the organisations – make free
UN World Heritage Committee sport available to children
rejected the proposed “in before, during and after
danger” listing and praised
Australia’s efforts. Funding for Hospitals
The Green Army has been
Labor Coalition
launched, with over 350 practical
local environmental projects being 20,000
$18,103
$18,873
18,000 $17,005
tackled by more than 3,000 young 16,000
$16,084
$15,121
people already involved. 14,000 $13,520
12,000
$1 billion is being invested 10,000
through the National Landcare 8,000
Programme. This includes a 6,000
4,000
programme to plant 20 million 2,000
trees by 2020. 0
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
20 Backing Hard-working AustraliansStudents First in
School Education
Funding to schools will increase
by $4.1 billion (28% increase)
over the next four years.
A Students First approach has
been established to ensure this
increased funding translates
to better results – focusing
on teacher quality, school
autonomy, engaging parents and
strengthening the curriculum.
The Government is also restoring
the focus on science, technology,
engineering and mathematics
(STEM) at schools with $12 million
to encourage school students The National Disability Improving the Lives of
to study STEM subjects. This Insurance Scheme Indigenous Australians
includes providing innovative
mathematics curriculum The Government is ensuring the The Government’s $4.9 billion
resources, supporting the National Disability Insurance Indigenous Advancement
introduction of computer coding in Scheme is built on a sustainable Strategy consolidates over 150
schools, investing in the P-TECH platform, that it delivers for separate programmes into five
model and engaging more female those who need it most and for key programme areas, focusing
and disadvantaged students in future generations. on getting children into school,
STEM through summer schools. adults into work and delivering
The NDIS has so far allocated safer communities.
Nearly $17 million has been more than 17,000 tailored support
allocated to improve initial teacher packages to Australians with a The Employment Parity
education and ensure teacher disability through 7 trial sites with Initiative is seeking to get
graduates are ‘classroom ready’. some 95% of participants rating 20,000 more Indigenous job
Every State and Territory has their experience as “good” or seekers into work by 2020, by
signed up to the Government’s “very good”. supporting Australia’s largest
Independent Public Schools companies to increase their
initiative, which will give principals, Indigenous workforce to reflect
teachers and the community Better Community the size of the Indigenous
greater responsibility and Infrastructure population (around 3%). Clear
autonomy in their schools. and accountable targets are
We are supporting economic also being set to increase
growth, improving facilities and Indigenous employment through
supporting community spirit government procurement.
in local communities across
Funding for Schools Australia through programmes On July 6 2015, the Prime
like the $1 billion National Minister convened a meeting
Labor Coalition Stronger Regions Fund, the with many of our most significant
22,000 $306 million Community Indigenous leaders and the
20,000
$18,031
$18,760 Development Grants Programme Leader of the Opposition to chart
18,000
16,000 $15,743
$17,012
and the $45 million new Stronger a way forward on Indigenous
14,000 $13,188
$14,664
Communities Programme. recognition in the Constitution.
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Stronger Communities 21OUR PLAN
Supporting
Regional Australia
Scrapping the
Carbon Tax
Farmers and regional small
businesses benefit strongly from
the abolition of the Carbon Tax,
which resulted in electricity prices
being around 9% lower than they
would otherwise have been.
More Export
Opportunities
The new trade agreements will
particularly benefit Australian
agriculture. According to the
National Farmers’ Federation,
the China-Australia Free Trade
Agreement is a “game changer”
that will, once passed by Backing Farmers Better Regional Roads
Parliament, make a $300 million
difference to Australian farmers The 2015 Budget included The Coalition’s record
next year alone. measures to help farmers, $50 billion investment in
including immediate tax write- infrastructure includes major
The Government has opened offs for new fencing and water upgrades to the Pacific, Bruce
the livestock export trade to infrastructure and a write-off over and Princes Highways and
seven vital markets (Bahrain, three years for fodder storage. other roads that link regional
Egypt, Iran, Cambodia, communities.
Thailand, Lebanon and China). The recently launched $4 billion
Agricultural Competitiveness The $3.2 billion Roads to
White Paper will be a landmark Recovery Programme will help
investment in Australia’s farmers fix regional black spots, renew
and competitiveness. It includes regional bridges and repair
significant investments in: regional highways.
water infrastructure, biosecurity,
research and development,
drought relief and helping
Australian farmers capitalise on
trade opportunities.
22 Backing Hard-working AustraliansRegional Health Fixing Mobile
Services Black Spots
The GP Rural Incentives The Government’s Mobile
Programme has been overhauled, Black Spot Programme will
to ensure 450 small rural towns deliver almost 500 new or
receive increased subsidies to upgraded mobile base stations
attract and retain doctors. The around Australia – 429 Telstra
Royal Flying Doctor Service has base stations and 70 Vodafone
been given a $20 million boost base stations.
over the next two years.
The new and upgraded base
stations will provide new
Stronger Communities handheld coverage to 60,600
square kilometres and new
The Coalition is supporting external antenna coverage to
economic growth, improving over 150,000 square kilometres, Water Security
facilities and supporting and over 5,700 kilometres of
community spirit in local The Government has completed
major transport routes.
communities across Australia, an agreement to bring states
through the $1 billion National There will be handheld or together to implement the Murray
Stronger Regions Fund and external antenna coverage Darling Basin Plan for water and
the $306 million Community to all or part of around 3,000 is investing $3.9 billion in water
Development Grants Programme. of the black spot locations infrastructure to improve farm
nominated by Australians as efficiency and productive capacity.
$33.7 million is being provided not having mobile coverage.
to improve access to remote In addition, $200 million from
communities through the Remote This is the most significant one the National Water Infrastructure
Airstrip Upgrade Programme. time increase in mobile network Development Fund will go to
coverage to outer metropolitan, developing water infrastructure in
regional and remote Australia Northern Australia.
delivered by a single public
funding programme in the
history of mobile communication Protecting Regional
in Australia. Environments
The Green Army – along with the
Drought Relief 20 million tree programme – is
improving the local environment
For drought affected areas,
in regional communities.
the Coalition is providing a
comprehensive $333 million
drought support package to
help our farming communities.
Supporting Regional Australia 23Australia can’t
afford Labor
Real progress is being made in building a stronger economy with more
jobs, a safer country and stronger communities.
This progress will be at risk under a weak Shorten Labor Government.
Labor: Hasn’t Learned…Can’t Change…
Too Much Baggage
Under Bill Shorten, Labor has wasted its first two years in Opposition. Instead of
developing a clear and detailed set of policies that will deliver economic growth,
new job opportunities and greater security, Labor just continues to play short-term
political games.
What is clear is that:
• Labor has no plan to • Labor has committed • Labor is marching to • Labor has no
deal with the debt and to a new tax on the tune of increasingly leadership, is divided
deficit left by the last electricity which militant unions. on key policy issues
Labor Government. would add to cost-of- and is a threat to the
living pressures and • Labor has confirmed it living standards of
• Labor has already put threaten jobs and will increase taxes on families and small
forward over small business. superannuation. businesses.
$50 billion in unfunded
commitments (so far). • Labor is hopelessly • Labor has not removed • Labor is jeopardising
divided on border the baggage of the the historic export
security. Rudd and Gillard eras. agreement with China
putting jobs at risk.
24 Backing Hard-working AustraliansThe last Labor Government left
Australia with a mess
Record deficits NBN project delays and Illegal boat arrivals were
cost blow out out of control
Labor produced the six largest
Budget deficits in our history. Labor’s NBN would have cost at Over 50,000 illegal arrivals
least $29 billion more than we came in more than 800 boats,
were told and would have taken causing cost blow outs of over
Massive debt years longer to build. $11 billion.
Labor’s government debt blew
out to $320 billion and was Cost of living was on Education standards
projected to reach $667 billion in slipped
the rise
10 years (approximately $25,000
per Australian). Student results declined, along
Over 6 years, household costs
While our Plan for economic for health increased 35%, with the international rating of
growth is bringing down Labor’s education increased 39%, Australia’s schools.
mountain of debt over time, gas increased 71%, childcare
Australian taxpayers still face a increased 53% and electricity
debt interest bill of $1 billion a increased 101%. Health services got more
month – more than is spent on expensive
aged care or universities.
Taxpayers’ money wasted Hospital waiting times increased
and $4 billion was cut from
Labor’s track record is appalling private health insurance, while
World’s biggest
– $900 stimulus cheques sent health bureaucracies thrived.
Carbon Tax to dead people and overseas
residents, the ‘pink batts’
Labor imposed the world’s insulation programme, the
biggest Carbon Tax – a Defence spending was
Grocery Watch and Fuel Choice
$9 billion a year hit to the debacles, massive cost blowouts
slashed
economy costing average for school halls and computers
households around $550 The Defence Budget was
in schools programmes…the list
per year. slashed to the lowest level as a
goes on and on.
percentage of GDP since 1938.
More people unemployed
Under Labor, the number of
unemployed increased by
200,000, productivity declined
by 0.7% per year, working days
lost to strikes doubled and
business red tape increased.
Australians will pay the price – again
Australia can’t afford Labor 25I L I N G
NA IES
B O R L
LA THE FA
CTS
Because they are bereft of policies, leadership and direction Labor and their
union masters at the ACTU, the CFMEU and the ETU peddle lies and false
assertions and run disgraceful scare campaigns about Coalition policies.
Here are just a few of Labor’s lies, with the facts that rebut them.
LABOR LIE THE FACTS
Pension Cuts Since the election, the single assets will have their pensions
pension is up by $51.80 a fortnight increased by an average of $780
“We still see more cuts to and the married pension for per year ($30 per fortnight).
pensions … we also see couples is up by $78 a fortnight.
No one currently on a full pension
more unfairness hurting
New measures starting on 1 January will lose a dollar from these
those most in need.” 2017 will make the age pension fairer changes, and there will be 50,000
(Bill Shorten, Speech to ALP and more sustainable, as well as more people on a full pension as a
Caucus, 11/8/2015) providing more help to pensioners result of these changes.
on modest means.
Nine out of ten pensioners will be
Under these changes more than better off or have no change to their
170,000 pensioners with modest payments under this measure.
LABOR LIE THE FACTS
$80 billion cuts to schools The Government is not cutting If Mr Shorten truly believes there
and hospitals schools and hospital funding. has been $80 billion in Budget
Hospitals and schools funding cuts to health and education, he
“Tony Abbott launched a continues to increase each and should immediately commit Labor
surprise attack on all the every year under the Coalition. to restore those funds and explain
States, where he cut $80 exactly how he will pay for it.
Funding for hospitals will increase
billion out of hospitals and by 25 per cent, or $3.8 billion over He won’t, because he knows there
schools in last year’s Budget the next four years. has been no $80 billion “cut”. This
with no pre-election warning, is just a baseless assertion from
Schools funding will increase by
it was a broken promise.” a weak Leader of the Opposition
28 per cent, or $4.1 billion over the
with no positive plans for
(Bill Shorten, Doorstop, 16/4/2015) next four years.
Australia’s future.
We have also kept the
commitments we made at the last
election, including putting back the
$1.2 billion in school funding that
Bill Shorten personally ripped out
on the eve of the last election.
26 Backing Hard-working AustraliansYou can also read
