The coronavirus pandemic may been the defining feature of 2020, but the economy was already spiralling out of control before the Government handed down its Budget.
This was Scott Morrison’s opportunity to undertake heroic nation-building and historic reform.
Much like Franklin D Roosevelt did in the Great Depression in the 1930’s with his New Deal.
Or like Australian Prime Ministers did during tumultuous times, such as Ben Chifley and the post World War II Snowy Mountain Scheme, Gough Whitlam’s urban renewal reforms and universal health care; the Hawke-Keating industrial and financial reforms; and the Rudd-Gillard nation building agenda that saved us from the worst of the Global Financial Crisis and brought in the National Disability Scheme (NDIS).
Even John Howard established the Future Fund.
As a result of visionary Labor Government, Ipswich, the Somerset Region and Karana Downs area have good local roads, sewerage to homes, and a host of facilities, including civic centres in Ipswich and Esk, arts and cultural facilities including Studio 188 in Ipswich and the Condensery in Toogoolawah.
Our schools have halls, computers and trade training centres, and our region boasts two university campuses.
Our regions have exceptional parklands and reserves, from Robelle Domain in Springfield, the Riverheart Parklands in Ipswich and sporting facilities throughout the region.
And of course, the Ipswich Motorway upgrade from Dinmore to Wacol, opposed vehemently by the LNP at every stage, along with the Blacksoil Interchange upgrade on the Warrego Highway.
This was Scott Morrison’s moment to be a reforming, courageous leader, who would build for the future.
Instead, he squibbed it. The Liberals have chosen short-term gains in order to gain electoral support over future building.
They have chosen to lead Australian into an eye-watering debt of up to $1 trillion while leaving nothing substantial to benefit future generations.
In the same position, Labor would have followed in the tradition of reforming Governments, investing in the future to build the foundations for growth, prosperity and security.
Labor’s plan starts with early childhood education and care.
Child care fees in Australia are amongst the highest in the world. Labor would introduce the Working Family Childcare Boost, cutting child care fees and putting more money into the pockets of working families.
Labor plans to scrap the $10,560 child care subsidy cap which often sees women in particular losing money from an extra day’s work. We will increase the maximum child care subsidy rate to 90 per cent, while child care subsidy rates will increase and tapers for every family earning above $80,000.
That will benefit the vast majority of working families in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and Karana Downs area.
Another nation-building plan is building an electricity network designed for this century; one designed to handle the rise of renewables as a cheap new energy source and link them to the grid.
Labor will rewire the nation to drive down prices, give the economy a boost of up to $40 billion, and create thousands of new jobs, particularly in regional areas.
Unfortunately, the Liberals are still playing catch-up with the NBN to think about energy.
Labor began to deliver fibre-optic cable to households and businesses across the nation. The Liberals wanted to simply replace the old, redundant copper wires.
The Liberals may have back-flipped but they failed to take the opportunity to roll out fibre nationally. Sadly, they have budgeted for just one in 10 households currently in the copper network to receive fibre to the premises, by 2024
Another Labor initiative is investment in manufacturing.
Labor will support local manufacturing sectors to deliver world-class products, incorporate the best technology and provide good, secure jobs local workers need and deserve.
These are industries we are well-equipped to benefit from in our local area.
Labor’s National Rail Manufacturing Plan will see more trains built in Australia by local workers.
Labor’s Defence Industry Development Strategy will leverage our $270 billion investment pipeline, develop sovereign industrial and research capabilities and build skills and expertise within the Australian workplace.
And the Australian Skills Guarantee will give apprentices, trainees and cadets a foot in the door when it comes to working on major Commonwealth projects.
Labor will invest in Social Housing. Repairs to ageing social housing could begin immediately, employing local plumbers, electricians, carpenters, plasters, painters and provide business for manufacturers of building supplies and materials.
Importantly, Labor will establish an Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
If the coronavirus crisis has highlighted nothing else, it is our unpreparedness for a pandemic of this nature.
Australia is the only developed nation without a CDC or equivalent body and the Federal Government has not led a national pandemic drill for 12 years.
Australia’s response to this pandemic was too slow, too reactive and too uncoordinated.
The Federal Government was left arguing with the State and Territories over their responsibilities, seemingly unaware of its own when it came to border control and aged care.
It often takes Labor Governments to lead us through crises. The Morrison Budget demonstrates just how true this is.
