Abbott breaches trust on budget

a) Lower gross debt under Howard/Costello needs to be considered alongside greatly reduced government income and income bearing assets – the cost of unsustainable tax cuts, upper middle class welfare, and privatisations

b) We need to consider our capacity to SERVICE the debt; and the 'trade off' from public debt compared with greater productivity which would flow from public investment in infrastructure, education and the like.

c) The Liberals attempt to compare the Federal Budget with household budgets. And yet those families who can still afford it (since the Howard era housing bubble) need to make long term investments in the family home; servicing and repaying debt in a sustainable fashion over decades. Families 'having a roof over their heads' is a fairly non-negotiable need. By comparison, if governments fail to invest over the long term in infrastructure and education – the cost to the economy (and to real people) is greater than had those governments 'opted out' in order to cut debt. And if the private sector is brought in 'to pick up the slack' – the cost to the Australian people as private consumers is greater than had they 'collectively consumed' infrastructure and services via progressive tax. To clarify: there are additional private sector costs such as profit margins, marketing, executive salaries and a higher cost of borrowing

d) Finally: issuing government bonds over the long term is arguably a fairer way of financing major public infrastructure – as the cost can be staggered over several generations with those who will benefit in the future paying their fair share.

All these facts combined also reveal the falsehood of our supposed 'economic crisis' and insincere cries that we must cut radically in order to 'live within our means.'

But there ARE alternatives.

If the regressive subsidies for wealthy retirees via the Superannuation Concessions regime are taken into account; and if unsustainable tax cuts flowing largely to the wealthy and the upper middle class are considered; it becomes clear that Australia has the means to provide for the Aged and the disabled without vicious austerity. That is: without attempts to whip up resentment against vulnerable welfare recipients.

GetUp! has observed that over $15 billion in superannuation concessions go to the "richest ten per cent"; and arguably even more if we consider the upper middle class.

And according to the Sydney Morning Herald the overall "Commonwealth bill for [superannuation] concessions is projected to rise at a staggering 12 per cent annually to be $50.7 billion in 2016-17. "

On the basis of the figures already considered: progressively raising government revenue to pre-Howard levels (as a proportion of GDP); and winding back regressive superannuation concessions alone could claw backwell over $50 billion. From those measures alone, the Federal government could meet increasing demands in future decades on health, welfare and aged care . It could also meet the cost of providing key infrastructure and social services publicly – without the extra (regressively structured) costs on private consumers that flow from privatization.

There are several areas of urgent need which will certainly be neglected should the Abbott administration continue to ruthlessly pursue its Ideological 'small government' agenda:

• Roads, rail (including Fast Rail), and other public transport
• Better funded State schools; greater Tertiary educational opportunity; make HECS fairer by raising rather than lowering the repayment threshold
• Better resourced public hospitals, universal health care with comprehensive Medicare dental and improved mental health facilities and services
• National Disability Insurance, and National Aged Care Insurance
• A National Broadband Network 'to last the long term' instead of a 'second best' option
• Pensions maintained without cutting payments and eligibility for vulnerable Australians; and without regressive assets tests that include 'the family home' even when it is roughly equal to or lower than average property values
• Free burials or cremations to save families unfair costs and stress when they are grieving for their loved ones
• massive investment in public housing to increase supply – finally correcting the Howard-era bubble and making housing accessible and affordable for more Australians again
• Continue to invest in renewable energy for Australia's future – and for the planet; the Clean Energy Finance Corporationis not a 'drag on the Budget' anyway – and reported a profit of 7 per cent
• Invest in pure and applied scientific research; for example into a cure for dementia