Our
Economic Action Strategy
In recent weeks, as I’ve met
people across Australia and read their letters and emails, I’ve been asked why
do we need to make big changes in this Budget?
It’s a fair question.
My answer is that you can’t fix
the economy without fixing the Budget.
A strong Budget is the foundation
for a strong country. This Budget is part of the Government’s Economic Action
Strategy to build a stronger, more prosperous economy for a safe and secure
Australia.
We must again live within our
means – as we did in the Howard years – because that’s the foundation for
future prosperity.
Since then, as you know, the
previous Labor government ran up five record deficits. Labor also left $123
billion in deficits for coming years and $667 billion in projected debt.
The interest payments alone are
around $1 billion every month – that’s dead money that could have been better
spent on better services – and if we do nothing it will just get worse.
Beyond a certain point, you don’t
control debt; debt controls you.
So, I want our country to be back
in control of our destiny. When a country has a strong economy there is less
pressure on families and more opportunities for small businesses to create
well-paying jobs.
At the election, you the people
said that you wanted a government that would fix the Budget and strengthen the
economy and that is exactly what we are doing.
The Budget shouldn’t be about how
much will be in our pockets today or tomorrow, it should be about our country
and its future – and our ability to sustain for the long term important
services and the social security net that is so important.
By all of us chipping in – we can
chip away at this legacy of debt.
Sharing the burden makes it
lighter for all of us.
So, the Government will do the
right thing by Australia in this Budget
– so that we can all share in the jobs and the prosperity that should follow. |
