One year on - women wary of directionless Labor

24-November-2008

On the anniversary of the election of the Rudd Government, Australian women have a healthy scepticism about Labor’s economic management, with today’s Newspoll finding 64% of women would be concerned about a budget deficit, Shadow Minister for Women Sophie Mirabella said today.

“Australian women know how crucially important it is to manage the budget. They know that you can’t afford to spend more than you have – they balance household budgets every day. It’s not surprising they’re very concerned about the latest reports that the Federal Budget will most likely run into deficit this financial year.”

“It’s quite foreboding that it has taken just one year for the spectre of Budget deficits to arise again, after the Coalition worked so hard in Government to pay back the debt Labor left behind and deliver successive Budget surpluses.”

Mrs Mirabella said the current world financial crisis should not be used by the Government as an excuse for lazy decision making and running the Budget into deficit.

“Australia weathered the Asian financial crisis in the early years of the Howard Government. Our economy fared well despite the worst drought in our nation’s history. Every Government faces challenges – the Rudd government cannot hide behind the current situation as an excuse for poor fiscal management.”

“One year on, the women of Australia have every right to be sceptical about this government and to be concerned about their priorities.”

Mrs Mirabella said the Government had raised community expectations on a number of issues of importance to women and had been found sadly lacking.

“At the election Labor promised 260 new child care Centres – they’ve barely turned the sod on one of those. The child care industry is now in disarray with the collapse of ABC Learning, and Julia Gillard’s promised contingency plan is yet to be seen.”

“Then, after raising expectations, Ms Gillard appeared on the weekend to scuttle the much-touted Paid Maternity Leave scheme. Labor canned the “Violence Against women: Australia says no” campaign and has put nothing in its place. A year on, the Rudd Government has proved to be all puff and promise, but no substance. It’s no wonder the women of Australia are wary.”