Senior Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne has today conceded the Coalition still hasn't done any of the work it needs to fill its $70 billion black hole.
Despite Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey claiming,"we have found the savings we were looking for" (Doorstop – 13 March, 2012), Mr Pyne said on radio this morning:
But we haven't earmarked particular areas for cuts yet. All of those proposals for fiscal policy will be announced at the appropriate time.
(ABC Newsradio – 8 February 2013)
This follows on from Mr Pyne's earlier comments this week that tax cuts, increases to pensions, increases to family benefits and increases to superannuation would be ‘up in the air' under a Tony Abbott-led Government.
Just last week Tony Abbott proudly confirmed that the Coalition will scrap the School Kids Bonus and will increase superannuation taxes for low income earners. The Coalition have also said they will cull:
- The tripling of the tax-free threshold
- Increases to pensions
- Tax cuts
- Increases to family benefits
- The increase to the superannuation guarantee from nine per cent to 12 per cent
- The $6,500 instant asset write-off for small businesses
The Coalition wants to try and use their so-called Commission of Audit to hide all of their nasty cuts to services and support for families from the Australian people until after the election – just like Campbell Newman did in Queensland.
The Australian people deserve to know well before the election which services and support for families the Coalition will cut to fund their policies.