Australians Lumped With Soaring Inflation: Reckless Federal Budget Sees Mixed Messages, Callous Cuts and Bigger Bureaucracy

The Federal Labor Government’s third Budget has been met with stark criticism, with many concerned that the increased spending will lead to higher interest rates, increased welfare dependency, and temporary gains in the short-term at the expense of Australians in the long-term.

Andrew Wallace, the Federal Member for Fisher, said that the Federal Budget was an opportunity for Labor to put aside politics and get the economy back on track – an opportunity they have squandered.

“Labor’s big-spending Budget fails to address the root causes of their cost-of-living crisis: runaway inflation, reckless red-tape, and massive government waste – with $315 billion in new spending, and 36,000 more bureaucrats,” Mr Wallace said, adding, “Labor’s solutions are more money, mixed messages, callous cuts and a bigger bureaucracy – at the expense of hardworking Australians.”

“Some Australians will be better off for a few months, with some temporary cash injections. But when the smoke and glitter dissipate, we’ll find ourselves worse off for much longer,” Mr Wallace continued.

“Until Labor tame inflation, young Australians, senior Australians, and the hardworking men and women of the Sunshine Coast will continue to struggle to make ends meet over the long-term.”

The Sunshine Coast MP acknowledged that there were a few wins for Australians, with a further freeze on social security deeming rates, a five-year extension of the Coalition’s Roads to Recovery fund, and the establishment of a National Student Ombudsman to monitor student safety, quality, and wellbeing – for which the Coalition led a significant campaign.

On the previously announced Sunshine Coast Rail funding, Mr Wallace said, “The reality is that Federal Labor have been forced to plug the funding gap le􏰂 by State Labor’s dithering, delays, and politicking. Sunshine Coast Rail under Labor has almost doubled in price and shrunk to just 1/3 of the size, with no commitment to upgrading Caloundra’s congested roads to accommodate the shortfall.”

Mr Wallace criticised the Government for what he described as a catalogue of broken promises, backflips, and excessive government waste, claiming that Labor is more focused on shoring up its political fortunes than addressing the genuine issues facing aspirational Australians.

“The Budget shows a government which has simply lost its grip on reality. Where they cut funding just 2 years ago, they’re announcing shoddier measures dressed up in a glossy brochure. Where they promised restraint and relief, they’ve instead decided to throw taxpayers’ money into the wind.”

“They’re blowing $226.2 million on ‘international climate engagement’. Wouldn’t that money be better spent on building local community infrastructure or increasing PBS listings? What about addressing Australia’s mental health crisis.”

“They halved the number of psychology services available under Medicare and tore apart the Coalition’s telehealth system. Now, they’re spending $588.5 million to reintroduce a digital mental health platform,” Mr Wallace said, adding “They slashed 30% of the Bruce Highway’s future funding in Fisher, but now they’re coming to ‘fix the Bruce’ with a measly $467 million over the 1700 kms of the entire Bruce Highway From mental health to roads and rail, under Labor, it’s all smoke, mirrors and political stunts.”