Big Spending, Big Taxing Labor Bites Bradfield

“Bradfield is the fourth highest taxed electorate in Australia – and Labor’s latest budget offers no relief in sight for the hard pressed taxpayers of Bradfield,” said Federal Member for Bradfield Paul Fletcher.

“Instead, Labor has just kept going with its reckless spending spree.

“They are budgeting to spend a staggering $352 billion in 2010-11.  That is almost one hundred billion dollars more than in the last full year of the Howard Government.

“The people of Bradfield should be acutely concerned about this budget – not least because they are paying for a disproportionate share of it,” Mr Fletcher said.

According to the most recently published tax statistics by electorate, approximately 0.8% of Australia’s ‘taxable individuals’ live in Bradfield – but they pay around 1.8% of the total tax levied on individuals.

"The Government has not taken a single tough decision to rein in its reckless and wasteful spending.

"Spending in this Budget will increase by $26 billion over the next three years relative to last year’s record spending forecast. The Government will have to borrow over $700 million a week to fund its reckless and wasteful spending – putting upward pressure on interest rates and the cost of living for Australian families in Bradfield," said Mr Fletcher.

"The peak debt bill of $93.7 billion will be the amount owed by the Australian people to pay for Kevin Rudd’s spending spree.

"The Budget also exposes the costs of the Government’s waste, mismanagement and policy failures.

"There has been a $1 billion Budget blow-out as a result of Kevin Rudd weakening Australia’s borders and $1 billion will be spent to fix Labor’s tragic home insulation mess," said Mr Fletcher.

"And in an undisguised election campaign strategy, the Government will spend $126 million on print, radio and television advertising."

Note

In 2006-07, the last full year of the Howard Government, spending was $253 billion.

Media contact: Darren Bark, Paul Fletcher's office, 02 9465 3950