Unions are calling on the Prime Minister to outline a plan for jobs not cuts in the Government’s response to the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO) today.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Government needs to urgently spell out how it is going to create the two million jobs Mr Abbott promised during the election campaign.
“Jobs not cuts are the answer,” Ms Kearney said.
“Growth is slowing and unemployment is approaching GFC levels; additional cuts to spending will only cost jobs and harm growth.
“With the demise of the auto manufacturing industry and with it up to 200,000 jobs around the country, now more than ever Tony Abbott needs to tell the Australian people what his jobs plan for the future is.
“Australian workers don’t want more excuses or blame shifting today. They want to see a plan.
“During the election Tony Abbott was only too happy to don a hard hat and a high vis vest, well now he’s got to put his money where his mouth is and explain how he will stick up for local jobs.”
Ms Kearney said that the Abbott Government has had 100 days to outline a positive plan for Australia’s future but so far they’ve been found wanting.
“The Government’s first 100 days can be summed up by jobs losses, back-flips, planned cuts to services, and pats on the back to their big business mates,” Ms Kearney said.
“The Government ran Holden out of town and with it the local automotive manufacturing industry, they’ve announced more than 3400 federal public service job cuts and they’re scrapping the Clean Energy Finance Corporation which encourages private sector investment in renewable energy and will create thousands of skilled jobs.
“They’ve attacked aged care wages and low income workers’ superannuation and now they’re trying to claw back pay rises off childcare workers.
“Fresh from the severe bungling of Gonski funding to the states and territories, we now know they’re scrapping the trades training centres in schools program despite pledging no cuts to education.
“And their smokescreen for privatisation – the Commission of Audit – is all about Mr Abbott cutting jobs, cutting services and handing it all over to his big business mates.
“Mr Abbott said he wanted to be the infrastructure Prime Minister, at this rate, he’ll be the unemployment Prime Minister.”
