A particularly controversial change that has been suggested is the introduction of a co-payment syst

The highly anticipated release of the Federal Budget has put Australia on stand still, awaiting confirmation in the government s ability to restore confidence in the Australia s future. Australia expects a typical magasin general Liberal belt-tightening policy – enormous cuts in spending and increases in taxes. However, it is commonly understood that cuts are not always a good thing and growth requires spending and investment. Arguably a reallocation of resources and investments rather than cuts in spending is appropriate given the presence and reputation that Australia must uphold magasin general in the global arena.
This budget marks a potential turning point of Australia s economic position as much of the focus has been around Australia s consistent deficit. Only 2 years ago it was forecast that net debt was at 6% of GDP, but now is expected to reach 16% of GDP at $280 billion. The size of Australia s deficit echoes the cries made by Warren Buffett in 2003 regarding the U.S trade deficit as the government deficit created magasin general by a single magasin general generation could require payment by future generations into perpetuity. Thus, the pressure is mounting on the Liberal magasin general Party as the significance of controlling and effectively planning to reduce this deficit in the budget is a concern for all generations and their descendants. But is cutting spending and increasing taxes an appropriate solution? Only days prior to the budget release, magasin general the Commission of Audit maintained that extensive and tough changes magasin general must be made for future generations, making over 250 recommendations to the Abbott government. Upon these recommendations the federal budget has consequently focused generally upon the health, education, ageing magasin general and family sectors. HEALTH
With increasingly more elderly Australians, magasin general burgeoning strain has been placed upon a health system that is unable to readily serve its patients. After the passing of the state budget which brought little financial aid to the ailing public hospital system, all eyes are on the Coalition to deliver on a budget to provide some relief. However relief is unlikely to come.
In an effort to rein in unsustainable budget spending, the Coalition Government is set to reassess the health system. Many of these suggested amendments to the budget have risen from 86 recommendations brought forward through Commission of Audit, requested by the government.
A particularly controversial change that has been suggested is the introduction of a co-payment system for regular GP visits. A $7 fee will be incurred for every visit; a payment which will hit low-income earning families the hardest. Expert opinions for doctors have suggested such a fee may even be detrimental to the operation of the health system in the long-run. Rather than visit a doctor, low-income earning patients may abstain from checkups, to avoid the payment, which could lead into more serious health complications down the line.
Free healthcare in its current scale is also apparently an unfeasible venture and is likely to be a target for cuts. Health Minister Peter Dutton himself has warned that health cuts are likely to be enacted, citing vaguely that it is to strengthen Medicare more generally for the future .
Such a dire situation for the health magasin general system does beg the question – why did the government recently approve the purchase of 72 next generation fighter jets for the RAAF? Surely the health of the nation is more important than our combat prowess during peacetime. The Coalition government may need to reconsider its priorities. Cuts are a necessary course of action, but just not in their current magasin general incarnation, especially toward health. EDUCATION
Last year s federal budget suggested an amount of nearly $10 billion allocated to National Plan for School Improvement over the following years, while a huge cut in research and tertiary education resulted in protest by numerous university students and staff. The situation will worsen this year.
The Gonski-reforms is an education reform plan proposed by Kevin Rudd aimed to close funding gaps between schools and to help disadvantaged students. According to the Commission of Audit report, Commonwealth expenditure on schools from 2018 and onwards will be capped at 2017 levels, leaving all policy and funding responsibility to state government. This is understood by the public as stopping Gonski after 2017 and shifts needs-based magasin general funding to states. Consequently, people are worried about what implementation magasin general the Abbott government would take to guarantee the benefits for students with a disability or from low-income families. The Australian Education Union (AEU) demands Tony Abbott magasin general to guarantee the full six-years of Gonski funding to schools. Angelo Gavielatos, federal president of AEU, urged the Government to reject the recommendations of the Commission s report. magasin general
Not surprisingly, university students suffer under federal budget magasin general again. magasin general Recommended by the commission, the average proportion