ID :
42791
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 19:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/42791
The shortlink copeid
Tax cuts on the table for relief package
The federal government is ready to act if necessary to stem the expected tide of job losses with a second economic stimulus package expected early next month.
Senior ministers confirmed on Tuesday that the government was considering a range of measures including accelerating scheduled tax cuts, targeted infrastructure projects and additional funds to the welfare sector.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd flew to Papua New Guinea for a one-day meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum and was accompanied on the flight by Treasurer Wayne Swan to allow the two to continue talks on the next round of relief.
Mr Swan returned at the weekend from New York where he was briefed on the latest information on the global financial crisis by financial institutions including the US Federal Reserve.
The government is also awaiting further economic data likely to show the impact of last year's $10.4 billion economic security package which put around $1,400 into the pockets of thousands of pensioners, carers and families in the lead-up to Christmas.
A spokesman for Mr Swan said everything was on the table.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who is also social inclusion minister, met leading not-for-profit community sector welfare groups in Sydney on Tuesday to hear their views on the impact of the global financial crisis.
Following the meeting, Ms Gillard announced the government would set up a task force to enable regular meetings with the sector.
"These are difficult times for all Australians and we need to work together so when we come out of this global financial crisis we will be a stronger society built on fairness and compassion," Ms Gillard told reporters.
"The Rudd government will look at all options to help get us through these difficult times and invest in jobs."
Major providers including Anglicare, the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services and UnitingCare Australia told Ms Gillard demand for their services had more than doubled and they required extra funding of around $300 million.
They were also seeking a $30 a week rise in unemployment benefits, more infrastructure projects targeted in areas of need and a reduction of red tape in social welfare services provision.
Australian Council of Social Service president Lin Hatfield-Dodds said the need for more resources was urgent for most providers of emergency relief.
"Over the past few months right across the country emergency relief and financial counselling services are reporting a doubling or a quadrupling in demand for services," Ms Hatfield-Dodds said.
"Those services are already rationed and have long waiting lists."
Ms Gillard will leave Australia late on Wednesday and take Mr Rudd's place, along with Trade Minister Simon Crean, at the three-day World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland.
Mr Crean said on Tuesday tax cuts was one of a series of options being considered by the government while Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said in a speech in Sydney the government would announce further nation building projects early this year.
The government has already announced more than $40 billion in economic stimulus since October including $4.7 billion in short-term infrastructure projects.
The government's Building Australia Fund will be used to fund a priority list of larger infrastructure projects short-listed by Infrastructure Australia.
Senior ministers confirmed on Tuesday that the government was considering a range of measures including accelerating scheduled tax cuts, targeted infrastructure projects and additional funds to the welfare sector.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd flew to Papua New Guinea for a one-day meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum and was accompanied on the flight by Treasurer Wayne Swan to allow the two to continue talks on the next round of relief.
Mr Swan returned at the weekend from New York where he was briefed on the latest information on the global financial crisis by financial institutions including the US Federal Reserve.
The government is also awaiting further economic data likely to show the impact of last year's $10.4 billion economic security package which put around $1,400 into the pockets of thousands of pensioners, carers and families in the lead-up to Christmas.
A spokesman for Mr Swan said everything was on the table.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who is also social inclusion minister, met leading not-for-profit community sector welfare groups in Sydney on Tuesday to hear their views on the impact of the global financial crisis.
Following the meeting, Ms Gillard announced the government would set up a task force to enable regular meetings with the sector.
"These are difficult times for all Australians and we need to work together so when we come out of this global financial crisis we will be a stronger society built on fairness and compassion," Ms Gillard told reporters.
"The Rudd government will look at all options to help get us through these difficult times and invest in jobs."
Major providers including Anglicare, the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services and UnitingCare Australia told Ms Gillard demand for their services had more than doubled and they required extra funding of around $300 million.
They were also seeking a $30 a week rise in unemployment benefits, more infrastructure projects targeted in areas of need and a reduction of red tape in social welfare services provision.
Australian Council of Social Service president Lin Hatfield-Dodds said the need for more resources was urgent for most providers of emergency relief.
"Over the past few months right across the country emergency relief and financial counselling services are reporting a doubling or a quadrupling in demand for services," Ms Hatfield-Dodds said.
"Those services are already rationed and have long waiting lists."
Ms Gillard will leave Australia late on Wednesday and take Mr Rudd's place, along with Trade Minister Simon Crean, at the three-day World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland.
Mr Crean said on Tuesday tax cuts was one of a series of options being considered by the government while Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said in a speech in Sydney the government would announce further nation building projects early this year.
The government has already announced more than $40 billion in economic stimulus since October including $4.7 billion in short-term infrastructure projects.
The government's Building Australia Fund will be used to fund a priority list of larger infrastructure projects short-listed by Infrastructure Australia.
