The Federal Budget for 2020-2021 has been released, and boy oh boy has researching it been depressing. The new budget fails women, refugees, poor people and the planet whilst giving tax cuts to the rich and extra money to fossil fuel companies. At this point, I’m not even surprised, just deeply, deeply disappointed. Let’s get into it.
Winners: Rich people, the gas lobby, & chaplains
Losers: Women, workers, unemployed people, pensioners, universities, public servants, clean energy, refugees & asylum seekers, international students & other temporary migrants #Budget2020
— sara m. saleh | سارة صالح (@SaraSalehOz) October 6, 2020
Tax Cuts For The Rich
The government is bringing forward another wave of tax cuts, which means people who earn between $45,000 and $90,000 will get an extra $1,080.
However, the government is giving more tax cuts for those that earn more, so it’ll benefit higher income earners the most. People earning more than $90,000 will receive up to $2,565 extra.
Is now a good time to mention that just last week dozens of leading economists declared that tax cuts won’t boost the economy?
— Joshua Badge (@joshuabadge) October 5, 2020
There seems to be a belief amongst politicians that tax cuts amongst wealthier groups boost the economy due to the spending this encourages, but this isn’t actually true. Rather, it’s a self-serving misconception that allows the rich to get richer. The truth is, giving money to rich people doesn’t boost the economy because they just hoard it.
Once you have enough wealth to have everything you need and then some, it gives you the capacity to collect and store it – which actually is the opposite of stimulating or boosting the economy. In actuality, it’s giving money to poor people who need it that does results in a stimulated economy, because they’ll actually spend it out of necessity and because they can. When you’re poor, hoarding wealth isn’t an option.
sorry but whenever I talk to ppl who hate paying tax it’s because they hate that a) they pay a heap more tax than rich ppl and b) it gets spent on bullshit like chaplains and submarines
— Tash Heenan (@tashellenheenan) October 8, 2020
While The Poor Stay Poor
Despite the trauma that COVID-19 has put our most financially vulnerable through, there is still no plan to maintain JobSeeker after Christmas, leaving poor Australians behind.
It is unconscionable that the Government did not include a permanent increase to #JobSeeker in the budget.
If we can fund billions of dollars worth of tax cuts for the wealthy we can ensure that no one in this country is living in poverty. #Budget2020
👇
— Rachel Siewert (@SenatorSiewert) October 6, 2020
JobKeeper will be extended, though with smaller payments that are just barely enough to keep people out of poverty.
JobSeeker being cut has led to criticisms of the way women have been left out in the budget, as it is women that were worst affected during the pandemic.
Scott Morrison just said ‘we’d never tell an Australian how to spend their money’ on #abc730 People stuck on the cashless welfare card might not agree?
— Rosie Williams #AusGovInfo (@Info_Aus) October 7, 2020
Women Are Being Left Out
There’s been mass outrage on Twitter after the federal budget for 2020-2021 was released as it was criticised for leaving out women. Despite announcing a Women’s Economic Security Statement in the budget, it’s still lacking real change and doesn’t actually offer support to women in the here and now.
The security statement offers $240 million of funding for the next four years to increase jobs for women in male-dominated industries, essentially still funnelling money into places dominated by men. The statement also funds grants for women-founded start-ups, the tackling of sexual harassment in workplaces, and it encourages women to pursue careers in STEM.
Karen Andrews on @RNBreakfast women’s poverty & lack of opportunity is 1) their own fault (won’t go into STEM, silly females) 2) schools – teachers need to encourage them better 3) &, ‘women ARE important’ but youth the priority (forgets 50% of youth are women) #crediblewoman
— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) October 7, 2020
These might sound okay, but they don’t offer any help right NOW to women, nor do they tackle the underlying systemic issues that cause women to be worse off in the first place. The statement also just further funds male-dominated industries like construction, rather than placing money into female-dominated industries that would inevitably elevate woman workers.
Just 0.038% of this big spending Budget is being spent on women.
It amounts to $40 per woman worker, or $8 a year, until 2025. (By the way $61.4 million is being spent on school chaplains.) (3/7)
https://t.co/fBzmM5EZ8I— Michele O’Neil (@MicheleONeilAU) October 7, 2020
Scott Morrison disagreed with the criticisms around the lack of support for women in the budget, stating that no one ‘credible’ was taking such a stance.
UPDATE: More than 15,000 people now credibly criticising the Federal Budget #crediblewomen That doesn’t even count the tweets using #crediblewoman (also trending)https://t.co/yL5GpXtVej pic.twitter.com/uhfYn2vHO2
— Sarah Moran 👗 (@SarahMoran) October 8, 2020
Naturally, he is getting absolutely dunked on for it.
Maybe twenty years working as an economist, including stints in the PMs department and as deputy chief of staff to Australia’s finance minister doesn’t make me a #crediblewoman BUT last night’s budget didn’t deliver for women despite a irrefutable economic case for action.
— Angela Jackson (@EconomistAnge) October 7, 2020
Imagine being a 36 year old mother or two, who has taken time out to raise her kids & is desperate to get back into workforce today. Will she even get a look in? By the time economy recovers, she’ll be told, sorry u’ve been out of workforce too long #crediblewoman
— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) October 7, 2020
Women are on lower salaries , their super flatlines if they take time off for kids amd now they’re ignored by the #BUDGET2020 #crediblewoman
— Dee Madigan (@deemadigan) October 7, 2020
Pair all this with the fact that there isn’t really going to be any extra childcare support, and it’s clear the budget isn’t interested in the actual issues that are preventing women from being able to join the workforce in the first place.
And there’s $31.6b in investment allowances for business that will deliver a $10b boost to GDP (while real wage growth stays at 0%.).
But a $5b investment in childcare would have delivered a $11b boost to GDP.
And yet, childcare was totally ignored in this Budget. (6/7)
— Michele O’Neil (@MicheleONeilAU) October 7, 2020
School Chaplaincy Gets Priority
Who else is extremely, extremely angry $61.4 MILLION is going to school chaplaincy ? 🤬 Also, how could it cost that ?
— Please Be Calm,Kind & Patient. Apart. But Together (@toninicho) October 6, 2020
The government is also allocating a whopping $61.4 million into school chaplaincy. To put this in perspective, they are only giving $16.7 million into Indigenous health and no new funding into childcare, again showing how the budget has abandoned marginalised groups and women in particular.
The Federal Budget has allocated nearly 4X as much money for fucking school chaplaincy programs
Then Indigenous health
Nevermind we are supposed to be a secular nation…
This is cruel and deliberate kick in the face for Indigenous communities
The fucking colony never fails
— Max Black ⚫️ (@maxblackhole) October 6, 2020
I’m not sure how to feel about $61.4 in #Budget2021 for chaplaincy programs in govt schools. Those who educate our poorest kids must feel like they’re drowning and have been handed a picture of a boat. It’s a special cruelty, bordering on mockery. #auspol
— Adam Voigt 🐯🏆 (@adam_voigt) October 6, 2020
$61.4 million for chaplains in secular schools! Holy shit. Disgraceful compared to 1:1500 ratio of actual, qualified counsellors to students #Budget2020
— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) October 6, 2020
Yep, The Government Is Investing In Fossil Fuels
The new federal budget doesn’t include any more clarity about when our dear government reckon we will hit our emissions targets. Considering our emissions have actually been INCREASING lately rather than decreasing, it’s look pretty grim.
The new federal budget prioritises fossil fuels over clean energy, and includes an UPGRADE to a coal-fired power station in NSW and $52.9 million to expand the gas industry.
Josh Frydenberg finally mentions climate change. Then **in the very next breath** commits to open five mega gas zones across Australia.
Satire is dead. If the Liberals get their way, the planet is too. 😡
#Budget2020 pic.twitter.com/sH8VcSH4TW— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) October 6, 2020
In regard to renewables though, the government only allocated a measly $5 million for electric vehicles, and investment into renewable energy like wind and solar was dismissed as “mature” technology, i.e. tech that doesn’t need government support.
Two things that were atleast somewhat positive were the $50 million to develop carbon capture and storage, and funding for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for another decade, but that money is far less than what we need to fight climate change.
During a pandemic, #Budget2020 should have shored up our health, education, housing, social security & DV supports for people who need it most, instead of stripping the Government’s revenue base and spending $ on more guns, gas, big business & chaplains in schools.
— Lee Carnie (@LeeJCarnie) October 6, 2020
Migrants And Refugees
Thinking about the fact that this Govt just permanently cut our Refugee Intake by 5000 places/year in order to ‘save $’, yet maintains an unlawful system of offshore detention that has blown our budget by $1.8billion in the last 4 years.
No logic here. Just racism. #Budget2020
— sara m. saleh | سارة صالح (@SaraSalehOz) October 7, 2020
The government has announced a cut in refugee intake by 5000 in an apparent bid to save money, though this has been condemned as disingenuous and racist considering the government has spent far more on offshore detention than it will save by cutting refugees.
To those thinking @ScottMorrisonMP left vulnerable families behind in #Budget2020 it’s important I correct you. He’s spending $55.6 million to keep Christmas Island open to make sure Kopika & Tharnicaa remain prisoners there. Will be 3 years of their childhood stolen by Christmas pic.twitter.com/9VYHqVAPmc
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) October 7, 2020
Shattering news in #Budget2020: the Australian Govt is permanently cutting its #Refugee and Humanitarian Program by 5000 places p.a. The saving of $958m over 4 years will be more than wiped out by a $1.2 billion blowout in offshore processing costs this year and last year.
— Paul Power (@1PaulPower) October 6, 2020
The new budget also announced a new English language test for those applying for a partner visa, prompting outrage at what is being described as a revival of the White Australia policy. Having English language requirements to enter Australia is racist as it essentially perpetuates the idea of White Australia and of having to be assimilated into western culture to exist here.
Just to put this in perspective: in the 119 years since Federation, we’ve only been without the White Australia policy for 41 years. This is who we are. https://t.co/RRpwWEoTv8
— Jim Malo (@thejimmalo) October 7, 2020
Language tests were a key element of 20th century White Australia policies. These discriminatory frameworks enabled exclusion of non-European migrants without having to explicitly mention race/skin colour.
Guess what’s buried in Morrison’s budget?
Tighter English language tests.— WeAreBne / Councillor Jonathan Sri (@WeAreBrisbane) October 7, 2020
It also says a lot about who the Australian government thinks is appropriate to marry, and inherently favours white and western migrants.
Very concerned to see the proposed English language requirement for partner visas in #budget2020. How is this relevant to Australian’s choose to marry? Who was consulted about this change? What does it say about our multicultural society?
— Andrew Giles MP (@andrewjgiles) October 6, 2020
Mental Health – But As A Distraction
Perhaps one of the only good things to come out of this budget is the doubling of medicare-subsidised psychology appointments you can now get with your GP mental health plan. This is undoubtedly positive, but also, I don’t really believe our government’s apparent commitment to mental health – because if that was the case, we would increase welfare.
Government is keeping people in poverty and then wondering why they’re unhappy. Y’know what‘d help people’s mental health? Being able to eat three meals a day and pay their god damned rent! #Budget2020
— Joshua Badge (@joshuabadge) October 6, 2020
Poverty and unemployment are the two biggest risk factors to committing suicide, outside of being First Nations. Considering the measly amount this government has allocated to Indigenous health, the cutting of JobSeeker and the lack of support for unemployed people over 35, and it’s clear that mental health isn’t really a priority for our government, no matter what crumbs they give us.
#Budget2020. A great opportunity to rebuild a fairer more resilient economy. And yet no plan for full employment, nothing for women, no increase to Newstart, no plan for childcare, uni sector still up sh*t creek, as is resi aged care & nothing to tackle the climate emergency!
— Ged Kearney (@gedkearney) October 6, 2020
Image Sources: Twitter