Government and Labor must abandon watered down cuts to FTB B that will hurt low income families
“The Australian Greens will not support the Government’s cuts to Family Tax Benefit payments that will hurt single parents, grandparents carers and low income coupled families. The Government's package of cuts targets some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
“The Australian Greens will also not support Labor’s proposal for a revised cut that will only target coupled families on a low income with children over 13”, said Australian Greens spokesperson on families, Senator Rachel Siewert.
“Raising teenagers is also expensive for low income coupled families. It is still fundamentally unfair that both the Turnbull Government and Labor party are seeking to make savings at the expense of such families.
“The Labor party claims to be the heroes of the low income families accessing this payment but apparently some are more important than others.
“How is it fair for Bill Shorten to say they are defending single parents and grandparent care in knocking back the cuts to FTB B for children over 13 but leave coupled families behind.
“Anyone with kids aged 13 to 16 knows it can be some of the most expensive years as a parent. It’s when growing teens are raiding the fridge, developing more outside interests, and school supplies can get costly.
“We do not want low income kids to have to miss out on partaking in community activities and having a fulfilling life because the Government is trying to plug up the budget”.
Greens Leader Richard Di Natale said:
“The Government needs to raise revenue from those who can most afford to pay.
“Why would we make life harder for families already doing it tough, when we could rake in billions of dollars by ending superannuation tax concessions for the mega-rich, and billions more by ending tax-free fuel for big mining companies?
“It’s hugely disappointing that Labor shares the Government’s view that we have to cut some families’ support, in order to look after others. It’s just not the case."
