LABOR candidate for Macquarie Susan Templeman has criticised many aspects of the federal government’s budget, while her Liberal counterpart Louise Markus believes it is financially responsible, and will help deliver Australia out of debt.
Ms Templeman said small business receiving tax breaks was something Labor was on board with, but did not agree with the Coalition’s direction.
She said the annual turnover threshold going from $2 million to $10 million was far too high for a small business.
“There's a lot not to like. When you unpack this budget at the heart there is a lot of unfairness,” she said.
“The big end of town gets the most benefit out of tax cuts.
“There is no doubt small business will get some benefit, and Labor has always supported a recognition of small business...but a small business should be a genuine small business.”
Member for Macquarie Louise Markus said there were about 16,000 small businesses across her electorate, and they would all benefit from the government’s planned tax breaks.
“We have got a diverse economy in our local community and that is about encouraging business to step up and grow their business so more jobs can be created,” she said.
“Small businesses employ most Australians, so we're going to be reducing their tax.”
Mrs Markus said she was excited about the youth Jobs PaTH program, whose aim was to help young Australians find paid employment.
The program will give young Australians education, as well as an internship where they can earn up to $200 per fortnight, on top of unemployment benefits,, while employers would receive handouts of up to $10,000 to hire Australians in the program, said Mrs Markus.
“We are providing young people with a direct link to an employer,” she said.
“This is a creative way of connecting people with employment.
“It is worth it if that young person gets a job and is on the pathway for success over a lifetime. Often the first start is a challenge. We want young people to be given every opportunity to step into a future where they can earn for themselves.”
Ms Templeman also said she supported the government’s decision to raises the taxes on cigarettes.
However, she pointed out the government still accounted for nearly $2 billion in savings through the Higher Education Reforms, which included the deregulation of university fees.
Ms Templeman said it was worrying they were still accounted for, but with no detail of how the savings would be made.
“That raises some very big questions for students, especially those families who have school students in years 10 and 11 who are starting to think about university,” she said.
Mrs Markus said the government would not pursue university fee de-regulation, but might consider other options.
Greens candidate Terry Morgan said it was disappointing that Gonski funding would not continue for schools, calling it an attack on the least wealthy Australians.
The government will hand out $1.2 billion for schools, but it will not be under the Gonski funding model.
Mr Morgan also said the Greens would make renewable energy a target for public investment, and retrain workers from fossil fuel industries to move to the renewable energy sector.
The opposition will deliver its budget response on Thursday, May 5.