Standard of living going backward in the pursuit of budget surplus

COMMONWEALTH Bank senior economist Gareth Aird ( pictured) warned in November the Government’s budget settings were hurting the economy and he said it ought to bring its tax cuts forward.

“At present, the stance of fiscal policy adopted in the federal budget is contractionary,” Mr Aird said a few months ago.

“Growth in taxation is greater than growth in expenditure, which is why the deficit has shrunk and the budget is now essentially balanced. [But] shrinking the Commonwealth budget in this manner in pursuit of a surplus effectively sucks money out of the economy.”

The Liberal Party’s “Back in

Black” surplus is hurting the economy in order to supposedly prove them to be superior economic managers. PM Scott Morrison will no doubt hide behind bushfire disasters and god-given droughts and flu pandemics once the economy goes backwards. Newstart and

NDIS recipients know that part of the “surplus” was at their expense. Taxpayers are finding out daily that it was some of their taxes that corruptly helped win the “miracle” election.

If there is a Liberal MP anywhere who wants to be reelected for integrity then they should exercise a vote of “No confidence” in this administration. Standards of living are going backwards for most Australians yet we elected a party without any agenda for reform and that used taxpayer funds taken from deserving sporting clubs to hold onto power.

GLENN WHITE, Kelso.