Labor on labour: Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during the opening of Woolworths’ new distribution centre in Brisbane on April 4. The centrepiece of Labor’s budget-in-reply is a $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.(AAP Image/Jason O'Brien)
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JASON O'BRIEN
The Federal Labor Party’s budget-in-reply has received a surface level positive reception from agricultural leaders via unusual methods.
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Australian Dairy Farmers, for example, was thrilled about Labor’s commitment to a minimum standard of nutrition in aged care because it meant more dairy consumption.
“Research shows that when aged care residents increase their daily intake of dairy foods from two to 3.5 serves per day the incidence of fractures and falls declines. Fractures are reduced by one-third,” ADF president Rick Gladigau said.
It wasn’t all flowing compliments, however, as the ADF did label the Labor budget-in-reply “silent on agriculture” and said the Coalition’s budget reflected the importance of agriculture more by pouring money into regional investment, biosecurity and innovation funding.
The mining industry also had praise for Labor’s budget-in-reply, thanks to a focus on training and on-shore processing.
The Minerals Council of Australia said the commitments in the budget-in-reply would deepen Australia’s skill base.
“Labor’s policy of fully subsidising 465,000 TAFE places will enable the skilling, upskilling and reskilling required to support the economic transformation to net zero,” the council said.
“Labor’s ambition to lift sovereign capability through the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund will invest in resources and ensure a greater share of Australia’s raw materials are processed here.”
Anthony Albanese
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This National Reconstruction Fund was a centrepiece during Labor Leader Anthony Albanese’s budget-in-reply speech on March 31.
“Too many businesses can’t find skilled staff. Too many industries are at the end of global supply chains, at the mercy of an uncertain world,” Mr Albanese said.
“We cannot let this be the new normal.”
Health groups, including those based in rural areas, heavily favoured Labor’s budget-in-reply over the Coalition’s budget.
The Public Health Association of Australia had given the budget an “F minus” and the Victorian Healthcare Association accused the Coalition of failing to address worsening workforce issues in health care.
WHAT THEY SAID
Labor’s budget-in-reply at a glance:
HEALTH: It’s no secret Labor is leading its election pitch with health reform. The party is promising to bring more GPs into regional and outer-metro zones, establish a Centre for Disease Control, require a nurse be on-call 24/7 in aged care homes and cap home care fees to stop rorting by dodgy providers.
ENERGY: Labor will drive investment in renewable energy by creating 604,000 new jobs by 2030 in the renewable sector (five out of every six jobs to be in the regions). This includes an upgrade to the national power grid to drive down energy costs, 400 community batteries and 85 solar banks.
MADE IN AUSTRALIA: “Making more things here, diversifying the economy and revitalising the regions,” the budget-in-reply reads. This will be done through the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.
AGRICULTURE: Any funds for agriculture will likely come from the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, which pledges to value-add to food and fibre by processing more raw materials into food products, textiles and clothing in Australia.
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