“For Labor, the pursuit of class warfare is more than rhetoric. It is at the heart of their policies from tax to trade to industrial relations. It’s a dark shadow, not a light on the hill.
“Labor has ignored the message from the Productivity Commission that our tax and transfer system has been successful in reducing income inequality and that the one constant that matters most in tackling inequality and poverty is having a job.”
Exploiting loopholes
Ahead of the speech, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said: “The test for Josh Frydenberg’s speech to the Sydney Institute … is two-fold – outline a new, positive plan on the economy and keep the ‘Labor’ word count to zero.”
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has in recent days stepped up election rhetoric against big business and the wealthy for exploiting tax loopholes, arguing he would restore weekend penalty rates for workers and back about 80 unionised seafarers who lost their job to miner BHP axing a contract.
Mr Shorten and Mr Bowen have argued their tax increases and shutting down unfair tax breaks – estimated to be worth about $280 billion over a decade – were about making a choice in favour of better funding of health, childcare, aged care and education, as well as shoring up the budget.
The strident criticisms of the big business establishment by Mr Shorten appear to seize on public discontent with banks exposed by the royal commission, energy companies charging high prices and weak wage growth.
The Coalition has typically been more pro-business than Labor, such as for pushing for corporate tax cuts.
However, the government has also been criticised for its proposed “big stick” legislation to break up uncompetitive energy firms.
Mr Frydenberg said the Coalition would support families, back small business, reward effort and hard work, uphold the rule of law and ensure a safety net underpinned by a sense of decency and fairness.
“People should be encouraged to be self-reliant, but know that if they need it, the safety net will be there,” he says.
Mr Shorten is on a nine-day blitz through Queensland, a key battleground state for the election, which is expected to be held in May.
from Just News Viral http://bit.ly/2R3IitW
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