Academic and general staff at Sydney University held another 24-hour strike on Tuesday, 14 May writes Alma Torlakovic in Socialist Alternative. The strike was the third one this semester and coincided with a national student strike in response to education cuts announced by the federal government. The strike was followed by a Sydney-wide rally against education funding cuts in nearby Victoria Park.
Palestinians in Gaza march to mark Nakba Day (Joe Catron)
So Labor is running a scare campaign on what the Liberals might do with the goods and services tax. Of course the Liberals want to broaden the base to include fresh food, health and education in the regressive tax and increase the rate from 10% to 12.5%. So too secretly would Labor if there were no political impediments. The extra $20 billion appeals to both sides and to the States and Territories in whose name the tax is notionally levied.
Wayne Swan delivered his last, final, ‘it’s all over bar the shouting’ Budget on Tuesday. It is a Budget the Liberals could have handed down in their second or third year, with little for most workers and the poor other than cuts and taxes.
People with disabilities need free universal health care, not the NDIS
The rally in Melbourne
The rally in Melbourne
5-600 students rallied at Curtin University on 14 May 2013 in the biggest student demonstration in over a decade. It was built by socialists and other left wing students who run the guild. That is why it was such a success.
The budget is in deficit, but there is a massive surplus. The problem is that it is concentrated in the hands of a tiny minority, and the ALP isn’t seriously interested in touching it, writes Ben Hillier in Socialist Alternative.
The Budget was a mixture of tax increases or removal of concessions that mainly hit the poor and workers and spending cuts that mainly hit the poor and workers. For every $1 of spending cuts it looks like $3 of tax hikes. But, no matter what form Labor’s deficit reduction takes it hits the poor and workers by and large.
What Swan didn’t do and won’t do is tax the rich till their pips squeak.
A more detailed report will follow on Wednesday.