Archived Media Releases: 9 May 2007

Missing: bold and decisive leadership!

At a time when our country needs strong leadership and visionary budget planning the Federal government has sadly produced a budget that contains mediocre short term benefits which appear to be designed primarily to improve its chances of winning the next federal election.

“The ANF is pleased that the government seems finally to recognise that we desperately need improvements in Indigenous health, dental health, aged care and rural health, but the offerings in this budget are meagre, and fall well short of what is needed,” Ged Kearney, ANF Assistant Federal Secretary said. “There seems to be a ‘try-to-please all’ approach with a wide range of services receiving relatively small amounts of money.”

“The budget delivers on none of the real issues facing our future,” Ms Kearney said, “This budget will appeal to individuals but does not address the underlying systemic problems. Piecemeal offerings focusing on short term solutions are not the answer.”

The Federal Government was in a perfect position to act decisively and boldly to reduce Australia’s contribution to global warming; to overhaul an inefficient and exhausted health system; to tackle Indigenous health on a large scale; to promote a national primary health program; to ensure we have a skilled and sustainable workforce; and to improve IT infrastructure for future productivity. It has not delivered on any of this.

Tax cuts may well win votes but what good are they if we cannot sustain our own environment, cannot ensure our own health, and cannot build now for a sound economic future.

Media Contacts
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322

The ANF, representing 150,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia