Australian Greens Richard Di Natale's budget reply

This budget is an unmitigated failure when it comes to fixing our biggest problems. The Liberals simply don’t have a plan to fund real action on climate change or reduce the gap between the rich and the rest of us, but we do. Tune in to hear the Greens vision of a future for all of us, not just the wealthy few.

Every budget week, Australians want to hear two things from politicians: how they’re responding to the biggest challenges we’re facing right now, and how they’re preparing for the future.

What we heard last night is that this government, on its last legs before calling the election, is failing on both counts. This budget isn’t a roadmap, it’s a dead-end.



The climate emergency we’re all experiencing demands governments urgently invest in renewables and transition away from coal. But this budget commits more money on substandard medical treatment and needless transfers of sick refugees to Christmas Island than funding the fight against climate change. 

Growing inequality demands proper funding of essential services. But instead, Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg have stuck their heads in the sand and delivered a few election bribes.

What this budget boils down to is a cynical attempt to buy votes instead of planning for the nation’s looming challenges. It isn’t going to fix our biggest problems; it will make them worse.

The Greens have a plan to solve the problems we’re facing now, like economic inequality, increasing cost of living, environmental destruction and climate change. And tonight, I’ll be unveiling this vision in parliament. Will you tune in to hear how we’ll build a future for all of us?

WATCH OUR BUDGET REPLY SPEECH

The great tragedy of the Liberals’ cruel prioritisation of the interests of their big corporate donors over the rest of us is that Australia does not lack the financial resources to solve the problems we face as a nation. We just lack the political vision.

The tax cuts & surplus in this budget are enough to fully fund TAFE and free uni for all Australians, increase Newstart, build 500,000 new affordable homes, provide Medicare-funded dental care, invest $10 billion to fight climate change and still have billions spare.

That’s why I’m excited by the opportunity to spell out our plan for Australia’s future -- one where we phase out coal, deliver 100% renewable energy and build a world-leading renewable energy export industry. We’ll be premiering the video of my speech to Facebook tomorrow morning. I hope you’ll take a look.

For a future for all of us,