If anyone needed any more proof of how out of touch Treasurer Joe Hockey is with Western Sydney, then his latest comments about poor people’s driving habits are the best proof.
Still trying desperately to sell the many unfair aspects of his May Budget, the Treasurer has now told low income Australians they should cop the Abbott Government’s fuel indexation increase because as he puts it, “the poorest people either don’t have cars or actually don’t drive very far”.
“Joe Hockey continues to show just how out of touch he really is,” Federal Member for Chifley Ed Husic said.
“According to Joe, poor people drive as much as he thinks before speaking,” Mr Husic added.
“Chifley families often have to drive extraordinary distances on ridiculously congested roads to get to and from work.
“Last week’s spike in the unemployment rate is further evidence [that] the job market is tightening and we all know Western Sydney already has higher than average unemployment.
“Increasing the amount they pay at the petrol bowser will only add to the pain of struggling low income families.
“Joe Hockey’s Budget was a stinker the night he released it — and three months down the track it doesn’t smell any better.
“The Australian public takes offence at comments like these latest offerings from a man from North Sydney who gets chauffeured around the place.
Labor will continue to rally against this unfair Budget, from its fuel and $7 GP taxes to the way it punishes students and pensioners,” Mr Husic concluded.