More detailed data has revealed the devastating impact the Abbott Government’s Budget will have on many Chifley households, particularly single mothers trying to make ends meet for their families.
The Australia Institute has pulled apart data from three sectors: the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling; the Australian
Bureau of Statistics and; the Census and has found women in low and middle income households will be hardest hit by the Budget.
According to the published data, a single mother will stand to lose $1 in every $4 lost to the low income bracket through the Budget.
That equates to a staggering $2566 by 2017 for single Chifley mothers — against a loss of $77 for women in the wealthiest 20% bracket.
“Many single mothers are bravely trying to juggle a career plus study as well as meeting the costs of child care. Just as they take one step forward the government’s pushing them two steps back,” Chifley MP Ed Husic said.
“With every passing week the news for struggling families surrounding this Budget is becoming more dire and those who can least afford the cuts in it are bearing the brunt, he said.
“What is even worse out of this latest Australia Institute study is the figures don’t even factor in the Abbott Government’s GP Tax or the Higher Education measures which will block many deserving students from entering tertiary studies to better themselves into the future.
“Many Chifley families already do it tough — ripping more than $2500 out of their household budgets will be nothing short of punishing.
“There aren’t enough fingers on both hands to count how many sectors of family life that have been targeted in this cruel budget.
“The more research that is done on the Budget, the uglier the picture becomes.
“Labor has vowed to fight these retrograde measures and will continue to do so,” Mr Husic concluded.
— Roger White