In the News
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
“National Families Week is a great opportunity to reflect on the importance of all families in Mitchell, Alex Hawke said.
National Families Week will be held from Tuesday, 15 May to Monday, 21 May 2012 and will coincide with International Families Day on Tuesday, 15 May 2012.
“Wayne Swan, in last week’s Budget did little to help Australian families who are doing it tough under the Labor government, said Alex Hawke.
“Families right across Mitchell are footing the bill for Labor’s reckless spending and financial mismanagement as Labor freezes family payments to generate savings.
“Families in Mitchell are struggling with cost of living pressures and are about to be hit hard by the world’s biggest carbon tax, Alex Hawke said.
Since 2007, on average, the price of power has increased by 51%, water is up 46%, gas has increased 30%, health costs are up 20% and grocery prices have increased by 14%.
“With these additional costs, it is no surprise Australian families are finding it hard to survive under Labor.”
“Families in Mitchell deserve better,” Alex Hawke said.
“Instead local households will get hit by the world’s biggest carbon tax.”
The Coalition is committed to a stronger Australia where families can build a better life for themselves through reducing cost of living pressures while ensuring better access to child care, education, and health services.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Local Federal MP Alex Hawke, said the Federal Budget offered little or nothing for small businesses in Mitchell about to be whacked by the world’s biggest carbon tax.
“The Gillard Government has shown that its got no feel for small business, offering nothing new in the budget to provide immediate relief to struggling businesses with the sector seeing a 48 per cent increase in insolvencies, Alex Hawke said.
“First the Gillard Government broke its promise not to introduce a carbon tax, now it’s broken its promise to cut the company tax rate.
“Carbon tax-related ‘sweeteners’ in the form of accelerated depreciation allowances rely on small businesses having the ready cash to spend on new capital items.
“The Gillard Government’s abolition of the Entrepreneurs Tax Offset has increased tax for nearly 370,000 of our smallest businesses, including micro, home-based, independent contractor and start-up businesses, with incomes of less than $75,000.
Alex Hawke said the Institute of Chartered Accountants rightly identifies that 80 per cent of all small businesses have no prospect of gaining any benefit from 'loss carry back' as they are not structured as corporations and fewer still could satisfy the complicated eligibility criteria under current trading conditions.
“The local corner shop in Mitchell is not only going to have to deal with an increase in costs for supplies and electricity, it’s also going to have pressure from consumers looking for a bargain as cost of living pressures increase and unemployment rises as forecasted in the Budget,” said Alex Hawke.
“The greatest insult from the Gillard Government is the toxic carbon tax. Small business will be hit the hardest because their costs will go up and up and up as the carbon price goes up and up and up, and they won’t receive a single cent in compensation.”
Alex Hawke said the Coalition had a clear road map to restore hope, reward and opportunity for small business by scrapping the carbon tax and getting out of the way of business by slashing $1 billion worth of red tape.
Monday, 14 May 2012
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, welcomed Michelle Rowland’s confirmation (Rouse Hill Times 9/5/12) that she opposes her Labor Government’s policy not to fund the North West Rail line.
“This Labor government has yet again sidelined the priorities of Sydney’s North West but there may be some good news to come off the back of this decision, Mr Hawke said.
Greenway Labor MP Michelle Rowland has stated this week she disagreed with Infrastructure Australia’s recommendations not to fund the Northwest Rail Link and supported Premier Barry O’Farrell pledge to build the line. “There is no argument that it has to be built” she said.
Mr Hawke says “I have repeatedly called on this government over the last four years to fund this important project and time upon time they have provided no funding commitment. At a minimum the Federal Government should behave responsibly and allow the NSW State Government to set the infrastructure priorities for our State.”
Mr Hawke will this week submit a motion on notice without Federal interference to Parliament calling on the government to change their position and provide the $2.1 billion directly to the NSW government without strings attached. “Given Michelle Rowland’s recent comments, I will be asking her to second the motion and commit her support to this motion calling for the Federal funding to be allocated on a proper basis”.
“If Michelle Rowland supports this motion, I am confident we can get it passed and place significant pressure on the Federal government to do the right thing by North West Sydney and her electorate. In light of her recent public comments I look forward to sitting down with her, working together to get this rail link built. I look forward to a bi-partisan approach towards fixing one of the biggest infrastructure problems in NSW,” concluded Alex Hawke.
Wednesday, 09 May 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said the Budget is a major disappointment for residents of Mitchell.
“This year’s Budget demonstrates no plan to build a stronger economy, repay debt or create secure jobs”, said Alex Hawke.
“It’s a confused budget. All it delivers is more borrowing, more taxes, record debt – and the world’s biggest carbon tax.
Five days before the last election, Julia Gillard promised “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead” and this year’s Budget 2012 is Australia’s first carbon tax Budget.
“The world’s biggest carbon tax is about to hit families, jobs and investment at the world’s worst time.
“The carbon tax will act as a wrecking ball across the local economy and we will all be paying for it through increased prices, higher energy bills and pressure on local businesses
Alex Hawke said he was also concerned about the government’s announcement that it will seek to increase Australia’s debt ceiling to a record $300 billion – four times higher than it was in 2008.
“This is another increase in our nation’s credit card limit. We will see net government debt climb to a record in 2013-14. That is an increase of almost $40 billion since last year’s Budget.
“And by 2015-16, the government will be spending over $8 billion a year or around $22 million a day on interest payments alone.
“We are now paying the price for Labor’s four record deficits which together total $174 billion.
Alex Hawke said he was concerned that the Budget papers forecast a rise in unemployment to 5.5 per cent.
“Last year’s Budget promised 500,000 new jobs over two years, but the Government now expects to miss its target by 300,000 jobs. Meanwhile the Government is cutting $200 million out of jobs services programmes.
Alex Hawke said Mitchell residents want a government which can deliver an economic strategy to build a stronger Australia, reduce cost of living pressures and create secure jobs.
“Instead they have a government mired in chaos and a Prime Minister with no judgment. Australians will be asking themselves: how long will this one last?”
The Federal Budget is a major disappointment for residents of Mitchell. “This year’s Budget
demonstrates no plan to build a stronger economy, repay debt or create secure
jobs”, said Alex Hawke.
“It’s a confused budget. All it delivers is more borrowing, more taxes, record debt – and the
world’s biggest carbon tax. Click here to read more....