Socialist presents alternative budget
By Nicole Brett
NEWCASTLE — "At a time when major parties are trying to outdo each other on who can give the best offer to business, we are experiencing unemployment of over 1 million, cuts to health, education and welfare services and an increasingly polluted environment", said Lewina Jackson, addressing a meeting of students, community activists and workers on February 20.
Jackson, the Democratic Socialist candidate for Newcastle, called for an expansion of bus and rail services, public funding for job creation projects, no logging in Mount Royal National Park, reopening of Wallsend Hospital and the provision of abortion services in Newcastle.
The alternative budget which she presented includes heavily taxing company profits and luxury expenditure of the wealthy, cuts to military spending, the orientation of superannuation funds towards job creation and environmental repair projects.
Jackson pointed out that voters are being told that there are only two realistic choices: Liberal with its goods and services tax and Kennett-style industrial relations policies, and Labor, which will continue to attack wages and conditions, close hospitals, downgrade education and public transport and allow environmental damage.
She stressed the importance of an alternative to the two-party system. "We need a political force that puts the interests of people and the environment ahead of big business."