Our Plan

Real Solutions

for all Australians

The direction, values and policy priorities of the next Coalition Government.

Contents

Delivering a strong, prosperous economy

and a safe, secure Australia

Delivering a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3

In the two years since the last election, my

In the seven parliaments I have served since that colleagues and I have travelled to all parts of

first speech, as a backbencher, parliamentary

1� The Coalition’s top policy priorities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4

“ There is no

Australia listening and talking with people about secretary, minister, cabinet minister, Leader of the 2� The Coalition’s plan: building a stronger 21st Century Australia� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6

their lives, their families and their hopes for our House and now as a party leader, I have not

limit to what

3� A time for a decision about the future � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10

country� We have also consulted with experts about wavered in my belief that our best days as a nation Australia can

opportunities to harness Australia’s great potential�

are still ahead of us�

4� Delivering a strong, prosperous economy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15

From these conversations at homes, workplaces,

Here, in these pages, is the stronger Australia – a achieve.”

5� Living within our means and getting the Budget back under control � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16

factories, farms, school halls, businesses and

truly 21st Century Australia – that the next

Tony Abbott

6� Lowering taxes to unleash our real economic potential � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18

universities, we have developed our plan to offer Coalition Government will build�

May 1994

Hope, Reward and Opportunity for all Australians�

7� Boosting productivity and securing greater prosperity � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20

This is the Australia that we believe in�

Our plan is to build a stronger Australia by building 8� Delivering more growth from Asia � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24

a stronger economy, stronger communities, a

9� Helping small business deliver stronger jobs growth � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26

cleaner environment, stronger borders and more

modern infrastructure�

10� Building a 5-Pillar economy and unleashing Australia’s potential � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28

11� Delivering modern infrastructure and building a 21st Century Australia � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31

The Coalition’s priority will be to build a stronger, more productive and diverse economy through

12� Delivering more jobs, higher wages and higher living standards � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 33

lower taxes, more efficient government and more

13� Reducing cost-of-living pressures for families � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 34

productive businesses that will deliver more jobs, higher wages and better services for all Australians�

14� Delivering a more secure retirement for older Australians � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 36

With a modernised economy and the right policies, 15� Delivering better services and a better society � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 38

Australians can once again have competitive

16� Delivering better health services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 39

manufacturing industries, a dynamic services

sector and a growing knowledge economy as well

17� Delivering better education � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 40

as strong agriculture and mining� We can also once 18� Delivering stronger and better communities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 42

again have a strong vibrant small business sector creating stronger jobs growth�

19� Delivering a cleaner and more sustainable environment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 45

20� Delivering stronger borders and a more secure nation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 47

Within five years I am confident that our economy can deliver at least one million new jobs; and two 21� Delivering strong, stable, accountable government � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49

million new jobs within the next decade�

Our vision for Australia is grounded in the belief that I expressed in my very first speech to the

JANUARY 2013

Parliament 19 years ago, that “there is no limit to THIS DOCUMENT SETS OUT THE DIRECTION, VALUES AND POLICY PRIORITIES OF THE NEXT COALITION GOVERNMENT�

what Australia can achieve�”

Tony Abbott in his office, Parliament House, Canberra.

FURTHER DETAILED POLICIES WILL BE RELEASED IN THE LEAD UP TO THE ELECTION�

Real Solutions for all Australians | 3

1. The Coalition’s top

policy priorities

We will deliver

1. We will build a stronger,

2. We will get the Budget

3. We will help families get

4. We will help smal

5. We will create stronger

6. We will generate one

a strong,

more productive and

back under control, cut

ahead by freeing them from

businesses grow and create

jobs growth by building a

mil ion new jobs over the

diverse economy with

waste and start reducing

the burdens of the carbon

more jobs – by reducing

diverse, world-class 5-Pillar

next five years and two

prosperous

lower taxes, more efficient

debt – to keep interest

tax – to protect Australian

business costs and cutting

economy – by building

million new jobs within

economy and

government and more

rates as low as possible;

jobs and reduce cost-of-

taxes as well as cutting red

on our strengths in

a decade by growing a

productive businesses

and to protect the

living pressures, especially

and green tape costs by

Manufacturing Innovation,

bigger, more productive

a safe, secure

that will deliver more jobs,

Australian economy from

rising electricity and

$1 billion every year.

Advanced Services,

and prosperous economy.

Australia.

higher real incomes and

future economic shocks.

gas prices.

Agriculture Exports,

better services for you

world-class Education

Our plan will build

and your family.

and Research, as well as

a stronger, more

boosting Mining Exports.

productive and

prosperous Australia

– a truly 21st Century

Australia – so that all

Australians can get

ahead in the global

economy, live in a

better country and

get a better future.

7. We will build more

8. We will deliver better

9. We will deliver better

10. We will take direct

11. We will deliver stronger

12. We will deliver strong and

modern infrastructure to

services including health

education – by putting local

action to reduce carbon

borders – where the boats

stable government that

get things moving – with

services – by putting local

communities in charge of

emissions inside Australia,

are stopped – with tough

restores accountability – to

an emphasis on reducing

communities in charge of

improving the performance

not overseas – and also

and proven measures.

deliver a better future for

the bottlenecks on our

hospitals and improving

of local schools.

establish a 15,000-strong

all Australians.

gridlocked roads and

co-operation with the

Green Army to clean-up

highways.

States and Territories.

the environment.

4 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 5

2. The Coalition’s Plan: building

a stronger 21st Century Australia

Our positive, inclusive vision for Australia

• Concerns about rapidly rising business costs and realistic and practical and we must adopt real

taxes – especially rising electricity and gas prices solutions to these challenges� For example:

We believe in Australia and we believe “there is no

“ We stand

caused by the carbon tax�

limit to what Australia can achieve�”

• we must start living within our means and start for active

• Concerns about increasing levels of red tape and paying down government debt to protect

That’s why our plan is to build a stronger, more

paperwork and increasing levels of bureaucratic

ourselves against any future economic shocks

government

productive and prosperous Australia – a truly 21st over-regulation�

and to avoid leaving a debt legacy to our children; Century Australia – so that all Australians can get not big

ahead in the global economy, live in a better

• Concerns about workplace productivity problems�

• we must start addressing the unsustainable

government.”

country and have a better future�

structural imbalances in our Budget and get the

• Concerns about the economy and the impact of

Budget back on track to strong and sustainable

Tony Abbott

With your support we will deliver a strong,

the high Australian dollar on their businesses�

May 1994

surpluses;

prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia�

• Concerns about whether they can afford to hire We will offer every Australian Hope, Reward and

• we must free Australia from the shackles and

people because of increasing union militancy and

Opportunity�

burdens holding us back and unleash Australia’s

the growing uncertainty this creates for businesses�

We’ve been listening

We’ve been consulting with the experts

NET DEBT INTEREST PAYMENTS

Your opinion counts� That’s why the Coalition

SOURCE: MYEFO 2012–13

We have also been consulting widely with business Team has travelled all over Australia listening and

+8

and various experts about confronting the

7.8

talking with people about their lives, their jobs and 7.1

challenges facing Australia� For example: the need their hopes for their children and our country�

6.6

6.6

6.7

Australians have told us of their growing concerns�

Rapidly rising electricity prices are hurting to foster productivity, competitiveness and growth Australian families.

+6

if we are to lift Australians’ living standards and

• Concerns about increasing pressures on family

what needs to be done to unleash Australia’s real budgets and the huge rise in the cost-of-living –

• Concerns about tax increases, government waste 4.6

$ BILLIONS

economic potential, particularly in the context of especially rapidly rising electricity and gas prices�

and government debt�

the great transformation currently occurring in the

+4

• Concerns about poor superannuation returns

• Concerns about increasing numbers of illegal boat Asian region�

and being able to afford a secure retirement�

arrivals and the huge blow-out in taxpayer costs�

2.4

We have taken all these ideas into account in

+2

• Concerns about leaving the next generation

developing our plan for Australia’s future�

worse off and unfairly burdening their children’s We’ve been listening to small business

and grandchildren’s future with higher taxes

Small business people have told us of their growing It’s time to honestly face Australia’s

0

and debt�

concerns�

challenges

• Concerns about the lack of modern infrastructure

• Concerns about the government not understanding Australia has come a long way but we must now

-1

and the bottlenecks on our gridlocked roads�

-1.2

the needs of small business and how the

honestly and seriously address the real challenges

-2

• Concerns about job security, youth unemployment government is increasing the burdens on business�

and issues confronting the nation particularly in 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

–08

–09

–10

–11

–12

–13

–14

–15

–16

and the slowing economy�

this new debt challenged world� We must be

6 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 7

real economic potential so we can compete more

Our plan addresses the main challenges

effectively in Asia;

facing Australia

• we must boost productivity growth to make

This document, ‘Our Plan: Real Solutions for all

Australia more competitive, productive and

Australians’ outlines the clear direction, values and prosperous;

policy priorities that will guide the next Coalition

• we must start building a more diverse, world-

Government� Our plan honestly confronts

class economy – a 5-Pillar economy – that builds

Australia’s real challenges with real solutions and on our strengths as a nation and builds real

outlines action to deliver a strong, prosperous

prosperity for the future so that living standards economy and a safe, secure future for all of us�

improve, not fall, in the years ahead;

Building a stronger economy

• we must build more modern infrastructure suited to the 21st Century;

Our main goal is to secure Australia’s economic

future and to protect Australians from any future

• we must work more cooperatively with the States external economic shocks to avoid leaving our

to improve education and health services at the

children worse off�

local level;

We have a detailed plan to build a world-class

• we must reduce cost-of-living pressures on

5-Pillar economy that will deliver more jobs and

families;

The shadow cabinet considering the policy priorities of the next Coalition Government.

generate the real wealth necessary to finance better

• we must secure our borders – where the boats

government services for Australian families�

Our aim is to deliver a better future for all

Australians deserve to live in the best

are stopped; and

Australians

country in the world

Charting a longer term course for Australia

• we must rebuild our weakened defence force and Our aim is to build a stronger Australia – a truly Last but not least, the Coalition believes there are we must make the nation stronger, not weaker�

The Coalition’s ambitious plan charts a longer

21st Century Australia – so that all Australians can no limits to what this great country can achieve for term course for modernising and transforming

get ahead in the global economy, live in a better its people�

This forthcoming election is the most

Australia’s economy to ensure it is more suited to country and have a better future� Our aim is to

We need to remove the shackles and burdens

important in decades

the challenges of the 21st Century – by making

deliver a strong and prosperous economy; a safe and holding Australia back and to unleash Australia’s Australia more competitive in the global economy, secure nation with secure borders and a strong

At this election the Australian people will face one real potential� It’s time to build a truly strong, by lowering taxes, by boosting productivity

defence force; a decent and respectful society that of the most important elections in decades as they productive and prosperous 21st Century Australia�

growth, by getting small businesses growing again gives a ‘fair go’ to all and encourages people to thrive decide the future direction of the country�

After all, Australians deserve to live in the best and creating more jobs, by modernising our

and get ahead; a country with a network of strong country in the world with the best prospects for

Australians will decide which leader and party will industries and workforce and developing a more

communities with more modern infrastructure; a

the future�

put the national interest first; provide strong, stable diverse world-class economy – which under a

land with a cleaner environment and a more

and accountable government; deliver a strong,

Coalition Government will deliver one million new sustainable future; a country with a culture of Hope, Australians deserve Hope, Reward and Opportunity�

prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia

jobs over the next five years and two million new Reward and Opportunity; and a country that is a

Australians deserve a better future� Australians

for the uncertain times ahead�

jobs within the next decade�

more prosperous, safe and secure place to live�

deserve better government�

8 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 9

3. A time for a decision

about the future

The key challenge facing Australia

opportunity in the Asian region if it does not

urgently address productivity concerns� Mr Smith

To safeguard Australia’s economic future the key

said tax and labour reforms were critical and

challenge facing Australia is to compete

warned that incorrect policy settings risked

successfully in a more fiercely competitive world�

Australia not being able to finance the $3 trillion Undoubtedly, Australia’s underlying challenge is

that ANZ estimated Australia needs over the next

to strengthen its economy and make real

20 years to seize the resource and agricultural

improvements in productivity, competitiveness and opportunities presented by the rising Asian

growth to ensure Australia’s future prosperity�

middle class�

Many businesses don’t need to be told by

government that Asia offers opportunities because Tackling the real challenges here in Australia

“ We stand for

of a rapidly rising middle class� But they do want The real challenges facing Australia range from

government to help equip the economy for the

the need for lower, simpler and fairer taxes, to

government

competitive challenges ahead so that we can

improving productivity, to promote industries to

actually realise these opportunities�

which backs

take advantage of the opportunities ahead�

Asia’s growth offers Australia tremendous

In summary:

Australia’s

potential to significantly increase our exports by

• we need to improve productivity, competitiveness families with

utilising our competitive advantages as a nation

and growth;

– as long as we position ourselves so that we are real policies

ready to seize these opportunities and unleash

• we need to reduce Australia’s sovereign risk

Tony and Margie Abbott. Margie works full-time running a childcare centre.

not just

Australia’s real economic potential�

profile and restore Australia’s competitive

reputation overseas;

• we need to streamline environmental approvals

• we need to support our small business sector�

platitudes.”

For example, estimates suggest that Asian demand

– and stop the delays, complexities and

The economic vitality of our country is being

could almost double our net energy exports over

• we need to address Australia’s growing workplace Tony Abbott

uncertainties imposed by the Commonwealth

sapped because the small businesses of our

May 1994

the next 20 years� And that comes on top of

militancy, flexibility and productivity challenges; and States;

country are being suffocated� There are 11,000

projections that the volume of our minerals

• we need to scrap unnecessary taxes like the

fewer small businesses actually employing people

exports could increase by 40 per cent to 60 per

• we need to reduce the cost base of our mining

carbon tax that reduce our comparative

now than there were in 2007� Small business

cent in the period to 2025�

projects so that Australian projects are favoured advantages;

start-ups have dropped by a staggering 95 per

over other countries’ and our projects move

In the education sector, we will expand our

cent� The number going bankrupt has increased

• we need to scrap a mining tax that discourages further up the ladder on resource companies’

exports, particularly in the Asian region using a by 48 per cent� Small business insolvencies

investment by imposing very high effective tax

development plans;

number of channels including online�

instigated by the Australian Taxation Office are

rates on risky projects, while collecting little

• we need to increase the flexibility of our economy up 46 per cent on previous years�

As ANZ chief executive Mike Smith1 has warned,

revenue – particularly after reimbursing the

to respond when economic shocks hit;

Australia risks losing out on a $3 trillion economic States for their mining royalties;

• we need to address the infrastructure blockages holding us back; and

1 Source: The Australian 23 November 2012�

10 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 11

Australia needs to restore responsible

Australia’s current structural Budget

Australia needs to develop a more

• about the imposition of new taxes like the mining economic management

position is poor

productive economy

tax and carbon tax – particularly when we are

“ We

the only country with a resource based economy

It is imperative that Australia restores responsible Australia is now more vulnerable to economic

Spending policies are now overriding productivity-Australians

economic management, adopts a strong economic

shocks due to excessive deficits and debt spending�

enhancing policies�

to impose an economy-wide carbon tax;

plan and changes the direction of its structural

There is no credible plan to repay debt – making

Unfortunately, like Europe, under Labor Australia

• about Australia’s sovereign risk profile which has are a great

Budget as quickly as possible to get back on the

Australia more vulnerable to another financial crisis�

remains fixated on the spending side of the

dramatically increased with the introduction of

path to building real prosperity, not false prosperity�

people with

Yet Labor is now creating expectations by promising economy rather than on the productive side of the these new taxes;

Unfortunately Labor has no economic plan –

new spending programmes that are not funded,

economy – the side that creates greater wealth and

• about Australia’s poor recent levels of productivity a great

prosperity for the nation�

instead it thinks the answer to every problem is

making the structural Budget position even worse�

performance and the need to make Australia

destiny.”

more spending and more taxes� Australia has been

Since the global financial crisis, Labor has

more competitive and productive; about growing

• The Australian Financial Review has identified living beyond its means, recklessly spending more Tony Abbott

encouraged policies that are arguably the opposite union militancy in workplaces; and

that under Labor, Australia now has a $120

May 1994

than it earns� As a result we are now borrowing

of improving long-run sustainable growth in

billion Budget black hole of unfunded policy

• about Australia’s high project development costs more and mortgaging our future, forcing our

national output – the key determinants of which

promises�

now affecting investment decisions�

children to pay for the government’s debt of today�

are saving and productivity improvements�

• On the matter of the ongoing structural integrity GDP is growing too slowly

of the Budget – Chris Richardson, one of

Productivity growth has fallen significantly

Australia’s leading economic forecasters said:

Australia’s GDP per head has grown by only just

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NET DEBT

The Economist Intelligence Unit now ranks

SOURCE: MYEFO 2012–13

“The Budget remains in trouble�”2

over 0�5 per cent per year under Labor compared

Australia as the second worst of 51 countries for 50

to well over 2 per cent a year under the Coalition�

• There have now been four years of back-to-back productivity growth ahead only of Botswana�

Budget deficits at record levels with another deficit

• The economy is now slowing with the Reserve

in prospect� Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard have

The next wave of investment is now at risk

Bank cutting its economic growth forecasts and

45

16

0

burned through almost $200 billion worth of

warning the resources boom is losing steam

excessive Commonwealth government spending�

About $75 billion worth of resource projects have faster than expected�

been cancelled in the past 12 months and a further $ BILLIONS

• Last year’s deficit was initially expected to be

-42

$100 billion are at serious risk�

• As UBS economist Scott Haslem said: “While

-50

$12�3 billion but it turned out to be $43�4 billion the RBA sounds less certain on domestic

For example: BHP has deferred its massive Olympic

– a $30+ billion blow-out!

growth…they now appear even more worried

Dam expansion in South Australia and in Western

about domestic inflation and productivity�”3

-85

• Labor has not delivered on its financial promises Australia, Fortescue and BHP have scaled back

-100

and has never returned a Budget surplus, only

expansion plans and Japan’s Mitsubishi has

• Monetary policy is now being used to try and

excuses�

shelved the $6 billion Oakajee development� With

catch a falling economy�

commodity prices still high despite recent falls, this

• Labor is now raising taxes and using accounting

-147

raises serious questions:

-150

tricks to manipulate Budget outcomes� And it has

still not tackled the problem of the structural

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

position of the Budget�

2 Source: Herald Sun 5 November 2012� 3 Source: Herald Sun 9 November 2012�

12 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 13

4. Delivering a strong,

prosperous economy

slashing wages, working conditions or living

The importance of a responsible

• We will deepen our engagement with Asia and

WORKING DAYS LOST

standards, but they fear the nation is going “the economic strategy

deliver more growth from Asia�

SOURCE: ABS INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES DATA 2007–12

wrong way down a one-way street�”

We have an economic plan for Australia – a plan

300,000

• We will help small business create stronger

293,000

to deliver a strong, prosperous economy based on

jobs growth�

Australia’s pace of jobs growth has been

the fundamental truth that the best long-term

250,000

30 per cent lower under Labor

economic strategy for Australia is to get our

• We will build a more diverse, world-class 5-Pillar finances in order, build a strong growth-powered

economy that unleashes Australia’s potential�

Under Labor, the pace of jobs growth has averaged WORKING DA

economy with less debt and make Australia more

200,000

1�5 per cent a year compared with 2�2 per cent

productive and competitive in the global economy�

Building a strong, productive and prosperous

165,000

under the Coalition – a 30 per cent slower pace of Our plan will deliver more jobs, higher real wages economy with less debt benefits everyone

160,000

jobs growth� And less than half of the new jobs

150,000

and better living standards for all Australians�

under Labor have been private sector jobs

We believe a strong, productive and prosperous

127,000

YS LOST

126,000

compared with over 70 per cent under the Howard

The elements of our economic plan

economy, ideally free from the burdens of debt, is 100,000

Government�

the basis for realising all our other goals for

88,000

• We will live within our means, get the Budget

Australia� In fact, it provides the financial means Jobs growth over the past two years has slowed to back under control and pay back debt�

50,000

to enable us to help those in need, particularly the its weakest pace in 15 years� And Australia’s

• We will lower taxes to stimulate stronger economic disadvantaged�

workforce participation rate has dropped�

growth and unleash our real economic potential�

0

A prosperous economy with less debt is the

essential ingredient that allows us all to secure the 2006–07

2007–08

2008–09 2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

Without a strong, growing economy, other

• We will boost productivity to secure greater

“ The best way

prosperity and build more 21st Century

aspirations we have for ourselves, our families and challenges can’t be properly addressed

infrastructure�

our country�

to restore

Over-regulation is strangling our

Without a strong, prosperous economy the nation

politicians’

businesses and driving up costs

won’t have the financial means to address all the other challenges facing Australia, like the need for standing

An Australian Chamber of Commerce and industry

more modern infrastructure, better services like

survey showed that 73 per cent of businesses report health and education and the National Disability

is to have

greater increases in regulation over the past two Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as well as the need to

governments

years and 60 per cent of businesses spend over

restore defence funding� That’s why a strong,

$5,000 a year just meeting regulatory requirements�

prosperous economy is central to everything�

which

meddle less

Inflexible work practices are holding our

Australians are being let down by a bad

industries back

government

and lead

The Australian Industry Group warns there are

Australians know that this is a great country let more.”

too many unnecessary barriers on productivity and down by a bad government interested only in its

Tony Abbott

flexibility that will lead to more business closures own survival – with no economic plan for Australia May 1994

and jobs going overseas� They say it’s not about

other than to run deficits and spend more money�

Andrew Robb, Joe Hockey, Tony Abbott, Julie Bishop and Warren Truss.

14 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 15

5. Living within our means and getting

the Budget back under control

Protecting Australia from a debt crisis –

The Coalition will protect the Australian economy POLICY PRIORITY

paying down debt

from economic shocks and create the conditions

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SURPLUS/DEFICIT

which keep interest rates as low as possible and

SOURCE: MYEFO 2012–13

We have an economic plan for Australia – a plan

We will get the Budget

reduce debt interest payments, which are now

+20

to live within our means and get the Budget back

back under control,

costing the Australian public over $7 billion a year�

under control�

cut waste and start

By repaying debt, this annual $7 billion of debt

reducing debt – to take

With Australia’s net debt over $160 billion,

interest payments could instead be better spent on 8

14

16

17

20

0

unnecessary pressure

Australia is more vulnerable to an economic shock better services such as health and education and

off interest rates; and

and has less protection in the event of a financial for tax relief�

$ BILLIONS

to protect the Australian

crisis� This is why we are so determined to get the

-20

economy from another

Budget back under control and get back on the

Getting the Budget back under control

-27

financial crisis.

path to real prosperity� Sound budget management

means a sustainable surplus over the medium-term

We will:

because governments have to live within their

-43

-40

• get the Budget back under control, start delivering

-47

means if we wish to leave the next generation

real Budget surpluses, pay down debt and take

-54

better off, not worse off�

pressure off the high Australian dollar;

-60

We will manage the economy and Budget responsibly

• immediately establish a Commission of Audit to 2003–04

2004–05

2005–06

2006–07

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

to ensure our children are not burdened by unfairly identify savings and efficiencies in all areas of high taxes and left with an unfair debt legacy�

government, so we can reduce government debt

and start delivering better value for money and

term basis to restore structural integrity to the sustainable Budget surpluses into the future;

Budget� We will:

• end government waste and ensure better value-

• act in a responsible way to protect Australian for-money in government programmes so that

families and deliver better frontline services

Australia no longer needs to keep borrowing

whilst repairing Australia’s Budget and putting

money to prop up its Budget; and

it on a sustainable, longer-term footing;

• start reducing government debt so the government

• get spending down by fixing the overlap between won’t need to spend $7 billion a year on wasted

different levels of government and by reducing

interest payments�

the size of the bloated Commonwealth payroll,

with a focus on natural attrition, to bring it

Living within our means on

closer to its size at the close of the Howard

a sustainable basis

Government; and

We will restore prudent financial management and

• deliver a more effective and responsive public live within our means on a sustainable, longer-service focused on your needs�

Bruce Billson, George Brandis, Eric Abetz, Joe Hockey and Peter Dutton.

16 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 17

6. Lowering taxes to unleash

our real economic potential

Delivering lower taxes and growing

the whole Australian economy for almost a year�

Finance Minister will notify the Clean Energy

a stronger economy

This will secure more Australian jobs, boost

Finance Corporation that it should suspend its

Australia’s exports and make Australia’s

operations and instruct the Department of

We have an economic plan for Australia – a plan

businesses more competitive and productive� No

Finance to draft legislation to permanently shut

to lower taxes to stimulate stronger economic

other energy-rich country has introduced an

down the $10 billion fund� The Environment

growth and make Australia more competitive in

economy wide carbon tax� The world’s biggest

Minister will instruct the department to start

the global economy�

carbon tax damages the Australian economy,

implementing the Coalition’s Direct Action Plan

We will abolish unnecessary taxes to unleash

drives up prices unnecessarily, hits the cost-of-

on climate change and carbon emissions�

Australia’s real economic potential and to encourage living of families, hurts small businesses and

• Legislation to repeal the carbon tax will be the first businesses to invest and grow and create more jobs�

makes all Australian businesses less competitive

piece of legislation the Coalition will introduce�

in both domestic and international markets�

Personal income tax cut – without the

• We will take direct action to reduce carbon

Abolishing the mining tax – growing

carbon tax

emissions� Through the Coalition’s Direct Action

a stronger economy

We will fund personal income tax cuts for

Plan we will deliver on our commitment to a five

“ No country

We will abolish the mining tax and restore

We will abolish the mining tax and restore Australia’s international reputation as a safe and individuals and families – without a carbon tax�

per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020�

Australia’s international reputation as a safe and reliable place to invest.

We pledge to the families of Australia that we will We will reduce emissions inside Australia, not by has ever

reliable place to invest, making Australia more

never make your lives harder by imposing needless paying billions of dollars to foreign carbon traders�

competitive in the global economy�

• The Coalition is determined to deliver a more

taxed

new taxes and we will free Australians from the

• We will act immediately to abolish the carbon tax�

positive environment for mining� By abolishing

burdens of the carbon tax�

itself into

On day one of a new government– we will instruct

• We are determined to attract more investment in the mining tax, we will re-energise the entire

the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to

Australia’s mining sector, encourage the

industry and this will lead to increased mining

prosperity.”

Cutting company tax – without the

draft legislation to repeal the carbon tax� The

development of the world’s best mining industry

investment with more mining projects coming

Tony Abbott

mining tax

and harness the comparative advantages we have

on stream� This will lead to an eventual boost in March 2012

as one of the world’s great mining and energy

Australia’s exports, strengthening the economy

We will deliver a modest cut in company tax –

rich resource countries�

and creating more Australian jobs over the

funded from savings in the Budget�

–

The mining tax damages Australia’s

medium-longer term�

Scrapping the carbon tax – reducing

international reputation overseas, increases our

The Australian people will benefit significantly

cost-of-living pressures

sovereign risk profile, damages investor

from a bigger and stronger mining industry that

confidence and deters investment in Australia

pays more taxes and invests in more mining

We will immediately introduce legislation to scrap in favour of other countries�

projects in Australia, rather than overseas�

the world’s biggest carbon tax and start reducing cost of living pressures for all Australians caused

– The compliance costs of the mining tax push

by rapidly rising electricity and gas prices�

up costs for our mining companies making

Welcoming investment

them less productive and less competitive�

• By repealing the world’s biggest carbon tax we By lowering taxes and reducing Australia’s

will secure a bigger economy – an extra $1 trillion

– As a result, Australia is becoming less competitive sovereign risk profile we will declare to the world of lost output cumulatively by 2050 on Labor’s

We have an economic plan to lower taxes

in the global economy and is heading in the

that Australia is ‘open-for-business’ again and that own figures, or the equivalent of shutting down

to stimulate economic growth.

wrong direction�

will lift confidence and investment in our industries�

18 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 19

7. Boosting productivity and securing

greater prosperity

Securing the future prosperity

• getting greater value from infrastructure spending accessible, affordable and flexible – ensuring all Improving productivity – by improving

of our country

so every dollar of spending becomes more

families have more choice� The Coalition’s Paid

government services

productive and the infrastructure contributes to

Parental Leave scheme is based on a mother’s real We have an economic plan for Australia – a plan

We will deliver higher productivity growth by

real economic growth; and

wage, rather than a minimum wage� According

to boost productivity to make Australia more

making public institutions more cost effective and to the Productivity Commission’s report into

competitive in the global economy and to lift

• rebalancing workplace relations to reduce union responsive, so they too can contribute to making

parental leave, Australia is one of only two

Australians’ standard of living�

militancy in workplaces and to encourage higher

Australia more productive and successful�

countries where parental leave isn’t based on the pay for better work�

In a competitive world economy, standing still is mother’s actual wage�

• We will make our hospitals and schools more

not an option� That’s why we must immediately

responsive to community needs and more

• We will introduce a new Job Commitment Bonus

take the decisions necessary to boost productivity Productivity Priorities Working Group

efficient� Community controlled public hospitals

for long-term employees who get a job and

and independent public schools where individuals

growth and encourage world’s best practice to

We have established a Productivity Priorities Working remain off welfare for 12 months and a further

have a stake in the institution and a say at the

modernise and transform Australia’s businesses

Group to consult with business and community

bonus if they remain off welfare for 24 months�

board table, with a focus on improvement and

and industries for the 21st Century�

stakeholders on the implementation of our Better

• We will introduce a new Jobseeker Relocation

delivering better results, lead to greater

Productivity Plan – so that it can be implemented Bonus for young job seekers who move to take

productivity� If the public schools and public

Our Better Productivity Plan

from day one and a new government can ‘hit the

a job�

hospitals that comprise more than 5 per cent of

ground running’�

Everything in our Better Productivity Plan is

our total economy are more responsive and

• We will provide better structured incentives for designed to make Australia more productive and

efficient, productivity will improve�

Improving productivity – by boosting

employers to employ people over 50 years of age�

to make our economy more competitive, because

that is the key to building a better future with

workforce participation

• We will make work-for-the-dole mandatory for

better prospects for all Australians�

We will deliver higher productivity growth by

all long-term unemployed welfare beneficiaries

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING

boosting workforce participation� We will

under 50 years of age and tighten work-for-the-

SOURCE: MYEFO 2012–13

We will implement our Better Productivity Plan

“ The

encourage every Australian to be a productive

dole requirements�

-400

and deliver higher productivity growth by:

contributor in the nation’s life and give every

challenge

371

• We will start suspending dole payments for people

• encouraging more people into the workforce to

Australian the opportunity to get ahead and build under 30 years of age in areas where unskilled

MYEFO 2012–13 ($ BILLION)

be productive contributors in the nation’s life and a better life for themselves and their families�

is to support

-350

346

work is readily available�

337

to help make Australia a more successful country;

• We will provide incentives for employers to

smart ways

316

• We will adopt a smarter approach to the

• making public institutions more cost effective employ young people and seniors and take them

disability pension that distinguishes between

to protect the

-300

and responsive so they too can contribute to

off welfare�

disabilities that are likely to be permanent and

272

making Australia more productive and successful;

environment,

• We will ensure that people of working age are

those that are not, which will help to prevent

253

• cutting government red and green tape so

actually working, preferably for a wage – but if

older unemployed people being parked on welfare�

-250

not dumb

240

businesses can become more productive and

not, for the dole – by reinvigorating the work-

222

• We will support the Australian Employment

devote their energies towards business and

for-the-dole programme that was one of the great

ones.”

Covenant and its many supporting employers to

jobs growth;

-200

successes of the previous Coalition Government�

Tony Abbott

create more opportunities for indigenous

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

April 2012

• improving competition rules so competitive

• We will introduce a genuine Paid Parental Leave Australians to get ahead by actively engaging

–05

–06

–07

–08

–09

–10

–11

–12

forces drive productivity growth;

Scheme and help ensure that childcare is more

more indigenous Australians in real jobs�

20 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 21

the compliance costs imposed and matching

of the nation’s time – millions of hours of wasted GLOBAL COMPETITIVE RANKINGS

compliance cost cuts�

time can be converted into more productive

SOURCE: WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM REPORT 2012

economic activities, helping to grow a stronger

• Every year, there will be a Deregulation Report Wasteful

Burden of

Transparency

Pay and

spending

regulation

in policymaking

productivity

tabled in the parliament and two sitting days will economy� If workers spend less time in traffic jams be dedicated to the repeal of redundant legislation they will have more time at work and more time

10

12

and review of regulations�

with their families�

“ We need

20

• Responsibility for deregulation will be assumed 29

Improving productivity – by reducing union

by the Department of Prime Minister and

militancy in workplaces

governments

40

Cabinet so that deregulation and productivity

48

40

will have a whole-of-government focus�

We will deliver higher productivity growth by

which

rebalancing workplace relations to reduce union

believe in

60

68

Improving productivity – by improving

militancy and to encourage higher pay for better

competition policy

work� If there are fewer strikes and if unions are Australia and

80

80

better governed, our economy will become more

We will improve competition rules so competitive

Australians.”

96

productive and competitive�

100

forces drive productivity growth�

Tony Abbott

• We will fully restore the Australian Building and May 1994

2007–08

2012–13

2007–08

2012–13

2007–08

2012–13

2007–08

2012–13

• We will review competition policy and deliver

Construction Commission (ABCC) so that there

more competitive markets because there will be,

will be less union militancy� This will help keep for the first time in two decades, a root and

business costs down and improve productivity�

Improving productivity – by cutting

• We will deliver a State-based one-stop shop for branch review of competition laws�

government red and green tape

environmental approvals to streamline the

• We will work within the existing framework and

• We will ensure that big and small businesses get environmental approval process, reduce costs for

with the independent umpire Fair Work Australia

We will deliver higher productivity growth by

a ‘fair-go’ and do the right thing by each other

business and boost productivity while retaining

and the Fair Work Ombudsman to restore the

cutting government red and green tape – so

in their respective marketplaces� If they are

current high environmental standards�

balance in workplaces�

businesses can become more productive and devote

competing on a genuinely level playing field

their energies towards business and jobs growth�

• We will give every significant Commonwealth

where the most cost-effective products dominate

• We will establish a Registered Organisations

government agency/department an annual target

markets regardless of who supplies them, our

Commission to overcome the inadequacies

Productivity will go up when people running

for red tape cost reductions and public service

productivity will go up and consumers will see

revealed by Fair Work Australia’s investigation

businesses have more time for innovation, customer bonuses will depend upon those targets being met�

real and lasting benefits�

into the Health Services Union�

sales and actually running their businesses because they will spend less time and money on unnecessary

• Where possible we will replace burdensome

•

We will amend laws so that registered

paper work with no real benefit�

regulatory reporting requirements with independent Improving productivity – by building more

organisations and their officials have to play by audits backed by penalties for organisations that modern infrastructure

similar rules, to make similar disclosures and be

• We will cut government red tape costs on

fail to comply with set standards�

businesses and community groups by $1 billion

We will get on with the job of building the modern subject to similar penalties as companies and

a year�

• Every Cabinet submission will once more contain infrastructure required to unclog our congested

their directors�

a regulation impact statement that will quantify

roads and highways to improve the productive use

22 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 23

8. Delivering more

growth from Asia

Focusing on opportunities in the

set needed to make the most of Asia’s ongoing

contexts and learn to work more effectively with

Asian region

economic transformation�

Asian governments� We will develop Australia’s

‘Asia literacy’ beyond language skills� We will

We have an economic plan for Australia – a plan

• We recognise the rapid emergence not only of

develop strong people-to-people relationships� Our to deliver more growth from Asia�

China, but also India and Indonesia – and the

intention is to develop a ‘deep knowledge’ of Asia We will position Australia to seize the opportunities opportunities this will afford Australia in the

and to broaden and deepen our engagement and

in the Asian region by strengthening our trading

years ahead�

relationships in the region�

relationships, welcoming investment, boosting our exports and deepening Australia’s knowledge of

Delivering new regional Free Trade

Establishing a new two-way ‘Colombo Plan’

and engagement with countries in Asia�

Agreements

Within two years we will build a better and

• We will modernise and transform our economy

We will take real action to increase economic

stronger network of cultural and trade relationships and make Australia more productive and

activity, strengthen our trading relationships and in our region by establishing a new two-way

competitive�

grow a stronger economy by fast tracking Free

‘Colombo Plan’ that doesn’t just bring the best and Trade Agreements (FTAs) with China, Indonesia,

brightest talent from the region to learn in

• We will develop stronger people-to-people

Japan and India amongst others�

Australia but more importantly takes Australia’s

relationships and foster the mind-set and skills-

best and brightest talent to learn more about the We have a plan to deliver more growth from Asia.

countries in our region�

Building more opportunities for Australia’s

We will achieve better engagement with Asia

ASIA’S RISING MIDDLE CLASS – SHARE OF THE GLOBAL MIDDLE CLASS

exporters

through this new two-way ‘Colombo Plan’ which

SOURCE: OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE’S WORKING PAPER NO. 285

sends our future leaders to Asian universities as By focusing on opportunities in the Asian region

well as bringing their future leaders here through and building a strong diverse 5-Pillar economy we a scholarship programme� By fostering these

will boost our export of goods and services –

2030

66%

14%

7%

6%

5%

2%

relationships we will develop the important people-particularly by building on our strengths in

to-people links and the leadership relationships of Manufacturing Innovation, Agriculture Exports,

“ The next

the future as was previously done under Sir Robert Advanced Services, world-class Education and

2020

54%

22%

10%

8%

5%

2%

Menzies’ ‘Colombo Plan’�

Coalition

Research, as well as Mining Exports�

We will strengthen our diplomatic relationship and Government

Ensuring high school students learn

trade ties with India and boost mining exports by 2009

28%

36%

18%

10%

6%

2%

an Asian language

will fight the

exporting uranium to India�

We will aim to have 40 per cent of high school

tyranny of low

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

students studying a foreign language, preferably an Developing our Asia-capability

Asian language, in year 12, to ensure the youth of expectations.”

Asia Pacific

North America

Middle East & North Africa

We will develop more Asia-capable talent and help Australia become more ‘Asia-capable’ and are better Tony Abbott

Europe

Central & South America

Sub-Saharan Africa

Australians gain study and work experience, form

equipped in the future to engage with our trading June 2012

relationships, learn to adapt behaviour to Asian

partners in our region and in the global economy�

24 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 25

9. Helping smal business create

stronger jobs growth

Helping small business

• We will deliver a modest company tax cut,

• We will allow small business to send one payment funded from savings in the Budget�

directly to the Australian Taxation Office for

We have an economic plan for Australia – a plan

superannuation and then the Australian Taxation

to help small businesses grow and create stronger Cutting red and green tape – removing the

Office will do the rest, if that’s what small

jobs growth�

burdens on small business

business would prefer�

Employing almost half of the workforce in

We will cut government red and green tape and

• We will give employers the option of ‘opting in’

Australia, small businesses are the real “job

reduce the regulatory burdens that small businesses to managing the administration of Paid Parental

creators” in the economy� By unshackling the small face – so businesses can become more productive

Leave to their employees� If they choose not to

business sector we will unleash the potential of

and devote their energies towards business and

be the government’s paymaster, payments will

POLICY PRIORITY

small businesses to grow and create more jobs�

jobs growth�

be made directly to the employee� This will

relieve small businesses of their role as paymaster

• We will get businesses growing by cutting red

We will get small

Lowering taxes and reducing business costs

of the government’s inadequate Paid Parental

tape costs to business by $1 billion each year�

businesses growing and

Leave scheme�

We will reduce costs for every business by cutting creating more jobs – by

• We will streamline environmental approvals

taxes: by abolishing the carbon tax and cutting

• We will have a genuine Paid Parental Leave

reducing business costs,

through a State-based one-stop shop environmental company tax�

cutting taxes, cutting red

approval process� This will save time and money,

scheme and we won’t force small business to do

Joe Hockey and Andrew Robb will lower business taxes and cut red tape.

tape costs by $1 billion a

cut down on paperwork and boost productivity�

the paperwork for it� Our scheme will benefit

• We will stop small businesses paying 10 per cent small business because it will make it easier for year and delivering on our

more for their electricity and 9 per cent more for

• We will require Parliament to spend two days a entrepreneurship is fostered and innovation

them to retain capable female staff�

Better Productivity Plan.

their gas bills and paying more for everything

year removing legislation and regulations to help happens� This is an important part of building a

else they need by abolishing the carbon tax�

ease the burden on small businesses�

more productive nation and is at the heart of

Doubling the annual rate of small

building our economy�

business growth

We will double the current annual rate of growth

Reviewing competition laws and policy

of small businesses because we understand that

We will conduct, for the first time in two decades, small businesses are the real ‘job creators’ in

a root and branch review of competition laws and

our economy�

policy and deliver more competitive markets�

• We will achieve an annual growth rate in the

numbers of small businesses of 1�5 per cent – the Extending unfair contract protection

same rate the Howard Government was achieving�

to small business

We will then be adding more than 30,000 new

We will extend unfair contract protection currently small businesses each year� That’s double the rate available to consumers, to small businesses� We

achieved under the current government�

will ensure that big and small businesses get a

• We want small businesses providing more than

‘fair-go’ and do the right thing by each other in half the jobs in the private sector because that is their respective marketplaces, delivering real and Tony Abbott listening to the concerns of small business.

where people get a start in life, that is where

lasting benefits to consumers�

26 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 27

10. Building a 5-Pil ar economy and

unleashing Australia’s potential

Building a diverse 5-Pillar economy

Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council

• build on our comparative strength in food

POLICY PRIORITY

production and better manage our precious

To guard against having all our eggs in the one

We will establish a new Prime Minister’s Business water resources to help our agriculture sector

basket of mining, we will build a more diverse,

Advisory Council to advise the Executive

We will create stronger

become the ‘Food Bowl of Asia’ and achieve

world-class economy – a 5-Pillar economy – to

Government on developing the economy� The

jobs growth by building

‘food security’ in a world demanding more of

unleash Australia’s real economic potential� We will Business Advisory Council will be chaired by

a diverse, world-class

our food resources;

build on our strengths in Manufacturing Innovation, leading Australian business leader Mr Maurice

5-Pillar economy – by

Agriculture Exports, Advanced Services, world-

Newman AC and meet three times a year� It will

• support our fishing industry and review the

building on our strengths

class Education and Research, as well as boosting include, amongst others, representatives from the declaration of new Marine Protected Areas� We

in Manufacturing

our Mining Exports, to make the most of our

Manufacturing, Agricultural, Services, Education

will establish genuine consultation with the fishing Innovation, Advanced

comparative advantages in international markets�

and Resources sectors of the economy�

industry on research and strengthen the connection Services, Agriculture

“ The sum

between science and fishing policy; and

Exports, world-class

Delivering stronger jobs growth

Building on our strengths in Manufacturing

of human

Education and Research,

• provide policy stability and certainty to our live Innovation

as well as boosting

By developing a world-class 5-Pillar economy we

exports trade – avoiding damaging backflips like

happiness

Mining Exports.

will deliver one million new jobs over the next five We will unleash the real economic potential in our Labor’s overnight decision to suspend live cattle is most

years and two million new jobs over the next

manufacturing industry by removing the shackles

trade with Indonesia�

decade as we modernise and transform all sectors

and burdens holding the industry back and by

We will unleash the real economic potential in our likely to be

manufacturing industry

of our economy�

making the industry more productive and

Building on our strengths in Advanced

competitive� We will:

maximised

down on overseas producers who don’t cooperate

Services

• repeal the world’s biggest carbon tax which

when

with anti-dumping investigations� We will

We will unleash the real economic potential in our makes Australian businesses, particularly

strengthen enforcement of the provisions of the

service industries by making the industry more

government

manufacturing, less competitive in domestic and

World Trade Organisation Agreement on

productive and globally competitive�

international markets;

subsidies and countervailing measures� We will

knows its

transfer anti-dumping responsibilities from

We will deliver broadband faster, sooner and at

• cut red tape costs by $1 billion a year;

limits.”

Customs to the Department of Industry; and

less expense to taxpayers and consumers than

• get business costs down and get productivity up Labor’s National Broadband Network�

Tony Abbott

•

build on our comparative strength in

by ensuring Australian businesses have the right

November 2012

Manufacturing Innovation�

We will:

incentives to invest in Research and Development;

• cut red tape costs by $1 billion per year;

• create the environment to revitalise Australian Building on our strengths in Agriculture

industry’s international competitiveness;

Exports

• build on our comparative strength in Advanced

Services to boost our exports to Asia� We will

• we will provide better links between government, We will unleash the real economic potential in our seize the enormous opportunities for this highly

business and research institutions;

agricultural industry by removing the shackles and diversified sector, particularly in relation to

• act immediately to deliver a level playing field for burdens holding the industry back and by making

financial services, health services, engineering

We will deliver one million new jobs over the Australia’s manufacturing businesses with more

the industry more productive and globally

and architectural services;

next five years.

effective anti-dumping measures� We will crack

competitive� We will:

28 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 29

11. Delivering modern infrastructure

and building a 21st Century Australia

Building the modern infrastructure

are very expensive and taxpayers must be

Australia needs

guaranteed that their money is spent in the most

cost effective manner possible so that we end up

We have an economic plan for Australia – a plan

with more productive infrastructure, rather than

to build more modern infrastructure to boost

just wasted money�

productivity�

• We will strengthen the role of Infrastructure

We will deliver the modern infrastructure that a

Australia, improve its governance and make it

first world 21st Century country deserves� You will see cranes over our cities as we get on with the job more transparent and accountable, as well as a

of building more modern infrastructure, with a

more effective adviser�

special emphasis on reducing the bottlenecks on

• We will require all Commonwealth-funded

We will re-energise our mining industry by abolishing Labor’s carbon and mining taxes.

our gridlocked roads and highways� Big new

projects worth more than $100 million to

projects will be underway within 12 months of a

undergo a cost-benefit analysis by Infrastructure change of government� Our big cities are as vital

• encourage modernisation and the development

• expand our education export sector, particularly Australia to ensure the best use of available

“ Government

to our economy as our vast resource developments

of Advanced Services and support the use of new

in the Asian region using a number of channels

taxpayer monies�

should be

including online�

and can be properly considered a critical part of technologies, particularly digital and IT;

• We will require Infrastructure Australia to

our national economic infrastructure� They are

at least as

• expand our skills into the Asian region; and

publish justifications for all its project

key to the development of a more productive and

Building a world-class Mining, Energy and

recommendations�

• give priority to the recommendations of the

prosperous Australia�

interested in

Resources sector

Johnson Report into Australia as a Financial

• We will prioritise projects based on a proper

We will unleash the real economic potential in our the creation

Centre to further grow our financial services

Delivering a 15-year rolling plan for

cost-benefit analysis�

mining industry by removing the shackles and

industry’s ability to export its world-class

national infrastructure projects

of wealth

burdens holding the industry back and by making

• Within 12 months of election we will announce

expertise to Asia and beyond�

the industry more productive and globally

We will develop a rolling 15-year infrastructure

infrastructure priorities and construction

as in its

competitive� We will:

plan of national projects and work closely with

timetables in consultation with the States�

Building a world-class Education and

redistribution.”

Infrastructure Australia in establishing project

Research sector

• build on our strength as one of the world’s rich Tony Abbott

priorities and delivery timetables� This will be a Encouraging more private investment

POLICY PRIORITY

resource-based economies;

May 2012

We will unleash the real economic potential in our Commonwealth and State government plan and

in infrastructure projects

Education and Research sector by removing the

• re-energise our mining companies by abolishing will be revised every five years�

We will investigate ways to get more private

We will build more

shackles and burdens holding the industry back

Labor’s carbon and mining taxes;

funding into high priority infrastructure projects modern infrastructure to

and by making the industry more productive and

• establish a one-stop shop for environmental

Empowering Infrastructure Australia to

to enable us to do more to modernise Australia�

get things moving – with

globally competitive� We will:

approvals and speed up the time for bringing

deliver better value from infrastructure

We will ask the Office of Financial Management

a special emphasis on

projects on-stream; and

spending

• encourage modernisation and the development

to examine an Infrastructure Partnership Bonds

reducing the bottlenecks

of world-class Education and Research

• declare Australia ‘open-for-business’ and restore We will deliver better value from infrastructure

Scheme to encourage billions of dollars of

on our gridlocked roads

capabilities and support the use of new

Australia’s international reputation as a safe

spending by working in close collaboration with

additional private investment in infrastructure

and highways.

technologies, particularly digital and IT; and

place to invest�

Infrastructure Australia� Infrastructure projects projects, so that we can get more things done�

30 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 31

12. Delivering more jobs, higher

wages and higher living standards

Delivering more affordable broadband –

Delivering stronger jobs growth and

rolling it out faster

a bigger economy

LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED

SOURCE: ABS, LABOUR FORCE

The Coalition will deliver high speed broadband

Our economic plan will deliver stronger jobs

120,000

that is both affordable for families and businesses growth right across Australia by unleashing

We will work with the States and the private sector to accelerate the delivery of major roads and highways.

and cost effective for taxpayers�

Australia’s real economic potential and growing a bigger, more productive and prosperous economy�

• We will for the first time do a fully transparent Delivering major roads and highways

90,000

cost-benefit analysis of the National Broadband

117,000

to get things moving

116,000

Delivering two million new jobs over the

Network, to find out the quickest and most cost-

108,000

next decade

We will work with the States and the private sector efficient way to upgrade broadband to all areas

to accelerate the delivery of a major roads and

where services are now unavailable or sub-

60,000

We will generate one million new jobs over the

79,000

highways programme that reduces bottlenecks – to

standard� This is the cost-benefit analysis Labor 71,000

next five years and two million new jobs over the improve productivity and safety for all road users�

didn’t do before committing to spend tens of

next decade as we unleash Australia’s real

billions of dollars on the NBN�

economic potential, modernise our businesses and

• We will contribute $1�5 billion to get the M4 East 30,000

industries as well as transform to a stronger and (WestConnex Project) underway in Sydney to

• We will roll out super-fast broadband using

more prosperous economy�

complete the east-west corridor�

whichever is the most effective and cost efficient 0

• We will contribute $1�5 billion to get the East-technology and we will use existing infrastructure where we can�

Delivering higher real wages and higher

West Link road tunnel underway in Melbourne

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12

living standards

to link the Eastern Freeway and Western Ring

• We will roll it out faster to high priority areas�

Road and we will further improve the Geelong

We will deliver higher real wages and higher living Princes Highway�

• We will end billions of dollars of wasteful

standards by providing real opportunities for

Helping women get ahead

spending on the NBN and deliver more of the

POLICY PRIORITY

productivity growth as we transform and grow the

We will help the women and families of Australia

• We will contribute $1 billion towards the upgrade modern infrastructure we urgently need while

economy and encourage higher pay for better work�

get ahead and have a real choice to have children of the Gateway Motorway in Brisbane and we

encouraging competition wherever possible to

We will generate

will develop the Toowoomba Range crossing�

put downward pressure on prices�

We will tackle Australia’s lagging productivity

and a career with a genuine Paid Parental Leave

one million new jobs over

growth problem by pursuing our Better Productivity scheme, supported by an affordable, flexible and

• We will contribute $400 million and get the

the next five years and

Plan and building a more productive and

accessible childcare system�

duplication of the Midland Highway between

Building more dams – providing water

two million new jobs

prosperous economy that will enable higher real

Hobart and Launceston done in Tasmania�

security

over the next 10 years

wages and lift Australia’s living standards�

by growing a bigger,

• We will contribute $5�6 billion to complete the We will start the detailed planning necessary to build more productive and

duplication of the Pacific Highway from

new dams – to secure the nation’s water supplies, Helping unemployed young people

prosperous economy.

Newcastle to the Queensland border�

deliver strong economic benefits for Australia,

to get a job

while also protecting our environment�

• We are committed to the Perth Gateway project

We will encourage unemployed young people to

and will make further road infrastructure

The Coalition’s Dams Taskforce is looking at

get back into the workforce – particularly in those commitments in South Australia before the

potential investments in dam capacity across

areas where unskilled jobs are readily available�

next election�

Australia�

32 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 33

13. Reducing cost-of-living pressures

for families

Delivering Hope, Reward and Opportunity

improvement in the wealth of households� We

Delivering more affordable and flexible

POLICY PRIORITY

for families

believe that people who work hard and put money

childcare

aside so they won’t be a burden on others should

We believe that strong families are the bedrock of We will help ensure that childcare is more

be encouraged, not hit with higher taxes�

We will help families get

a healthy society and should receive support and

accessible, affordable and flexible, to help families ahead by freeing them

encouragement from government� A supportive

juggle work and family commitments, by getting

from the burdens of the

family is the greatest source of emotional stability Abolishing the carbon tax and reducing

the Productivity Commission to urgently undertake carbon tax – to protect

and social development anyone can have� The

cost-of-living pressures

a major inquiry into the childcare system� We need Australian jobs and

Coalition believes that the role of government is to a better childcare system that’s not just geared to We will start reducing cost of living pressures for reduce cost-of-living

support and expand choices for families, not to

9-to-5 workers – to give women a better chance to families by immediately scrapping the world’s

pressures – especially on

make their choices for them�

combine families with careers� We will look at

biggest carbon tax – taking pressure off rapidly

rising electricity and gas

ways so childcare can become more flexible and

We will improve rewards from working, reduce

rising electricity and gas bills� We will put

prices.

responsive to the differing needs and lifestyles of cost-of-living pressures and help families with the downward pressure on prices by getting the ACCC

parents, as work patterns and demands on parents

real costs of raising children as we reset our

to make sure that prices do not remain artificially are different today than even a decade ago�

country’s course to one that sees increasing

raised when we abolish the carbon tax�

confidence, renewed productivity growth and real

Delivering genuine Paid Parental Leave

Lowering taxes – improving rewards from

hard work

We will deliver a genuine Paid Parental Leave

% ELECTRICITY PRICE INCREASES UNDER LABOR

scheme to give mothers six months leave based on

SOURCE: ABS, CPI, SEPTEMBER QTR 2012, 6401.0

We will fund personal income tax cuts for

their actual wage – to help young families get

individuals and families – without a carbon tax�

100

ahead� This will give women a more realistic choice 109%

We pledge to the families of Australia that we will if they want to combine work with family and

never make your lives harder by imposing

96%

continue their careers� According to the Productivity Margie and Tony Abbott at a local greengrocer.

80

unnecessary new taxes and we will free Australians 89%

88%

Commission report into parental leave, Australia

from the burdens of the carbon tax�

78%

is one of only two countries where parental leave Delivering better local roads and more

75%

60

70%

isn’t based on a mother’s actual wage� If people

modern infrastructure

Keeping interest rates low

receive their actual wage while sick or on holiday, We will deliver better planned infrastructure

40

49%

We will keep interest rates as low as possible by they should also receive their actual wage while on 46%

including more modern highways that unlock the

ending government waste, paying back debt and

parental leave� Parental leave is supposed to be a traffic jams and bottlenecks in our gridlocked

20

balancing the Budget�

workplace entitlement, not a welfare payment�

cities and provide better and safer highways in

country areas� If workers spend less time in traffic 0

Protecting and strengthening Medicare

Delivering better cyber safety for families

jams they will have more time at home with

TH

T

and private health insurance

PER

WIN

We will work together with social media operators, their families�

NATIONAL SYDNEY

HOBAR DAR

MELBOURNEBRISBANE

ADELAIDE

CANBERRA

schools, parents and children to tackle cyber

We will protect and strengthen Medicare by

% increase Sept 2012 Qtr

% increase Dec 2007 – Sept 2012

bullying and other harmful material and behaviour restoring the Private Health Insurance Rebate as

targeted at individual children online�

soon as we responsibly can�

34 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 35

14. Delivering a more secure retirement

for older Australians

Giving older Australians the secure

It is unfortunate that Labor has wasted so much

Assisting mature age workers with

retirement they deserve

money and made so many threats and changes to

employment

the superannuation system, cutting back on

After a lifetime of hard work, older Australians

We will assist mature age workers by providing

contribution levels and discouraging many people

are entitled to a safe and secure retirement�

better structured incentives for employers who

from providing more for their own self-funded

employ workers who are over the age of 50�

We will ensure older Australians and seniors enjoy retirement�

the safe and secure retirement they deserve by

This has not been in the long-term interests of

Pensioners and self-funded retirees

delivering a strong, prosperous economy which

will then ensure that the government has the

Australians or Australia�

We will support pensioners and self-funded retirees financial means to provide the real support

We will ensure that no more negative unexpected

by tackling the number one issue that adversely

required by older Australians in their later years�

changes occur to the superannuation system so

affects them – the ever increasing cost of living, that those planning for their retirement can face especially the cost of electricity and other utilities�

Delivering stability and certainty on

the future with a higher degree of predictability�

We will abolish the carbon tax which will see an

superannuation

We believe the people who want to plan and save

immediate 10 per cent reduction in electricity

We will deliver greater stability and certainty on for their own retirement should be supported by

prices and we will give the ACCC the task of

superannuation – we won’t move the goalposts�

government, not penalised�

ensuring the benefits of the repeal are passed onto consumers without delay�

Even though we will abolish the carbon tax, we

“ I stand for

will fund tax cuts and pension increases without

a carbon tax, benefiting older Australians�

government

We will protect and strengthen Medicare by restoring the private health insurance rebate.

which gets

A better deal for our veterans

in Australia over the next four years and into the off people’s

We will support our veterans by properly indexing future� Taking into account the Productivity

the Defence Force Retirement Benefits and Defence backs.”

Commission

Force Retirement and Death Benefit military

Caring for Older Australians report,

we will reduce needless bureaucracy in the sector Tony Abbott

superannuation pensions and we will deliver this

May 1994

while making sure the sector remains focused on

in our first Budget�

high quality care�

Improving health services and aged care

We will protect and strengthen Medicare by

for older Australians

restoring the Private Health Insurance Rebate as

soon as we responsibly can�

We will negotiate an Aged Care Provider

Agreement with the aged care sector� This first ever Aged Care Provider Agreement, will set the

We will deliver greater stability and certainty on superannuation.

framework for ageing and aged care arrangements

36 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 37

15. Delivering better services

16. Delivering better

and a better society

health services

Our aim is to deliver a better future for all

Improving the performance of public

headspace sites; better employment opportunities

Australians

hospitals at the local level

to those with serious mental health problems,

POLICY PRIORITY

boosting outside services that job agencies can

Our aim is to build a stronger Australia so that all We will work with the States to ensure their

provide to clients with mental health issues and a Australians can get ahead in the global economy,

hospitals are managed by local hospital boards so We will deliver better

live in a better country and have a better future�

that communities get better health services and

Mental Health Workforce Training Institute�

services including health

That’s why the Coalition is so determined to deliver better value for their money�

services – by putting

Funding diabetes research

a strong, prosperous economy because it allows us local communities in

We will put local communities and experts, not

to invest more in government services – like the

charge of hospitals and

unaccountable bureaucrats, in charge of improving We will provide $35 million to help find a cure for NDIS, health, aged care and education� A strong,

improving co-operation

the performance of public hospitals – by creating type 1 diabetes� This will assist the Juvenile Diabetes with States and

productive and prosperous economy is central to

community-controlled hospital boards to appoint

Research Foundation’s Clinical Research Network

Territories.

everything in our society� It enables us to deliver the CEO and manage hospital budgets, by instilling to fund a significant number of additional patient better services at the local community level so our a ‘patient care first’ culture amongst staff and

trials locally and internationally and take a co-

children can get a good education, so Australians ensuring the delivery of better health outcomes at ordinated nationwide approach to diabetes research�

know that when they get sick or old they can get

the local hospital level�

care and if they fall on hard times they can get help�

Improving access to medicines

Our aim is to deliver a better future for all Australians.

Improving mental health services

We will restore transparency, certainty and

“ The Coalition

Improving co-operation with State

We will deliver better mental health services and confidence to the process by which medicines are

governments through the Council

reduce the number of COAG committees and

is much

provide better employment services for people with listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) of Australian Governments

require Ministers to show why it is essential their a mental health issue�

– ensuring medicines are listed on the basis of

more

We will deliver better government services by

portfolio reforms must be resolved by COAG�

advice from the independent Pharmaceutical

We will take real action and support better mental working in close co-operation with the State and

interested

Benefits Advisory Committee, not on the whim of

health services with Early Psychosis Prevention and Territory governments who are largely responsible Helping the disabled and carers –

the government�

Intervention Centres (EPPICs); boosting of basic

in an

for the delivery of government services�

responsibly implementing the NDIS

and applied research into mental health; new

empowered

We will significantly increase co-operation with

We are fully committed to helping people with

Improving private health insurance

State and Territory governments by reforming the

disabilities and their carers and delivering the

We will strengthen Medicare and take pressure off community

Council of Australian Governments (COAG), rather

NDIS as soon as possible in line with the

the public hospital system by restoring the Private than we

than using it as a parking lot for tough decisions Productivity Commission’s timetable� Full

Health Insurance Rebate as soon as we responsibly which are sidelined by political grandstanding�

implementation of the NDIS will be a new deal for can� This will encourage more Australians to take are in an

people with disabilities and their carers� We will We will get on with the job of clearing the backlog up private health insurance�

establish a bi-partisan parliamentary committee

empowered

of jobs on the agenda and immediately tackle the

jointly chaired by both sides of the Parliament,

top priorities in order to deliver better services on Bringing dental into Medicare

government.”

with Members and Senators with a strong personal

the ground as soon as possible�

Tony Abbott

interest in making the NDIS happen� The

We aspire to improve and restore dental services

March 2012

We will focus COAG on a smaller number of core

committee will put the NDIS in place as a united

We will put local communities and experts in charge through Medicare as soon as we responsibly can�

issues and ensure they are resolved quickly� We will project across party lines�

of improving public hospitals.

38 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 39

17. Delivering better

education

• We will support teachers in the classroom by

• We will ensure the continuation of the current New opportunities for our youth to learn

ensuring our curriculum is rigorous without

arrangements of university funding�

in the Asian region

“ Within two

being too prescriptive or overcrowded�

• We will work with the sector to reduce the

We aim to develop stronger people-to-people

• We will continue current levels of funding for burden of red tape, regulation and reporting,

relationships with the countries in our region and years, under

schools, indexed to deal with real increases in

freeing up the sector to concentrate on delivering this presents enormous opportunities for the youth a Liberal and

costs and we will ensure that money is targeted

results and services�

of Australia�

based on the social and economic status of the

National

• We will review and restructure government

• We will establish a new two-way ‘Colombo Plan’

community�

research funding to make sure each dollar is

that doesn’t just bring the best and brightest

government,

• We will make more investment in science

spent as effectively as possible�

talent from the region to Australia’s universities there will

education at primary schools� We will restore the but that also takes Australia’s best and brightest

• We will ensure the sector has a stable, long-term Primary Connections science education

talent to Asian universities to learn more about

be a new

source of infrastructure funding�

programme which is strongly supported by

the countries in our region and to develop closer Colombo

Australian Nobel Laureate, Professor Brian

• We will work with the sector to grow higher

ties and stronger people-to-people relationships�

Schmidt, following recent Labor cuts to the

education as an export industry and to support

• By awarding scholarships to our students and

Plan.”

successful programme�

We aim to develop stronger people-to-people relationships with countries in our region.

international students studying in Australia�

fostering this ‘Asia-capable’ learning and

Tony Abbott

developing these people-to-people relationships

• We will work together with social media

June 2012

Improving the performance of schools

Investing in job skills training

in those countries we are really developing the

operators, schools, parents and children to tackle POLICY PRIORITY

at the local level

leaders of the future as was previously done

cyber bullying and other harmful material and

We will invest in advanced job skills training –

under Sir Robert Menzies’ ‘Colombo Plan’� It is

We will provide better schools, encourage better

behaviour targeted at individual children online, including trade skills�

We will deliver better

through such people-to-people schemes that

teachers and provide more choice for parents by

by measures such as ensuring large social media

education – by putting

• We will boost and retain skills in the workplace deeper engagement and closer ties with the

giving communities and parents greater control

operators rapidly remove harmful online material

local communities in

and give incentives to employers to take young

countries in our region can be developed�

over schools�

directed at a child�

charge of improving the

people and older Australians off welfare and

performance of local

• We will put parents, principals and school

• We will continue the National School Chaplaincy into work�

schools.

communities, not unaccountable bureaucrats, in

Programme in Schools to support the emotional

• Our immigration programme will focus on

charge of determining how their school will be

wellbeing of students�

skilled migrants targeting skills shortages and

run to improve performance – by instilling a

people who can make a contribution from day

‘students come first’ culture amongst staff and

Strengthening higher education

one in a job�

ensuring the delivery of better education

We will strengthen higher education and encourage outcomes at the local school level�

• We will work urgently with the States to aim to Australians of all ages to further their education so have 40 per cent of Year 12 students studying a

• We will work with the States and Territories to that they can gain a comparative advantage and get foreign language, preferably an Asian language,

encourage State schools to choose to become

ahead in the new global economy� We believe higher within a decade to equip them with the skills

independent schools, providing simpler

education has a vital dual role in our society as an necessary for the jobs of the future�

budgeting and resources allocation and more

engine of economic growth, through educating our

We will put parents, principals and school communities autonomy in decision making�

workforce and producing quality research�

in charge of how their school will be run.

40 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 41

18. Delivering stronger

and better communities

Delivering a ‘fair go’ for regional Australia

Carefully managing the issues of

We will establish a new Commonwealth/State

population, citizenship and settlement

Standing Council on Law, Crime and Community

We will stand up for regional Australia to ensure Safety to bring together lawmakers and law-that they receive their ‘fair share’ of support from We will carefully manage the issues of population, enforcers to develop a national focus to fighting government on a wide range of policy programmes�

citizenship and settlement to foster stronger

crime – and to report on key issues within

economic growth and enhance Australia’s

• We will restore policy stability and certainty to 12 months�

social fabric�

our live exports trade�

We will work with the States and Territories to

• We will ensure that our non-discriminatory

• We will better manage our precious water

improve Australia’s capacity to respond to natural immigration programme helps those in need and

resources to help our agriculture sector grow to

disasters and emergencies both domestically and

serves our national interest�

become the ‘Food Bowl of Asia’ and achieve

internationally for better and faster deployment of

‘food security’ in a world demanding more food

• We will make sure that Australia’s refugee and search dogs nationally by creating an Australian

resources�

humanitarian resettlement programme provides

Search Dog Framework�

places to those most in need� We will ensure a

• We will further unlock potential growth in

minimum of 1,000 places are available for

Supporting and strengthening community

Northern Australia as we develop new land as a

women at risk and their dependents and

groups and the voluntary sector

result of building new dams and securing our

appropriate settlement services are available once nation’s water supplies�

We will support community groups to strengthen

they arrive in Australia�

local communities and enhance the social fabric�

• We will deliver a strong, powerhouse economy

• We will ensure the migration programme is

delivering more jobs and generating the real

We will provide $10 million support to assist surf skewed towards skilled workers to enable the

wealth needed to drive growth in Australia’s

life saving clubs buy needed equipment and to

growth of a more productive and prosperous

Tony Abbott has raised over $2.5 million through his annual ‘Pollie Pedal’ bike ride for many tourism industry�

tackle drowning black-spots�

worthy causes including for children’s cancer, a local women’s shelter and carers.

economy – particularly for those areas where

“ Politicians

• We are investigating options to strengthen the skilled workers are not available and where our

We will re-establish the successful Coalition

web of overlapping initiatives that have failed to can’t really

rules governing the sale of Australian agricultural industries need to grow�

Community-Business Partnerships to engage with

end disadvantage�

land and agribusinesses to foreign entities�

local communities and advise on encouraging

hope to

• We will ensure our immigration programme is

more philanthropy by business and in assisting

• We will direct funding away from bureaucracies focused on people who can make a contribution

understand

Improving housing affordability –

charities and community groups in their local area�

and overlapping and competing programmes

from day one in a job – thereby lessening the

supporting housing development

towards local communities and real action so that the issues

burden on taxpayers�

Encouraging indigenous Australians

indigenous Australians get the services they need�

We will improve housing affordability and encourage if they rarely

to get ahead

high levels of home ownership�

Improving community safety and

• We will work with families to ensure all

leave capital

fighting crime

We will work with indigenous communities to bring indigenous children attend school every day� A

We will work closely with the States and Territories in a new suite of purposeful and innovative strategies good education is the foundation of a good life

cities.”

who have primary responsibility for housing to

We will stand up for communities so that people feel that will help indigenous people to get ahead�

and children must go to school�

Tony Abbott

reduce red tape holding up the supply of housing and safe in their streets� We will establish a new national March 2010

construction and to increase land release for

Safer Streets programme and expand the use of

• We will eliminate red tape and streamline

• We will support the Australian Employment

new homes�

CCTV cameras in crime prevention and detection�

programmes to move away from the complex

Covenant and its many supporting employers to

42 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 43

19. Delivering a cleaner and

more sustainable environment

NEW

Protecting freedom of speech – supporting

Cleaning up our own environment

Australia, not overseas� We remain committed to

SPIX

an open media

We will take direct action to reduce carbon

a five per cent reduction in emissions by 2020�

We will protect the media from over-regulation;

emissions – and establish a 15,000-strong Green

• We will establish an Emissions Reduction Fund

support an open and accountable media; and

Army charged with the clean-up and conservation

of $3 billion to allocate money in response to

POLICY PRIORITY

protect the freedom of speech to strengthen our

of our environment – so that we can all enjoy a

emission reduction tenders to projects designed

vibrant democracy�

cleaner environment and a more sustainable future to reduce carbon emissions�

We will take direct

without the impost of the carbon tax which is

• We will reject Labor’s push for increased

action to reduce carbon

causing real economic damage to our economy and

• All money spent will be on Australian green

regulation of the media, including the Finkelstein emissions inside

affecting the living standards of Australian families�

projects, not foreign carbon credits, keeping

Report proposals for a powerful ‘News Media

Australia, not overseas

more jobs in Australia�

Council’ to ‘set journalistic standards’ for print

– and also establish

Reducing carbon emissions inside

and online media�

• We will support projects such as the exploration a 15,000-strong Green

Australia, not overseas

of soil carbon technologies and abatement, putting Army to clean-up the

• We will work with the media to ensure they

We will take direct action to reduce carbon

carbon back in soils and providing for a once in

environment.

actively strengthen their standards so they meet

emissions in a practical, affordable way inside

a generation replenishment of our farmlands�

community expectations of the levels of

journalism Australians expect and deserve�

• We do not support a ‘public interest test’ for We will work with indigenous communities to bring in a new suite of purposeful and innovative assessing media mergers and acquisitions as it

strategies that will help indigenous people to get ahead.

would be subjective, susceptible to political

manipulation and would lead to uncertainty for

create more opportunities for indigenous

media businesses� Current laws and the

Australians to get ahead and actively engage

Australian Communications and Media

“ The measure

more indigenous Australians in real jobs� We will Authority, as the regulator, provide adequate

provide $10 million to fund four trial sites to

of a decent

protection in this area�

train 1,000 indigenous people for guaranteed

society is

jobs, working with the Australian Employment

• We will support freedom of speech, particularly Covenant and Generation One�

in relation to anti-discrimination legislation�

how it looks

Prohibitions on inciting racial hatred or

• We will end training for training’s sake and

intimidation of particular groups should be

after its most

implement employment or work for the dole

programmes that prepare and support indigenous

focused on offences of incitement and causing

vulnerable

Australians to work�

fear but not a prohibition on causing offence�

members.”

• Tony Abbott will continue to spend a week a

Tony Abbott

year in a remote community, to gain a better

January 2012

understanding of people’s needs, as he has done

for many years�

Tony and Margie Abbott on the deck of their Sydney home.

44 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 45

20. Delivering stronger borders

and a more secure nation

• We will start the detailed long-term planning

Putting the national interest first

• We will boost rigorous offshore processing

necessary to build new dams to secure the

for illegal arrivals so that bad behaviour has

The Coalition will put the national interest first, nation’s water supplies into the future, deliver

consequences�

deliver stronger borders, provide a world-class

strong economic benefits for Australia, while

defence force and protect the nation’s interests

• We will establish presumption against refugee

also protecting our environment�

overseas�

status for people who arrive on boats without

identity papers�

We will take immediate action to protect both the Improving the environmental approval

integrity of our borders and Australia’s

• Where asylum seekers deliberately discard their process

POLICY PRIORITY

immigration programme� We will not allow illegal

identity documentation, we will deny them the

We will establish a one-stop shop environmental We will streamline the environmental approval

boat arrivals and people smugglers to either

benefit of doubt when determining their refugee

approvals process.

process for all users – resulting in less duplication determine Australia’s immigration programme, or

status�

We will deliver stronger

across federal and State jurisdictions and delivering undermine the Australian people’s confidence in

borders – where the

Delivering a better environment

• We will establish and increase mandatory

a real boost to the nation’s productivity�

the programme�

boats are stopped –

minimum jail sentences for people smugglers�

We will establish a 15,000-strong Green Army to

with tough and proven

clean up and protect the environment in local

We will establish a one-stop shop environmental

Delivering stronger borders – where the

• We will reserve 11,000 of the 13,750 refugee

measures.

communities throughout Australia supplementing

approvals process covering both Commonwealth

boats are stopped

places each year for offshore applicants�

the current land care efforts of councils, farmers and State legislation, that maintains high

environmental standards, delivers certainty for all We will deliver stronger borders – where the boats and volunteers� The Green Army will undertake

users and importantly makes swift decisions�

are stopped – with tough and proven measures�

projects like restoring and rejuvenating bushland, ILLEGAL ARRIVALS BY BOAT 2008–12

planting trees and cleaning-up the Tamar River

Arrivals 17,086

• If elected Prime Minister, the first overseas trip SOURCE: AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

Boats 271

in Tasmania�

Supporting communities – creating

that Tony Abbott makes as Prime Minister will

a sustainable environment

15,000

be to Indonesia to renew cooperation against

Total arrivals

Improving water security – better water

31,740

We will adopt a practical, balanced and sustainable people smugglers�

Total boats

management

approach to environmental issues based on linking 543

• We will re-introduce the use of Temporary

We will enhance Australia’s natural water supplies sound scientific findings with the needs of all users Protection Visas (TPVs) to deny the people

10,000

and reduce Australia’s reliance on energy-hungry

resulting in more sustainable commercial activities smugglers a product to sell�

desalination plants�

and better environmental outcomes�

• We will immediately give new orders to the Navy Arrivals 6,889

• We will deliver on the 10-point plan for the

For example, we will support the fishing industry�

to tackle illegal boat arrivals and ‘turn back’ the Boats 135

Murray-Darling announced by the Howard

We will adopt a more balanced approach by setting boats where safe to do so�

Arrivals 4,730

5,000

Boats 69

Government� We will restore the Murray-Darling

up more rigorous assessments for new Marine

• We will give priority in processing to offshore to health while still ensuring the viability of

Protected Areas that will mean the areas are

Arrivals 2,856

special humanitarian visa applicants, over illegal Boats 61

Australia’s food producing communities� The

assessed in accordance with objective scientific, boat arrivals�

future of the Murray-Darling should not and

economic and social evidence� Our aim is to

Arrivals 179

Boats 7

cannot be a choice just between the environment

continue to protect marine environments and the

• We will ensure, offshore special humanitarian visa 0

and agriculture� The Coalition will address both

fishing communities which rely on them�

applicants receive priority in obtaining permanent 2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

parts of this equation�

residency in Australia over illegal boat arrivals�

46 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 47

21. Delivering strong, stable,

accountable government

• We will ensure a minimum of 1,000 refugee places Fighting terrorism in Australia

Encouraging Australians to work together

are reserved for the most vulnerable refugees, in

“ Stopping

We will deliver improved counter-terrorism and

The Coalition will do the right thing for Australia particular women at risk of violence and harm�

domestic security measures in Australia and secure and deliver a strong, stable, accountable

the boats

• We will restore the single case officer appeal process�

our ports and airports�

government that puts the national interest first and delivers a better future for all Australians�

matters.

Delivering a world-class defence force

Improving foreign affairs – a stronger

We will restore accountability and improve

It would

focus on our region

We will rebuild our defence force by stopping

transparency measures to be more accountable

signify

Labor’s defence run-down and give our defence

We will increase the importance of foreign affairs, to you�

force the first-class resources and equipment

place a stronger focus on our region and rebuild

that the

We will govern for all Australians, not favour any they need�

our diplomatic footprint with more effective

particular group� We’re all in this together and

Australian

representation and better diplomacy� We will

• We will restore responsible defence spending to we’ll encourage all Australians to work together�

enhance Australia’s role and engagement in the

government

3 per cent real growth per year subject to

We will end the class war and the bad blood

world developing greater international cooperation�

improvements in the Budget – our aspiration is

between Labor and business that is damaging

is in every

to restore funding to defence to the same level as

• We will review the weighting Australia gives to investment and employment�

respect

it was under the last seven years of the Howard

its diplomatic resources including overseas

Malcom Turnbull, Joe Hockey, Tony Abbott, Julie Bishop, Warren Truss and Christopher Pyne.

Government

representation, with a view to refocusing foreign Tony Abbott is a strong leader – a record

sovereign

policy on the Asia-Pacific region�

of success

• He is married to Margie and they have three

• We will reinvest any responsible savings that can over

POLICY PRIORITY

be found in the defence bureaucracy in greater

• We will rebuild relationships with our neighbours Tony Abbott was a senior, experienced Cabinet

adult daughters�

Australia’s

military capacity�

damaged by Labor’s mismanagement and failed

Minister in the Howard Coalition Government�

border security policies�

The Coalition Team includes experienced

We will deliver strong and

• We will immediately start the process of

borders.”

• He has a law degree and a degree in economics

• We will enhance US access to bases in Australia ministers

stable government that

acquiring a number of new state-of-the-art

from the University of Sydney�

Tony Abbott

and continue to support our close alliance with

restores accountability –

April 2012

unmanned aircraft�

Because sixteen members of the Shadow Cabinet

the US�

• He is a Rhodes Scholar with a Master’s degree

to deliver a better future

were experienced ministers in an effective

• Within 18 months, we will publish a new defence from Oxford University�

for all Australians.

• We will ensure future aid funding increases are Coalition Government they will hit the ground

White Paper with costed, affordable ways to

dependent on AusAid meeting strict performance

• He is community oriented – he is a volunteer

running and they won’t have to learn the hard way meet Australia’s important defence and national

benchmarks�

firefighter and lifesaver, he contributes his time that good government is about getting on with the security objectives�

• Within two years, we will establish a new two-

every year to help Aboriginal communities and

job and delivering results and dealing with

• We will ensure that Australia does not have a

way ‘Colombo Plan’ to deepen our knowledge

he has raised over $2�5 million through his

substance, not spin�

submarine capability gap� Within 18 months, we

and engagement with countries in our region and

annual ‘Pollie Pedal’ bike ride for many worthy

will make the short and medium term decisions

develop stronger people-to-people relationships

causes including for children’s cancer, a local

The Coalition Team has a successful

necessary to achieve this goal�

by bringing the best and the brightest talent from women’s shelter and carers�

track record

our region to Australia and taking Australia’s best

• He has dedicated his life to public service – to The Coalition Team were effective Ministers in the and brightest talent to countries in our region�

serving his country and the Australian people�

successful Howard Coalition Government which:

48 | Real Solutions for all Australians

Real Solutions for all Australians | 49

• turned Australia’s economy around, reformed

• delivered Budget surpluses in 10 out of 12 years, the tax system and made Australia’s economy

paid back Labor’s $96 billion debt and put away

more productive and prosperous;

$70 billion in net assets; and

• delivered more than two million new jobs and

• secured Australia’s borders and stopped the boats�

delivered the lowest unemployment rate since the

1970s;

All Coalition policies are affordable

• delivered a more than 20 per cent increase in real and fully funded

wages and a doubling of Australians’ net wealth

All Coalition policies are fully costed and

per person;

fully funded� The Coalition has a long

• delivered real tax cuts and more benefits for

track record of managing Budgets

families;

responsibly�

FAIRFA

Sixteen

X SYND

members of

ICATION

the Shadow

Cabinet were

experienced

Ministers in

the effective

Howard

Coalition

Government.

“I have not wavered in my belief that our best days as a nation are still ahead of us.” Tony Abbott 50 | Real Solutions for all Australians

“ Our Plan will deliver a strong,

prosperous economy

and a safe, secure Australia.”

For further details of the Coalition’s Plan go to www.realsolutions.org.au Authorised by Brian Loughnane, Federal Director, Liberal Party of Australia. Cnr Blackall & Macquarie Streets, Barton, ACT 2600.

Printed by Bambra Press, 6 Rocklea Drive, Port Melbourne VIC 3207.