Commission of Audit report : experts respond

01/05/2014 by
The Commission of Audit report has recommended sweeping spending cuts for the government to consider for its May 13 budget. AAP/Alan Porritt

The Conversation | 1 May 2014 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The National Commission of Audit has made 86 recommendations with a focus on the federal government’s 15 biggest and fastest-growing areas of spending. The result is proposals for sweeping spending cuts for the government to consider for its May 13 budget, ranging from the politically possible to the crazy brave. Rolling expert responses follow. …………………………………………………………………………………………………....................................   Social policy Ben Spies-Butcher, Lecturer in Economy and Society, Department of Sociology at Macquarie University As expected, the Commission of Audit has set its eyes on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, Commonwealth policies, Government Tagged With:

Commission of Audit lays path for deep cuts

01/05/2014 by
The government will consider newly released recommendations from the Commission of Audit, which has suggested stringent cuts across the board. AAP/Lukas Coch

Heavy on warnings that “business as usual” will leave future generations of Australians saddled with excessive debt, the National Commission of Audit has delivered the government a comprehensive platform for deep spending cuts and significant policy reform. The Commission, which focused its recommendations on the 15 largest and fastest growing government programs, has made 86 recommendations, with the aim of returning the budget to a sustainable surplus of 1% of GDP by 2023-24. The recommendations, which if carried out would deliver the government estimated savings of A$60-$70 billion per year within ten years, would hit multiple government programs including pensions, health, family … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Scan

Glass half full …or empty???

01/05/2014 by

1 May 2014 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The ABC's Jeremy Fernandez on differing assessments of how good or bad Australia's fiscal position is - depending on who you ask.  …………………………………………………………………………………………………....................................   … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, Commonwealth policies, The Scan Tagged With: , ,

Commission of Audit report

01/05/2014 by
CoA Report cover

1 May 2014 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Deep cuts to welfare and basic government services are being urged in a five-volume plan to slash $70 billion a year from federal outlays. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….................................... Deep cuts to welfare and basic government services are being urged in a five-volume plan to slash $70 billion a year from federal outlays. The “formula for the future” from the National Commission of Audit outlines savage cuts to the age pension, unemployment benefits, family tax benefits, the Medicare Safety Net, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, education and other programs used by millions of Australians. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, Government, The Scan Tagged With: , ,

Commission of Audit on higher education arrangements

01/05/2014 by
CoA Report

1 May 2014 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Key recommendations Retain demand driven funding. …reduce the average Commonwealth contribution per student from 59% to 45% per cent, increasing average student contribution from 41% to 55%....examine options for partial or full deregulation of fees for bachelor degrees....HELP debt securitisation rejected.…increase HELP interest rate…. reduce the repayment threshold to the minimum wage ($32,000 pa) with a 2.5% of income payment rising to 4% at $51,000….recover student debt from deceased estates… abolish Industry Innovation Precincts, Collaborative Research Networks and support for international scientific … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, Government, Higher education policy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Commission of Audit on Vocational Education and Training

01/05/2014 by

1 May 2014 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The Commission of Audit has recommended that policy and funding responsibility for vocational education and training (VET) revert entirely to the states, that the separate higher education and VET regulatory agencies (ASQA and TEQSA) merge TEQSA but that the states be "required" to continue reforms to achieve demand-driven vocational education and training outcomes and improve occupational licensing arrangements. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….................................... Vocational education and training has traditionally been a State responsibility. The Commonwealth has no constitutional responsibility for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ASQA, Budget, Commonwealth policies, Government, TAFE, TEQSA, The Scan, VET, Vocational education & training Tagged With: , , , , ,

Are we really over entitled…???

01/05/2014 by

1 May  2014 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… An alternative view ………………………………………………………………………………………………….................................... The report of the National Commission of Audit is released at 2pm Thursday 1 May and will propose radical cuts Commonwealth programs to end, in Treasurer Joe Hockey’s words, the “age of entitlement” and prevent budget spending climbing to $690 billion within a decade. It’s not as if Australians are, by the standards of the developed world, particularly over entitled. As Glenn Murray points out in this timely reality check, we actually spend less on welfare than all but four countries. See Glass half full ...or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, Coalition policies, Government Tagged With: , ,
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