United magazine Winter 2016

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Budget 2016: Winners & Losers JUST DAYS BEFORE IT DISSOLVED BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AND CALLED AN ELECTION THE TURNBULL GOVERNMENT BROUGHT DOWN A BUDGET THAT SEES THE WEALTHIEST ONE PERCENT OF AUSTRALIAN HOUSEHOLDS CELEBRATING. However, according to the ACTU, the budget fosters a lethal trifecta if you fall within the 75 per cent of households earning less than $80,000 per year. It means underfunding for schools, cuts to hospital budgets and triples the budget deficit. The budget, which includes proposed cuts to income tax and a new work-for-the-dole scheme, will see the deficit figure blow out $3.4 billion to $37.1 billion next financial year, and remain in the red for four years. High-income earners are the main beneficiaries under the tax cuts with 70 per cent of taxpayers gaining nothing from the shift in the point at which people begin paying 37 cents in the dollar tax. ACTU President Ged Kearney says USU gives a Gonski. Our kids matter! Out in support of the campaign to ensure our students are provided the funding needed for the best education possible. From left to right in front row Sharon Bird MP, Anna Watson MP, USU Southern Manager Gary Vann, Senator Jenny McAlister, Fiona Phillips Labor candidate for Gilmore, Stephen Jones MP, Tanya Plibersek MP. working Australians are being ignored. “The Turnbull Government delivered a golden handshake to $100 million corporations and the top one per cent of income earners,” Ms Kearney warned, saying the budget also fails to offer a clear economic vision to generate jobs growth. “The Government has failed to provide a credible jobs plan at a time when we have unemployment still higher than pre-GFC levels and two million people are underemployed or EDUCATION CUTS unemployed,” she says. “A corporate tax cut is not a jobs plan.” Leading economic experts agree. All the benefits go to people in the top 30 per cent of income earners, says Richard Dennis, chief economist at the Australia Institute. Ms Kearney also criticised the lack of commitment on youth issues. “This budget provides breadcrumbs for youth unemployment now in double digit figures – 12 per cent nationally and above 15 per cent in some local communities like the NSW Central Coast, parts of south-west Sydney, Townsville and all of South Australia.” The ACTU points out $128 billion can be saved over the next decade. Ending multinational tax avoidance, cutting generous tax deductions for the well-off, and introducing a flat minimum income tax rate for the most wealthy to ensure they pay at least some income tax are just some of the solutions offered in the ACTU’s recent economic plan. “Tax evasion by big corporations plus tax loopholes that advantage the super-wealthy are fuelling inequality and costing our country billions,” says Ms Kearney. 10 • United Winter 2016
USU New Gen celebrates apprentices & mentors IN 2016 THE USU WILL AGAIN BE PRESENTING TWO SPECIAL AWARDS AT OUR CONFERENCE. These awards are to promote ongoing “New Gen Committee” campaigns in increasing apprentice/traineeships across the USU industries. Winners will be recognised with a trophy as well as their names being added to our perpetual trophy in recognition of their great work. The USU New Gen Committee is comprised of young and energetic workers throughout the vast USU branch network, who are continually raising the awareness and importance of younger generations being active in their Union and the workplace. In recognition of the importance of apprentices in the workforce the USU New Gen committee will be awarding a USU member, currently undertaking a workplace apprentice/traineeship, with Unions warn that the PaTH internship program unveiled in the federal budget not only poses a serious risk for young people and inexperienced workers, but could also undermine Australia’s entire wage system. Instead of employing a worker on the minimum wage, businesses would be able to access a pool of free labour as part of a taxpayer funded young worker exploitation scheme. While many employers will do the right thing, the PaTH internship program is ripe for abuse, creating a perverse incentive for business to churn through disadvantaged young job seekers every twelve weeks. After two years of cuts totaling $2.5 billion, including a $1 billion cut to apprentices and apprenticeship support, the Liberals have axed another $247 million from skills and training and failed to introduce any new initiatives to help people access quality jobs and long-term careers. a special recognition award in 2016. In recognition of the work done by their mentors we will also be awarding a USU member who actively engages with workers, creates harmony in their team environment and has an awareness of issues that affect all workers, with an Award too. The USU New Gen committee proudly sponsors this award and welcomes nominations. Members can nominate an apprentice/trainee or mentor by visiting our website and downloading a nomination form. Nominations close at 5pm Friday 5th August 2016 and can be submitted to: Email: lhutchinson@usu.org.au Fax: (02) 4962 1758 Mail: PO BOX 47 HAMILTON NSW 2303 Forms can be downloaded at: www. usu.org.au/newgenaward Find out more about the NEW GEN committee here: www.usu.org.au/services/ new-gen-committee NEW GEN ...meanwhile $4 jobs are a PaTH to nowhere United Winter 2016 • 11
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Page 7 and 8: JOB SECURITY urity is the number on
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Page 17 and 18: PICNIC DAY FUN & GAMES With the sun
Page 19 and 20: No Excuse for Triple (000) Zero Cal
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Page 25 and 26: HOT TOPIC Annual Assessments MANY M
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United magazine Winter 2016

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