Scott Morrison has produced one fiscal document in December last year. It gives a very clear picture of his priorities. These are some of the additional changes since the Budget that he introduced in MYEFO.
Targeting more people who incorrectly claim welfare payments will save $2 billion over four years to 2018-19.
A range of changes to bulk billing incentives for pathology services, diagnostic imaging and MRI services will save $650 million over four years.
Health workforce programs will be cut by $595m over four years.
The Government will cut $472 million from aged care services over three years by “better aligning” funding claimed by providers to the level of care actually provided.
The previously announced change to the childcare subsidy, to reduce the payment for families earning more than $250,000 will contribute to savings of $441 million over four years.
A total of $52.5 million is being cut from arts funding, while Green Army projects are to be capped at 500 a year, saving $317.5 million from the program.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection was one of the winners out of MYEFO, gaining more than $1 billion in additional funding over four years.
Counter-terror measures have also been allocated additional funding, with the Department of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney-General’s Department to get an extra $20 million for counter-terrorism prosecutions.
The Government has also increased the funding allocated for the establishment of the National Wind Farm Commissioner and the Independent Scientific Committee on Wind Turbines, up $600,000 over four years to a total of $2.5 million.
MYEFO also reveals the China-Australia free trade agreement will cost the budget $4.2bn over four years as a result of reductions in tariff revenue.
I offer no further comment.
