Policy Watch: Liberal 2010 Election Promises
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Here’s Crikey’s detailed composition of the Liberal’s 2010 federal election campaign policies. The table immediately below shows the policies and the costings, including the total cost. Beneath the table is a more detailed measure of each individual policy.
Date | Commitment | Value over 4 years $m |
Cost to Budget over 4 years $m |
May | Opposition Budget reply budget savings |
0 | -9797 |
20-Jul | Additional savings | 0 | -1180 |
21-Jul | Expansion of education rebate | 760 | 760 |
23-Jul | Cargo inspection | 93.1 | 93.1 |
25-Jul | National Community Crime Prevention Programme |
50 | 50 |
25-Jul | Increased funding for Productivity and Sustainability Commission |
16 | 16 |
26-Jul | Real action on child care | 89 | 89 |
27-Jul | Mackay ring road | 240 | 30 |
27-Jul | Moreton Bay rail link | 750 | 0 |
28-Jul | Corporate tax rate cut | 2550 | 2550 |
28-Jul | Small business package assistance |
13.5 | 13.5 |
28-Jul | Business events tourism | 28 | 28 |
29-Jul | Violent gang and knife crime | 179 | 179 |
30-Jul | Disabilities | 314 | 314 |
30-Jul | Water | 100 | 100 |
31-Jul | ADF medical and dental care | 77.5 | 77.5 |
1-Aug | Aged care funding | 0 | 0 |
2-Aug | Tourism | 62 | 62 |
2-Aug | Townsville flood mitigation | 21 | 21 |
3-Aug | Paid parental leave | 6600 | 6600 |
3-Aug | PPL levy | 0 | -6100 |
4-Aug | Senior incentive payments | 32.5 | 32.5 |
5-Aug | Health – local hospital boards | 90.7 | 90.7 |
5-Aug | Health – new hospital beds | 3100 | 3100 |
5-Aug | Health – Nursing Professional Development Fund |
150 | 150 |
5-Aug | Health – nurse practitioner bonus | 12 | 12 |
5-Aug | Health – rural and remote nurse practitioners |
3.1 | 3.1 |
5-Aug | Health – health and medical research |
200 | 200 |
5-Aug | Health – information and compliance campaign |
2 | 2 |
5-Aug | Health – after hours GP services | 165 | 165 |
5-Aug | Health – chronic and complex care | 350 | 350 |
5-Aug | Health – practice nurses | 115 | 115 |
5-Aug | Health – MRI referral | 3 | 3 |
5-Aug | GP infrastructure grants | 200 | 200 |
5-Aug | High speed rail study | 0 | 0 |
5-Aug | Health – community health fund | 85 | 85 |
7-Aug | Bushfire early warning | 10 | 10 |
10-Aug | Offshore processing | 0 | 0 |
10-Aug | Broadband | 6135 | 2000 |
10-Aug | Cyber safety – net filter | 60 | 60 |
10-Aug | Cyber safety outreach program | 30 | 30 |
10-Aug | National bullying and cyber bullying campaign |
10.5 | 10.5 |
10-Aug | Ministerial Advisory Committee on Social Networking |
0 | 0 |
11-Aug | Murray-Darling Basin | 751.5 | 751.5 |
11-Aug | Whale and dolphin protection plan |
1 | 1 |
12-Aug | Office of Due Diligence | 0 | 0 |
12-Aug | Supporting veterans | 45.6 | 45.6 |
12-Aug | Supporting veterans – indexation of Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme |
1500 | 198 |
12-Aug | Further savings measures | -1389 | -1389 |
13-Aug | Quality Education | 200 | 200 |
13-Aug | School Technology Fund | 120 | 120 |
13-Aug | Australian technical Colleges | 740 | 740 |
14-Aug | Exploration Development Program | 150 | 0 |
14-Aug | Clean coal technologies | 158.3 | 0 |
14-Aug | Soil carbon | 45 | 0 |
14-Aug | Bio-sequestration | 45 | 0 |
14-Aug | Alternative fuels | 20 | 20 |
15-Aug | Central Coast sports grounds | 3 | 3 |
16-Aug | Violent gangs | 10 | 10 |
17-Aug | Infrastructure Partnership Bonds Scheme | 300 | 300 |
17-Aug | Long-term unemployment | 0 | 0 |
18-Aug | Insulation Industry Assistance Package | 30 | 30 |
18-Aug | Additional savings | -2210 | -2210 |
19-Aug | Auscorps Volunteering Program | 7 | 7 |
undated | Other disability programs | 14.7 | 14.7 |
undated | Supporting forest contractors | 20 | 20 |
undated | Boost to Better Regions program | 350 | 350 |
undated | Australian Centre for Tropical Health and Medicine | 7.55 | 7.55 |
undated | Funding for SA roads | 49.5 | 49.5 |
undated | Primary production R&D | 150 | 150 |
undated | Saltbush planting | 20 | 20 |
undated | Feral animal control | 20 | 20 |
undated | Biosecurity flying squad | 15 | 15 |
undated | Other regional/agriculture programs | 41 | 41 |
undated | Clean up Australia | 10 | 10 |
undated | Other environmental programs | 32 | 32 |
undated | Arts programs | 70.65 | 70.65 |
undated | Waterproofing Adelaide | 16.5 | 16.5 |
undated | Increase Export Market Development Cap | 150 | 150 |
undated | Various governance reforms | 41 | 41 |
undated | Additional Innovation portfolio funding | 254.75 | 254.75 |
Total | 24,571.95 | 699.65 |
Commitment: Additional Innovation portfolio funding
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $254.75
Cost to budget: $254.75
Description
:
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Various governance reforms
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $41m
Cost to budget: $41m
Description
:
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Increase Export Market Development Cap
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $150m
Cost to budget: $150m
Description
:
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Waterproofing Adelaide
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $16.5m
Cost to budget: $16.5m
Description
:
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Arts programs
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $70.65m
Cost to budget: $70.65m
Description
:
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Other environmental programs
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $32m
Cost to budget: $32m
Description
:
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Clean up Australia
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $10m
Cost to budget: $10m
Description
: “Community clean-up grants and Clean Up Australia”
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Other regional/agriculture programs
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $41m
Cost to budget: $41m
Description
:
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Biosecurity flying squad
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $15m
Cost to budget: $15m
Description
: No detail
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Feral animal control
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $20m
Cost to budget: $20m
Description
: No detail
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Saltbush planting
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $20m
Cost to budget: $20m
Description
: No detail
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Primary production R&D
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $150m
Cost to budget: $150m
Description
: No detail
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Funding for SA roads
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $49.5m
Cost to budget: $49.5m
Description
: Funding for local councils
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Australian Centre for Tropical Health and Medicine
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $7.55m
Cost to budget: $7.55m
Description
: No detail
Further information: Funding unclear
Commitment: Boost to Better Regions program
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $350m
Cost to budget: $350m
Description
: No detail
Further information: Funding unclear
Commitment: Supporting forest contractors
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $20m
Cost to budget: $20m
Description
: Support for Tasmanian forestry industry
Further information: Funding unclear
Commitment: Other disability programs
Date: undated
Value $m over 4 years: $14.7m
Cost to budget: $14.7m
Description
:
Further information: Funding indicated in final costings table
Commitment: Auscorps Volunteering Program
Date: 19 August
Value $m over 4 years: $7m
Cost to budget: $7m
Description
: Pilot program for volunteers
Further information: Funding not mentioned, press release appears to suggest funding from Carbon Capture and Storage redirection
Commitment: Additional savings
Date: 18 August
Value $m over 4 years: -$2210m
Cost to budget: -$2210m
Description
: Additional round of savings
Further information:
Commitment: Insulation Industry Assistance Package
Date: 18 August
Value $m over 4 years: $30m
Cost to budget: $30m
Description
: Assist insulation industry
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Long-term unemployment
Date: 17 August
Value $m over 4 years: $0
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: Job Seeker Relocation Payment and Job Commitment Bonus
Further information: Assumed to be revenue neutral
Commitment: Infrastructure Partnership Bonds Scheme
Date: 17 August
Value $m over 4 years: $300m
Cost to budget: $300m
Description
: AOFM to consider scheme capped at $150m pa
Further information: Commencement 2012
Commitment: Violent gangs
Date: 16 August
Value $m over 4 years: $10m
Cost to budget: $10m
Description
: Violent Gangs Squad in Western Sydney
Further information: Funding not mentioned, press release appears to suggest funding from Carbon Capture and Storage redirection
Commitment: Central Coast sports grounds
Date: 15 August
Value $m over 4 years: $3m
Cost to budget: $3m
Description
: Upgrade of sports facilities
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Alternative fuels
Date: 14 August
Value $m over 4 years: $20m
Cost to budget: $20m
Description
: Biofuel and LNG research
Further information: Offset by other savings
Commitment: Bio-sequestration
Date:14 August
Value $m over 4 years: $45m
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: Algae research
Further information: Redirected from Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships
Commitment: Soil carbon
Date: 14 August
Value $m over 4 years: $45m
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: Soil carbon research
Further information: Redirected from Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships
Commitment: Clean coal technologies
Date: 14 August
Value $m over 4 years: $158.3m
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: Carbon sequestration projects
Further information: Redirected from Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships
Commitment: Exploration Development Program
Date: 14 August
Value $m over 4 years: $150m
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: Tax credits for small miners
Further information: Funding not mentioned, press release appears to suggest funding from Carbon Capture and Storage redirection
Commitment: Australian technical Colleges
Date: 13 August
Value $m over 4 years: $740m
Cost to budget: $740m
Description
: Funding for up to 30 technical colleges with integration of Trade Training Centres into new network
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: School Technology Fund
Date: 13 August
Value $m over 4 years: $120m
Cost to budget: $120m
Description
: Funding for schools to purchase technology infrastructure
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Quality Education
Date: 13 August
Value $m over 4 years: $200m
Cost to budget: $200m
Description
: Better Teacher Reward Fund
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Further savings measures
Date: 12 August
Value $m over 4 years: -$1.389b
Cost to budget: -$1.389b
Description
: Additional round of savings
Further information: Adoption of Labor savings measures
Commitment: Supporting veterans – indexation of Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme
Date: 12 August
Value $m over 4 years: $1.5b
Cost to budget: $198m ($98m immediately, $100 in the Future Fund for costs in out-years)
Description
: Confirmation of 27 June commitment; independent advice indicates cost significantly greater than Coalition commitment
Further information: Andrew Robb: “We will put in $100 million and we will put in future instalments which will cover it.”
Commitment: Supporting veterans
Date: 12 August
Value $m over 4 years: $45.6m
Cost to budget: $45.6m
Description
: Increased assistance to veterans
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Office of Due Diligence
Date: 12 August
Value $m over 4 years: $0
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: Establishment of a unit within PM&C
Further information: Funding “very modest”, no extra staff
Commitment: Whale and dolphin protection plan
Date: 11 August
Value $m over 4 years: $1m
Cost to budget: $1m
Description
: A Three Point Whale and Dolphin Protection Plan.
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Murray-Darling Basin Plan
Date: 11 August
Value $m over 4 years: $751.5m
Cost to budget: $751.5m
Description
: Irrigation infrastructure, water buybacks and an open-ended commitment to “bridge the gap” when the MDBA plan is released
Further information: Funding unclear
Commitment: Ministerial Advisory Committee on Social Networking
Date: 10 August
Value $m over 4 years: $0
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: “So that companies providing sites like Facebook and Twitter work with government to limit the potential harm that inappropriate use of Social Networking can cause.”
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: National bullying and cyber bullying campaign
Date: 10 August
Value $m over 4 years: $10.5m
Cost to budget: $10.5m
Description
: $10.5 million over four years to address the well-founded concerns parents have about the use of new social media sites.
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Cyber safety outreach program
Date: 10 August
Value $m over 4 years: $30m
Cost to budget: $30m
Description
: Expand successful community Cyber-Safety outreach programs
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Cyber safety – net filter
Date: 10 August
Value $m over 4 years: $60m
Cost to budget: $60m
Description
: Internet filtering provided free to families
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Broadband
Date: 10 August
Value $m over 4 years: $6.135b
Cost to budget: $2b
Description
: Establishment of National Broadband Commission and investment in regional backhaul fibre
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Offshore processing
Date: 10 August
Value $m over 4 years: $0
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: Establishment of offshore processing centre on Nauru; “Pacific Solution” estimated to cost $1b over 5 years
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Bushfire early warning
Date: 7 August
Value $m over 4 years: $10m
Cost to budget: $10m
Description
: Early fire detection system in Victoria
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Community health fund
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $85m
Cost to budget: $85m
Description
: Community Health Fund will provide direct funding to boost health-related infrastructure and services at local level.
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: High speed rail study
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $0
Cost to budget: $0
Description
: Feasibility into high speed rail
Further information: Funding not mentioned; Labor cost is $20m, Greens cost $10m.
Commitment: GP infrastructure grants
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $200m
Cost to budget: $200m
Description
: Funding for practice infrastructure
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: MRI referral
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $3m
Cost to budget: $3m
Description
: Development of referral protocols and criteria
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Practice nurses
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $115m
Cost to budget: $115m
Description
: Rebates for practice nurses
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Chronic and complex care
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $350m
Cost to budget: $350m
Description
: Rebates for longer GP consultations
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: After hours GP services
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $165m
Cost to budget: $165m
Description
: Increase Medicare rebates for after hours services
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Information and compliance campaign
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $2m
Cost to budget: $2m
Description
: Improve rates of informed consent
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Health and medical research
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $200m
Cost to budget: $200m
Description
: We will work with researchers to determine research area priorities and develop a new funding structure that appropriately indexes funding.
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Rural and remote nurse practitioners
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $3.1m
Cost to budget: $3.1m
Description
: For nurse practitioners study
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Nurse practitioner bonus
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $12m
Cost to budget: $12m
Description
: For nurse practitioners in remote communities
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Nursing Professional Development Fund
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $150m
Cost to budget: $150m
Description
: Support nurses to improve their skills
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: New hospital beds
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $3.1b
Cost to budget: $3.1b
Description
: 2800 new hospital beds (includes 800 previously-announced beds)
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Local hospital boards
Date: 5 August
Value $m over 4 years: $90.7m
Cost to budget: $90.7m
Description
: Community boards for hospitals
Further information: Offset by savings from Govt health plan
Commitment: Seniors incentives payments
Date: 4 August
Value $m over 4 years: $32.5m
Cost to budget: $32.5
Description
: Range of retirement income measures
Further information:
Comment from stakeholders
Commitment: Paid Parental Leave levy
Date: 3 August
Value $m over 4 years: $0m
Cost to budget: -$6.1b
Description
: Levy on business with revenue greater than $5m
Further information:
Comment from stakeholders
Commitment: Paid Parental Leave
Date: 3 August
Value $m over 4 years: $6.6b
Cost to budget: $6.6b
Description
: Overhauled scheme with greater costs, commencing a year later than scheduled on 1 July 2012
Further information: To be funded by PPL levy
Commitment: Townsville flood mitigation
Date: 2 August
Value $m over 4 years: $21m
Cost to budget: $21m
Description
: One off capital works in North Townsville
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Tourism
Date: 2 August
Value $m over 4 years: $62m
Cost to budget: $62m
Description
: Funding for regional tourism and tourism infrastructure
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Comment from stakeholders
Commitment: Aged care funding
Date: 2 August
Value $m over 4 years: $0m
Cost to budget: $0m
Description
: Re-allocation of Government aged care funding
Further information:
Comment from stakeholders
Commitment: ADF medical and dental care
Date: 31 July
Value $m over 4 years: $77.5m
Cost to budget: $77.5m
Description
: Free basic medical and dental care for ADF families
Further information: Funding not mentioned
Commitment: Violent gang and knife crime
Date: 29 July
Value $m over 4 years: $179m
Cost to budget: $179m
Description
: Package of anti-gang and anti-crime measures
Further information: No funding offset.
Commitment: Support for business events tourism
Date: 28 July
Value $m over 4 years: $28m
Cost to budget: $28m
Description
: More money for Tourism Australia and business tourism events funding
Further information: No funding offset.
Commitment: Small business package
Date: 28 July
Value $m over 4 years: $13.5m
Cost to budget: $13.5m
Description
: Package of measures to assist small business
Further information: No funding offset.
Commitment: Corporate tax cut
Date: 28 July
Value $m over 4 years: $2550m
Cost to budget: $2550m
Description
: Reduction of corporate tax rate to 28.5% from 2013
Further information: No funding offset.
Commitment: Moreton Bay rail link
Date: 27 July
Value $m over 4 years: $750m
Cost to budget: $0m
Description
: Similar to Labor commitment; funding to be provided from 2015
Further information: No funding offset.
Commitment: Mackay ring road
Date: 27 July
Value $m over 4 years: $30m
Cost to budget: $30m
Description
: Commencement of road project, ultimate cost $240
Further information: No funding offset.
Commitment: Increased funding for Productivity and Sustainability Commission
Date: 25 July
Value $m over 4 years: 16
Cost to budget: 16
Description
: Part of immigration package.
Further information: No funding offset.
Comments from stakeholders
Commitment: National Community Crime Prevention Programme
Date: 25 July
Value $m over 4 years: 50
Cost to budget: 50
Description
: A full-blooded, sustained national approach to community crime prevention.
Further information: No funding offset.
Commitment: Cargo inspection
Date: 23 July
Value $m over 4 years: 93.1
Cost to budget: 93.1
Description
: To enable Customs to inspect an estimated additional 52,500 sea cargo consignments and at least 7.5 million additional air cargo consignments.
Further information: No funding offset.
Commitment: Expansion of education rebate
Date: 21 July
Value $m over 4 years: 760
Cost to budget: 760
Description
: Extension of education rebate to private school fees, tuition fees etc.
Further information: No funding offset.
Comments from stakeholders
Commitment: Additional savings
Date: 20 July
Value $m over 4 years: 0
Cost to budget: -1180
Description
: Further savings identified by Coalition
Commitment: Oppn Budget reply budget savings
Date: May
Value $m over 4 years: 0
Cost to budget: -13597
Description
: Measures announced by Abbott and Robb following Budge