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