"Cancer is a curse": Bill Shorten pledges $2.3 billion Medicare plan

An elected Labor government will invest $2.3 billion to boost cancer care, eliminating almost all out-of-pocket costs for cancer scans. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced in his 2019 Budget reply. The plan includes three million cancer specialist consultations to be bulk-billed over four years.

Bill Shorten delivers his Budget in reply Source: AAP

"Cancer is a curse," Mr Shorten told the House of Representatives.

Labor leader Bill Shorten has delivered his 2019 Budget reply speech, promising "the most important investment in Medicare since Bob Hawke created it".

The plan will also guarantee that all drugs recommended by independent experts for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be listed.

Labor's main promises

Stronger surpluses
Defence spending of two per cent of GDP
Uncapped university places opening up extra 200,000 spots
Guaranteed universal access to pre-school or kinder for every three and four years old for 15 hours a week, 40 weeks a year
$1 billion for TAFE and apprentices, ensuring 100,000 Australians will go to TAFE with no upfront fees, and an additional 150,000 apprenticeships will be made available

The plan will also guarantee that all drugs recommended by independent experts for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be listed.

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Bill Shorten announces 2.3 billion dollar Medicare plan to fight cancer

Labor's main promises

Stronger surpluses
Defence spending of two per cent of GDP
Uncapped university places opening up extra 200,000 spots
Guaranteed universal access to pre-school or kinder for every three and four years old for 15 hours a week, 40 weeks a year
$1 billion for TAFE and apprentices, ensuring 100,000 Australians will go to TAFE with no upfront fees, and an additional 150,000 apprenticeships will be made available

Mr Shorten has also vowed to put back ‘every single dollar’ the current government has cut from public schools and hospitals, adding a Labor government would lift the NDIS cap on staff numbers if elected.

"We can get the support out the door, keep the promises made to people with disabilities and we will put people with disabilities at the centre of decision-making in the National Disability Insurance Scheme," he said.

Budget 2019: Who are the winners and losers?

Higher income tax breaks

Mr Shorten commended the Federal Government's pledge to tax cuts in Tuesday night's budget, promising to match its tax drop for those who earn between $48,000 and $126,000, but he made another promise.

"But the Liberal tax plan does not do enough for 2.9 million Australians who earn less than $40,000," he added.

Chloe Shorten arrives to hear husband, Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten deliver the 2019-20 Federal Budget Reply speech in the House of Representatives.

AAP

"I am pleased to say that in Chris Bowen's first Budget, Labor will provide a bigger tax return than the Liberals for 3.6 million Australians, all-told, an extra $1 billion for low-income earners in this country."

'Australia cannot afford Labor', says Cormann

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann critised Labor's response to his party's 2019 Budget, saying a strong economy was central to everything.

"Bill Shorten had no plan to keep our economy strong. Instead, he put forward an agenda for over $200 billion in higher taxes, on retirees, housing, income, investments, small and family business, electricity, you name it.

243d43e34be7c7d7b49d2f7cde25952e_normal.jpegMathias Cormann ✔@MathiasCormann Last time in Government, Labor delayed the listing of important new medicines on the PBS because they ran out of money. #auspol #budget2019 111 8:06 PM - Apr 4, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy

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Mr Cormann went on to say the opposition didn't know how to manage money.

"When Labor was last in government, for six years, they delivered six record deficits, totaling $240 billion," he said.

"This is not the time to go back to the discredited Labor ways of the past. Australia cannot afford Labor.”

Couples with kids top budget tax winners, while regional Australians gain the least

'We choose real action on climate change'

In a bid to tackle climate change, Labor - if elected - also pledged a $2,000 payment to families who want to lower power bills by installing a battery storage system.

"Climate change is real," Mr Shorten said.

"We choose renewables and we choose real action on climate change."

Greens MP Adam Bandt was quick to share his disappointment on Twitter, saying it wasn't a serious plan to tackle climate change.

i-QmXEp3_normal.jpgAdam Bandt ✔@AdamBandt Got excited when Bill Shorten mentioned climate change in #Budget2019 reply speech - but then he said nothing about coal!! If you don’t have a plan for coal, yr not serious about climate change. More proof we must turf gov out & elect more #Greens to hold next lot to account. 188 7:51 PM - Apr 4, 2019 · Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Twitter Ads info and privacy

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During his Budget 2019 reply, Mr Shorten name-checked his team, in a show of unity.

When announcing his commitments to education, such as equal opportunity for Aboriginal and indigenous children, children with disability and children with learning difficulties, he also made special mention to his deputy.

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten and Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House, in Canberra.

"I want every child participating in sport, trying drama, learning music, going on camps, having access to new technology and not as optional extras to which parents pay levies and not luxuries that rely on teachers raising the money," he said.

"There is one more thing that we will do to make Australian schools the best in the world. We will make Tanya Plibersek the Minister for Education."

Additional reporting by AAP

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