Where is our heart soul and vision for Australia? 

If we are to believe today's Federal government Australia is on the brink of economic chaos and disaster. Their agenda is clear to soften the Australian people up for an austerity budget, based not on sound economic policy but on idealogy that rewards the captains and corporates at the expense of those who have little choice and who will be the victims of cost cutting Unemployed people do not create unemployment. This occurs as a result of government fiscal and monetary policy as well as decisions made in corporate board meetings.

 The  Federal Government  clearly believe they have a mandate for such action after their win in the September 2013 election. Cuts have already been made to Australia's Overseas Aid program including the sacking of staff and the cancellation of millions  of dollars earmarked for community agencies providing much local infrastructure and support to communities. Climate change reform is off the agenda while services to homeless people, the aged, Australia's indigenous people, asylum seekers and children have now been earmarked for cuts. Both the community and the Australian governments appear to have forgotten that the country has more wealth than at any time in its history and the economy is not in dire straights or falling apart. Instead it appears that as a nation we have inwardly turned in on ourselves to ensure that personal privilege and self interest remains the agenda of the day. 

The greater threat to Australia's future is a lack of vision and longterm strategies instead of short term initiatives designed to ensure re election in the future. Instead of cutting essential services in education, health, public transport, indigenous affairs and housing, strategies are required to strengthen and build employment opportunities for present and future generations who will be unable to rely on traditional manufacturing industries . Policies are required to treat with justice asylum seekers and refugees. Constructive and honest engagement with the issue of climate change as a matter of urgency  should be high on the government's priority list rather than the negative and dishonest treatment of the science data. In the area of health the medicare levy should be raised . Business concessions should be reviewed alongside tax evasion especially in the light of growing profits and healthy corporate balance sheets. The Trillion Dollar superannuation  industry should be required to invest a set percentage  in  Australian infrastructure as an adjunct to the substantial tax breaks given to individuals who have invested in super. This could be a win for both the nation and the individuals. Increased tax rates should also be considered on high income earners, and Executive pay rates limited to the same increase granted to ordinary workers .

Australians need to face up to the challenges and see that we all have a responsibility to ensure the well being of the whole community. Cutting essential services affecting those least able to afford them  instead of raising taxes and reviewing corporate welfare may seem more politically acceptable to our politicians but it should be not be accepted as the way forward nor as a way of the future for a well resourced  nation of people.