MYEFO: Government plans to axe agencies supporting veterans labelled as crass stupidity By Andrew Greene A veterans group says the Federal Governments decision to axe a number of agencies and groups that help returned service men and women is crass stupidity. The Government will tomorrow formally announce it is abolishing almost 200 agencies in a bid to save $500 million over four years when it hands down the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) tomorrow. Groups to be axed include the Vietnam Veterans Education Centre Advisory Panel and a medicines and therapeutic advice group for veterans. Vietnam Veterans Association vice-president Peter Ryan said he could not believe the move. [Its] crass stupidity. Whoever is advising the Government on this has no concept of reality, Mr Ryan said. These programs are designed to help our people with their health and wellbeing and the Government is cutting these programs. Why does the Government want to hurt veterans? Why is the Government cutting a program that in the long term saves money and what on earth do they think theyre going to replace it with? Finance Minister Mathias Cormann signalled the cut to agencies on Saturday saying the Government wants to streamline agencies and avoid duplication. Other groups set to be abolished are the Diabetes Advisory Group, Anzac Centenary Public Fund Board and the Local Government Ministers Forum... The proposed scrapping of agencies comes after Treasurer Joe Hockey revealed last week the budget deficit would be worse than the Government had previously forecast... He flagged more cuts would need to be made in the mid-year budget update released tomorrow.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 08:24:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015