The Abbott Government has reportedly all but conceded defeat on around $30 billion of Budget measures, choosing instead to devise an alternative path to savings, which will be revealed in the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO) in December.
As reported in The AFR today, the Government’s planned higher education reforms appear doomed, with the Palmer United Party (PUP) insisting that it would block the deregulation of university fees, raising the loan repayment interest rate, of the 20% funding cut from the Government. PUP will also oppose the GP co-payment, as well as tightening welfare restrictions on unemployed under-30s.
