Foreign Correspondence

[fuagf]

Kevin Rudd delivers $1000 Christmas bonus for pensioners, families
Samantha Maiden, Online political editor .. October 14, 2008

KEVIN Rudd will deliver a one-off Christmas bonus to pensioners and low-income families of more than
$1000 and triple the first homebuyers grant for newly constructed homes to help kickstart the economy.

The Prime Minister today outlined a $10.4 billion stimulus package in light of the global financial
crisis that will include a boost to family payments for 3.8 million eligible Australian children.

"Those who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or are Veterans Gold Card holders eligible for Seniors
Concession Allowance will receive a payment of $1400 if they are single or $2100 to couples,” Mr Rudd said.

"People who are receiving Carer Allowance will also receive $1000 for each eligible person in their care."

The pensioner and low-income family bonus payment alone will
carve out $8.7 billion alone from the $21.7 billion budget surplus.

Families who receive Family Tax Benefit (A), families with children who receive the Youth
Allowance, Abstudy or a benefit from the Veteran Children's Education scheme will be eligible.

To stimulate construction in the housing sector the Government will also triple the
first home buyers grant for newly constructed homes from $7000 to $21,000 for one year.

"All contracts entered into by June 30, 2009 will be eligible for this new additional assistance,” Mr Rudd said.

Other first home buyers will secure a doubling of the first home buyers grant to $14,000 for 12
months. The Government also announced a doubling of training places to tackle the skills crisis.

Mr Rudd pledged the Economic Security Strategy would strengthen the economy
“in the face of the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression".

He said the Government would do whatever it took to protect the economy in
the future, refusing to rule out future action beyond the $10 billion package.

But the Prime Minister indicated he believed the Government could also maintain a surplus,
despite spending almost half of the $21.7 billion budget surplus on the stimulus package.

He said the Government was acting "ahead of the curve" to anticipate and respond to threats in the coming months.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said Australia was in the midst of the worst crisis to confront the modern market.

"The situation is moving very fast and it does require decisive action,” Mr Swan said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24494756-601,00.html

then there was this ... umm, classy photo ..



Rudd announces $6bn bailout plan .. 10 Nov, 2008
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has today announced a bailout plan for the Australian automotive manufacturing industry
worth $6.2 billion, based on results from a federal inquiry led by former Victorian premier Steve Bracks.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/18775/rudd-announces-6bn-bailout-plan-headstart-for-2010-tariff-reduction/

and this .. different look ..



'Rudd building push a bail-out fund for states' The Australian
Thursday, 01 January 2009

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addresses a group of diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian nations, jsa1

TAXPAYERS across the nation could be asked to bankroll $1 billion in new hospital buildings for Canberra
under recommendations to the Rudd Government by Infrastructure Australia. A list of 94 projects worthy
of potential funding through the Rudd Government's $12.6 billion Building Australia Fund includes
the ACT hospital work - sparking Opposition claims yesterday the Government will use the fund...
http://article.wn.com/view/2008/12/21/Rudd_building_push_a_bailout_fund_for_states/