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Discontinue the Australian Human Rights framework
The framework was to raise human rights awareness in the community and the public sector throughtargeted education initiatives, increased parliamentary scrutiny, consolidated anti-discrimination lawsand a National Action Plan on Human Rights. The Coalition does not believe this campaign is aneffective use of taxpayer funds.
Enterprise Connect
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Amalgamation with AusIndustry
Within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, there are four divisions workingdirectly yet separately on small business issues. Enterprise Connect provides another illustration theproblem with its labyrinth of centres, business advisers and partner organisations
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including sixmanufacturing centres and another six innovation centres. The Coalition will reduce the assortment ofbodies and programs administered by Enterprise Connect and consolidate them in a centralised set ofservices through an amalgamation with AusIndustry.
Discontinue Funding for Africa Law and Justice Frameworks
This funding is provided to assist African countries to develop effective law and justice frameworks.
This funding was part of the Rudd Government’s political campaign for greater influence at the UN.
Discontinue Funding for the United Nations Security Council Candidacy
The 2009-10 Budget provided $11.2 million
over two years to continue Australia’s bid for a two year
term on the UN Security Council. The Coalition does not support this bid.
Discontinue Funding for Community Cabinets
Community Cabinet meetings involve holding meetings of the Cabinet Ministers outside of Canberra.These meetings are used by Labor as a public relations exercise in marginal electorates andalso duplicate a function which should be carried out by local MPs. Since Labor announced thismeasure in the 2008-09 Budget, there has been a 400 per cent blow out in costs from $2.5million per annum to $10 million per annum.
Discontinue Funding for the Centre for International Finance and Regulation
This funding is for the establishment of a Centre for International Finance and Regulation. Thepurpose is to deliver education and training for financial regulators from Australia and the Asia Pacificregion and to provide opportunities for research into the global financial sector and regulation. This isprimarily another form of foreign aid. The Coalition does not support the case for a specialisteducational centre on financial regulation.
Discontinue Funding for the MySkills Website
The MySkills website is intended to provide information to users of the vocational education andtraining system. The Coalition does not believe this website is an effective way to support skillsdevelopment or vocational education and training.
Discontinue the Green Building Fund
Evidence from Senate Estimates confirms that many of the projects being funded through thisprogramme would still have been undertaken even without grants provided. (Senate, EconomicsLegislation Committee, Budget Estimates (Hansard), 31 May 2010, p.E84-88). Labor has spentalmost all of the $90 million allocated to the five-year Fund in the space of only two years, but theCoalition will remove any money that is still uncommitted and re-invest it in other initiatives.
Discontinue the Retooling for Climate Change Initiative
Originally a $75 million initiative, Retooling for Climate Change (the stated intent of which is to helpsmall and medium sized Australian manufacturers improve the energy and/or water efficiency of theirproduction processes) is another poorly-targeted Labor program.
Discontinue Additional Funding for the State Infrastructure Fund
The additional contribution of $400m to the state infrastructure fund
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topping it up to $6bn
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was
referenced to “Decisions taken but not yet announced”. The money was provided for in the Budget
but not separately identified. This spending was linked to the RSPT and MRRT. The Coalition willoppose the tax in opposition and rescind it in government.
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