Fed: Government holding back on families says Swan

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2004
Fed: Government holding back on families says Swan

Opposition families spokesman WAYNE SWAN says the federal government has held back
benefits it could have delivered to families more than a year ago.

But he says the federal government's $365 million family package announced today is
welcome and modest.

Mr SWAN says Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD's package adopts Labor's policy of early assistance
to families through the $110 million to organisations developing regional early childhood
and family programs.

But he's criticised the government for trying to make election mileage by withholding
28,000 childcare places that he says were approved last year.

Mr SWAN says the government hasn't put forward any solution to the debt trap in the
family payments system.

He says there's also nothing in the package on family friendly workplaces and no reform
of the tax system.

AAP RTV jfs/sc/mj/as

KEYWORD: FAMILY SWAN (BRISBANE)

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