Dr John Falzon, of the Per Capita thinktank, said it “takes a long time to turn neoliberalism around”:
“But tonight we have seen a change of direction – modest in its making but let us hope bold in its trajectory.”
Falzon welcomed measures such as consigning the punitive ParentsNext program “to the dustbin of history”:
“All of these measures signal a turning away from neoliberal vandalism. We must encourage the government to continue on this path.”
Falzon said the “gaping hole” in the budget was the inadequate increase in jobseeker rates, which permitted the persistence of poverty and put young people “at risk of losing hope”. He added:
“Tonight we have seen a very modest and very inadequate step in the direction of addressing this urgent, desperate need.”
