The Coalition has signalled that cutting Australia’s “climate bureaucracy” and renewable energy programmes would be an early spending priority if it returned to government, while offering no detailed explanation of proposed savings from the NDIS, aged care packages and childcare.
The opposition leader said investment in climate administration would be among the areas targeted, but did not clarify claims made by shadow treasurer Tim Wilson that the three major schemes had become “honey pots to raid”.
Wilson said government spending on the programmes was out of control and pointed to alleged fraud, including in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“If there is fraud, we should make sure the taxpayers’ money is being used properly,” Taylor said.
However, Wilson was unable to say how much money could be saved through cuts to the schemes. He said the Coalition knew fraud was occurring and had seen “egregious examples” in the NDIS, adding that it would continue working on the figures before the election.
Taylor said the Coalition would “certainly” seek to reduce spending on climate programmes and renewable energy, but provided no further detail about the scope of the proposed cuts.
