Stimulus Package Sent to Senate

The Greens and minor parties have combined with the Opposition to delay a vote on the Government’s $42 billion economic stimulus package by sending it to a Senate inquiry for scrutiny.

The package, which includes over $12 billion worth of cash payments of up to $950 for low and middle-income families and almost $30 billion for infrastructure, will now not be voted on until next week.

The Government had argued after a marathon debate in the House of Representatives that some of the bills needed to be passed by today in order to allow the payments to be made next month and offered to split scrutiny of the legislation.

But instead the non-government members sent all six bills to the Finance and Public Administration Committee for an inquiry which will begin later today and see representatives of Treasury appear to give evidence.

Centrelink officials are expected to appear tomorrow, with non-government organisations having their say on Monday.

5 February 09

• Rally Makes Waves in Macquarie St
• Rail Services Safe Says Page
• Near-Record SME Dissatisfaction with Government
• Mayor Slams Hospital Repair Estimate
• Ratepayers Take on Ballina Council
• Rudd Pledges Loyalty After Ballot Defeat
• Maccas Decision Hard to Swallow
• Page MP Declares Support for Rudd
• New Cross Border Commissioner Appointed
• Splendour Returns to Byron
• Mayor Says Help Still Available to Inghams
• Lismore Floods Leave $1m Damage Bill
• 560 jobs to go at Westpac
• Pacific Highway Open but More Rain to Come
• $2m Grafton Airport Upgrade Critical
• Gas Firm Proposes Underground Salt Solution
• Nationals Hold Clarence
• Clarence Swing to ALP Forecasted for the By-election
• Call for More Casino Police
• Clarence Candidates Quizzed on Power Privatisation
• Nationals Release Coal-Seam Gas Blueprint
• North Coast Housing Industry Takes a Hit
• North Coast Jobless Rate Falls
• North Coast Jobless Rate Falls
• Ex-mayor wins Nationals' Preselection for Clarence
• NORBEC Helps Local Businesses
• North Coast Gas Firm Hints at Future Fracking
• North Coast Gas Firm Hints at Future Fracking
• Ballina Horse Dies from Hendra
• Push to Return Splendour to Northern Rivers

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