Senior official confirms that the government raised the stalled family tax benefit cuts in discussions with crossbench on additional auto industry assistanceA senior public servant has confirmed the government raised its plan for cuts to low income family payments at a assembly with crossbench senators about additional assistance for the car industry – a link the Labor party says amounts to “a blackmail proposition”.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has been in negotiation for several months with the crossbench about the original package cutting $4.8bn from family benefits,unveiled this week. Guardian Australia revealed Friday that innovation minister, Christopher Pyne, and had told crossbench senators at a private assembly the government would only provide up to $200mn additional assistance for the car industry if the family benefit cuts passed the Senate.
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Source: theguardian.com