The Treasurer of Australia, Joe Hockey, who is a millionaire, recently stated that, 'The poorest people either don't have cars or ... don't drive,” as the government looks to reintroduce a twice-yearly indexation increases on petrol that will hit low-income families the hardest.
Mr Hockey, who shares a $10 million property portfolio with his millionaire banker wife, did apologise for the comments following a huge public outcry and condemnation by welfare groups, insisting he had no bad intent towards the less well-off in society.
Nonetheless, several days later, Mr Hockey reopened the debate by blaming the media for his gaffe about the poor, saying that he had been misrepresented. Mr Hockey’s suitability to hold the office of Treasurer is now being questioned.
His comments about the poor reflect the tone of his unfair budget which promised to bring an end to the ‘Age of Entitlement.’ His budget is widely viewed as an attack on those most needy in society. Some of the budget cuts were so harsh that even the Business Council of Australia, the lobby group for the biggest of big businesses, was moved to protest.
Furthermore, it has been revealed that Mr Hockey claims a $270-a-night taxpayer-funded travelling allowance to stay in a house that is majority-owned by his own wife. He does this on the grounds that it is legal – but is it a symptom of another ‘Age of Entitlement’?
People in Australia are outraged. He must resign. Please sign and share the petition to demand Joe Hockey resigns as Treasurer of Australia.
