We were warned of a tough budget but some critics say it’s not tough enough.

Conservationists say polluters are being subsidised while our climate is suffering.

Sarah McVeigh reports

TRANSCRIPT

It’s a budget that promises to get Australia back in the black but some say that’s unlikely.

David Goodwin, President QLD Chamber Commerce: “If you think you’re going to get that budget turned around by $53 billion dollars over the next two years, you should have made a lot more progress on this budget.”

Others say disadvantaged people – such as young mums and the long term unemployed are being left behind.

Karyn Walsh, President of QCOSS: “I think we’ve really got to work out what we mean by social justice and not be labelling or having economic frameworks that further discriminate and marginalise disadvantaged people.”

Toby Hutcheon, of the Queensland Conservation Council says the biggest winners in this budget are Australia’s biggest polluters.

He’s disappointed the government didn’t address the diesel rebate.

According to him, 85 per cent of the benefit goes to mining companies.

Toby Hutcheon, Qld Conservation Council: “I think the government is running scared. They’re running scared of big business.”

According to the Queensland Conservation Council twenty per cent of people drive more than necessary in order to claim the fringe benefits tax break. But David Goodwin is sceptical.

David Goodwin, President of QLD Chamber of Commerce: “There’s not many executives who go jump in their car and go drive a couple thousand kilometres just to get their fringe benefits tax bills down by a bit.”

But for all the talk of tackling climate change Toby Hutcheon says the budget fails.

Tony Hutcheon, Queensland Conservation Council: “There’s very very little in this budget that would indicate that climate is the big moral issue for the future.”

Sarah McVeigh, QUT News.