RESPONSES TO THE 2019 FEDERAL BUDGET
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"This is a strong and responsible budget." - Business Council of Australia chief Jennifer Westacott
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"There are some good measures in this budget but there are gaping holes - major initiatives missing in action." - Council on the Ageing boss Ian Yates
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"There is no plan for wages, no plan to tackle power prices, no plan to address climate change, and no plan for the future." - Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen
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"Both job seekers and business will benefit, including from the extra support directly to apprentices and the businesses that employ them." - Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief James Pearson
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"Once again, the government has blatantly neglected the needs of thousands of people who are homeless and those who are experiencing rental stress." - Mission Australia chief James Toomey
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"It's a cynical attempt to buy votes, but Morrison and Frydenberg are giving with one hand and taking away with the other." - ACTU president Michele O'Neil
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"There are real risks around the disappointing cuts to permanent migration, in the modest improvement to the budgetary outlook and in the shortage of measures to substantially boost domestic productivity." - Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox
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"A one-off energy assistance payment is about the only thing that pensioners and carers take away." - Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association manager Paul Versteege
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"This budget is a cynical attempt to buy votes instead of planning for the nation's looming challenges." Greens leader Richard di Natale
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"The government confirms its vision for our country is cuts, tax cuts for people who don't need them, guaranteeing more cuts in future to essential services." - Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie
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"This budget demonstrates that the Morrison government lacks the leadership and the heart to meet the challenges of global inequality and climate change." - Oxfam chief executive Helen Szoke
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"The decision to exclude Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients from one-off budget payments to defray high energy costs is bewildering." - Brotherhood of St Laurence executive director Conny Lenneberg
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"NDIS funds must be spent on the NDIS - not bolstering the budget bottom line." - National Disability and Carers Alliance chair Leah van Poppel
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"The government plans to spend $4.36 subsidising pollution for every dollar it spends on climate action." - Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy
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"Tonight's budget was a continuation of the federal coalition's six years of attacks on public education." - Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe
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"This (foreign aid spending) is not surprising from a government who have lost sight of our nation's role as a global neighbour and treated our aid program like an ATM." - World Vision advocate Tim Costello
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"The most significant benefits for small business from this year's budget are tax cuts, an increase to the instant asset write-off, increased infrastructure spending and investment in apprenticeships." - Small Business Ombudsman Kate Carnell
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"The headlines of surplus, infrastructure and tax relief are welcome, but falling house prices are clearly Treasury's economic wildcard." - Property Council of Australia chief Ken Morrison
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"One third of all Australian voters are aged 60 and over, and this budget was a missed opportunity to address the key issues confronting them." - National Seniors Australia chief advocate Ian Henschke
