Federal Budget 2024: Jacqui Lambie unleashes scathing attack on Labor’s $300 power rebate – and many Aussies agree

Jacqui Lambie has criticized the Albanian government for giving every Aussie household a $300 discount on their energy bills.

The incendiary Tasmanian senator did not mince her words as she joined other crossbenchers on ABC’s Insiders on Tuesday night after Jim Chalmers delivered his third federal budget.

The treasurer revealed that 10 million households, regardless of their income, will receive the energy discount from July 1, sparking debate about government spending.

Senator Lambie was furious at the “bizarre” decision, which means crucial resources will be diverted to high-income earners like herself at a time of rising inflation.

“We don’t need $300, I can assure you,” she said

“That (funding) should have been passed on. I think it’s bizarre.’

Aussies sang a similar tune as they took to social media after the budget.

Senator Lambie said she did not agree that the wealthy would get any help in the federal budget, including Phase 3 tax cuts.

“I’m not comfortable with people like myself and the super-rich who got a $4,500 tax cut,” she told the panel.

She added that the $300 rebate was not means-tested, so its effect on the economy is completely unknown.

“We get the $300 (and it’s) not means tested? Are we back in Covid times?’ she said.

“We’re just throwing money away left, right and center (and) you’re too lazy to do some income testing.”

The rebate package is estimated to cost the government $3.5 billion.

That payment would do much better in tackling waves of youth crime across the country, Ms Lambie said.

“We have kids who are completely out of control. “That’s not talked about,” she said.

‘There are elections coming up in Launceston and youth crime is high on the agenda there.

“They don’t want to talk about it or know anything about it.”

Starting July 1, all households will automatically have a $300 credit applied to their electric bill

Ms Lambie said Australia’s wealthiest did not need the $300 rebate from Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) and the Government and it could be spent on more pressing issues

Aussies piled on the rebate, including the country’s richest, while other wealthy taxpayers said they would simply give the money to charity.

“I’m sure Gina Rinehart is happy to get $300 back on her utility bill,” one person said.

Another added: ‘If this stupid government gives me $300 off my energy bill it will go straight to charity. Come with me if you can afford it,’

A third wrote: ‘I feel like there should be an exemption on the $300 energy rebate for anyone who has ever slept under a duvet with the air conditioning on. We don’t deserve it.’

Another Australian who earns about $100,000 a year and lives alone with no dependents said they “don’t need $300 off my energy bill.”

‘A lot of other people who are even better off than me don’t do that either. This money could be better distributed to those who actually need help to keep the power on,” they said angrily.