Budget Cuts Have Passed the Budget Committee
Overall, the legislative package contains 72 legislative amendments and a new law. Additionally, the obligation to use the third third of cold progression for tax relief measures is to be abolished by 2029. An increase in the service fee for the e-card and more electronic monitoring for offenders are planned. Furthermore, the marginal earnings threshold is to be temporarily frozen. After a nearly three-hour discussion, the governing parties gave the green light, the parliamentary correspondence announced on Tuesday evening.
Further Upcoming Changes Due to Austerity Measures
There were also changes, for example, in the provisions concerning the profit skimming of electricity producers. The maximum deductible amount for the crediting of privileged investments was increased from the planned 20 to 25 euros per megawatt hour.
A further omnibus amendment was also quickly initiated by the governing parties. It includes the reintroduction of the NoVA exemption for motor vehicles primarily used for goods transport and the halving of the official mileage allowance for motor and bicycles from 50 to 25 cents. The requirement that the work must be carried out by an Austrian company is eliminated for the craftsman bonus - companies with a registered office or branch in the EU or EEA area are also included. The governing parties have also given the green light for the financing of the ÖBB framework plan 2025 to 2030.
Criticism of the New Government's Austerity Plans
The opposition expressed dissatisfaction. The Green budget spokesman Jakob Schwarz criticized the NoVA exemption "for the dirtiest cars," and his party colleague Lukas Hammer feared a failure to meet climate targets. The Greens generally complained that people with lower incomes would be disproportionately burdened. The FPÖ MP Werner Herbert found the more difficult access to the corridor pension "socially unjust." Gerhard Kaniak (FPÖ) demanded that newcomers be granted full access to the health system only after a waiting period.
The governing parties defended their austerity package. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) committed to the climate targets - also due to the threat of penalties if they are not met. With the NoVA exemption, they want to favor "craftsmen's vehicles," said Marterbauer and Andreas Ottenschläger (ÖVP). Markus Hofer (NEOS) emphasized that measures are needed to secure the pension system. State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) stated that the statutory retirement age would be maintained, and SPÖ budget spokesman Kai Jan Krainer emphasized that all "offensive measures" are counter-financed.
Additionally, State Secretary Michaela Schmidt (SPÖ) announced a package of measures against tax fraud and "aggressive tax measures" for the coming months. Marterbauer also wants to discuss the existing receipt printing obligation.
(APA/Red.)
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