Former prime minister Tony Abbott's pet projects have been sacrificed by the Turnbull government, as Treasurer Scott Morrison scrambles to find savings to deal with plummeting revenue.
The much-hyped "nannies pilot program", designed to help women return to work after having children, has been cut, with the government slashing the program's 3000 places to just 500, delivering a saving of $170.4 million over two years.
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No new applicants will be accepted from early next year, with those already in the program to receive subsidised care until it officially terminates in June 2018. The government blamed lower-than-expected participation for the program's axing.
Likewise, Mr Abbott's Green Army has been confirmed dead, with the government looking to save $224.7 million over the next four years.
The program was placed on the chopping block, with some of savings going to pay for the government's recent deal with the Greens to provide $100 million to Landcare in exchange for their support on a revised backpacker tax.
But it's not just Mr Abbott who has seen favoured projects cut in a bid to address the government's revenue problem.
Employment packages announced by Mr Morrison just six months ago to address youth unemployment and help older Australians get back to work have also seen cuts.
The Wage Subsidy Pool for those aged 25 and over, which was set up to encourage businesses to hire older workers, has been capped, with $329.5 million stripped from the program over the next four years.
The Youth Employment Package, also known as Prepare, Trial, Hire, or PaTH, has also been cut, with $5.7 million taken from the program for budget repair and to fund "policy priorities", while spending $20 million on an "awareness strategy" for the program.
![Former prime minister Tony Abbott](/web/20170114153915im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/8/b/9/l/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtdzv0.png/1483340906571.jpg)
The mid-year budget paper also confirmed the government would not proceed with the Asset Recycling Fund, designed by former treasurer Joe Hockey to kick-start Australia's economy through infrastructure projects.
The Building Australia Fund and the Education Investment Fund will also be closed, with uncommitted funds to go towards the National Disability Insurance Scheme and used to reduce debt and fund "future borrowing requirements".
![Illustration: Ron Tandberg.](/web/20170114153915im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/e/e/n/2/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gtdzv0.png/1482187814485.jpg)
The papers predict the decision will lead to a $10 billion reduction in gross debt by 2019-20.
The government is also seeking to save $22.5 million from aged care funding by changing the funding arrangements.
The VET student loan program will also be tightened, with tougher entry standards, the introduction of course loan caps and implementation of student reporting requirements all designed to reduce the outstanding student loan debt by $7 billion over the next four years and $25 billion over the next decade.
Pensioners who relocate overseas, or leave the country for more than six weeks, will see their pension supplement cut from 1 July 2017, which the papers predict will achieve savings of $123.6 million over four years.
Fines will also get more expensive, with the government increasing a penalty unit from $180 to $210, which it hopes will increase revenue by $80 million.
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