Page 1873 - Week 05 - Thursday, 6 May 2010
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MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, your point of order is a fair one, but I think it is evident that the Treasurer is baiting the opposition, which is making my job rather more difficult.
MS GALLAGHER: Thank you. It is very unlike me to bait the opposition, Mr Speaker, but I feel compelled to address some of the inaccuracies that are being peddled. I am sure we will hear more of them in the budget reply this afternoon.
Yesterday I think Mr Seselja’s line was that this is the highest taxing government since self-government and that we are getting more tax than ever—raising more tax than ever before. When you look at the graphs that Mr Seselja circulated yesterday, it is very important to note that these figures are nominal taxation and, from our appearance, have not been adjusted for inflation. They have not been adjusted to take into account the size of the growth in the economy. They have completely ignored things like the cost of delivering services that have grown—health, for example, which is growing at between eight and nine per cent.
From the year 2000-01 to the year 2010-11, the economy has grown, on average, 4.8 per cent in real terms. Total real taxation has grown by three per cent per annum. If you look at those two measures you will see that we have actually exercised taxation restraint. But if you look at the figures again and adjust them for inflation—if you look at those 10 years and adjust them for inflation—taxation per capita grew at a mere 1.7 per cent, despite economic growth in the community across the ACT of 4.8 per cent.
Mr Seselja: For every person that we get, you tax each of them more every year.
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Seselja, I am just having to outline the real story here, not the Liberal story—not the lazy Liberal story.
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Your use of nominal taxation per capita means that when you compare that decade your position is overstated by approximately $660 per person per year.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, we have talked about this before. The constant hectoring—
Mr Hanson: She does—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson! The constant hectoring and interjecting is not appropriate for the conduct of the chamber. You will get a chance to ask supplementary questions in a moment. Mr Hargreaves?
MR HARGREAVES: For the benefit of those opposite—the budget is for 2010-11—Treasurer, could you please let us know what the facts are for revenue growth in the context of the 2010-11 budget?
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