Page 1695 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
around 75 per cent. Treasurer, why has your government allowed this heavy burden on the cost of living for Canberra families?
MS GALLAGHER: I do sense a theme starting from those opposite that we might see more of this week. This government has a very proud record in achieving a balance between investing in additional government services, growth across the city and managing those increases in costs against our own efficiencies, and reducing, as much as we can, the impost that that has on the people of the ACT. Indeed, the budget that I am presenting in just under half an hour and the previous budgets that I have presented have absolutely sought to do just that. We have not seen increases against our own revenue lines, despite some pretty difficult financial circumstances. I think it is very easy for the Liberals to trot out one line around increases in charges and the price of delivering services but not to measure that up or compare that in any way with increases in wages across the community—
Mr Seselja: Have they gone up 75 per cent?
MS GALLAGHER: with increasing land values, with increases in the wealth of the community that has also grown over the last 10 years. You cannot just see it in isolation.
I note the comments from the Leader of the Opposition. I am sure that, in his budget reply this week, he will be outlining exactly what he will do and what commitments he will take to the next election around these lines.
Mr Seselja: You haven’t delivered your budget yet. You’re getting ahead of yourself.
MS GALLAGHER: It is all very easy to come out, Mr Seselja, and just criticise but have no alternative yourself. You are going to have to start standing up and delivering some commitments instead of just criticising. This government is very acute to the pressures that some families are experiencing across the ACT. I am sure Mr Seselja cannot wait to see the targeted assistance that this budget will deliver to meet those pressures for those families.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Seselja?
MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Treasurer, what does this increase say about your government and its commitment to reducing the cost of living pressures on Canberra families?
MS GALLAGHER: I think I have just answered that. The budget overall has grown, services to the community have grown and we have sought to minimise the increased costs that we have sought from our own revenue lines at the same time. If you look at the past three budgets since the global financial crisis, if you look at those three budgets alone, where we have not increased taxes across the community, we have lost substantial amounts of revenue. Look at what we have actually delivered: 80 new hospital beds, new schools, more enrolments, more services in community services and more services in emergency services. The budget overall has grown.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video