Page 1786 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2011
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2013-14. But I will not accept those views that have been put opposite that the global financial crisis never happened, that we never saw the impact on our bottom line. We still are not getting the levels of GST—
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth!
MS GALLAGHER: that we forecast in 2008-09 for this year; they will now be delivered in 2014-15. So, yes, our own-source revenue has assisted in our recovery. That is why we are returning to surplus faster. That is why our bottom line looks healthier. That is why we are able to do targeted new spending in this budget.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, before you ask your supplementary I remind you that having asked the question it is not an invitation to continue to hector the answerer across the chamber.
MR SMYTH: Thank you for that, Mr Speaker. Just on what you have said, parliamentary convention for hundreds of years in the Westminster system has not seen members sit mute in their chairs. Chambers are lively places—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, the question.
MR SMYTH: I accept what you say but there is no parliament in the world—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, the question.
MR SMYTH: Treasurer, why won’t you simply be honest with the ACT community and admit that the real cause of your problems is the fact that ACT government expenditure has increased by nearly $270 million between 2008 and 2011?
MS GALLAGHER: I do not think the government have ever hidden from the fact that our government services have grown and, by growing, they require additional expenditure.
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Seselja, I will be very interested tomorrow to listen to just what part of the $270 million in additional expenditure, if that figure is indeed correct, which we will check because I do not trust Mr Smyth necessarily—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: I trust him most of the time but I will just have a look at that figure. But which of the $270 million do the Liberal Party obviously not agree with? What is it that they would not have funded?
I go back through the last three budgets that I have been responsible for. Go and find those services, go and find the investments—in health, in education, in community services, in justice, in the environment, in supporting infrastructure development.
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