Page 559 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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Chief Minister that perhaps poor people can just turn off their Foxtel. It is an indication of how out of touch this government is.
Of course, there is the question of how Ms Gallagher will fund these cheaper loans. If she is taking a leaf out of the federal Treasurer’s book on how to bash the profitable banks, perhaps Ms Gallagher is proposing that when the ACT government releases tenders for banking business the successful bank or banks will be required to offer a facility involving cheaper loans. This is just nonsense. This is a $4 billion budget. It is about time that we looked at the $4 billion budget that the government has and that the government actually puts in place a mechanism to allow people to accurately know what is the predicted effect of the budget on their lifestyles and on the services that they rely upon.
I started with the litany of increases in taxation since the government came to office. We have seen the highest growth in taxation per capita in the country, equal only to WA. We have now got the most expensive water in the country, a 75 per cent increase in electricity prices, the highest cost for childcare in the nation. When we did this, it was $60 more than the next jurisdiction; it is now $75. But at the same time it does come at the expense of other things in the system. We have some of the worst waiting times for elective surgery, the lowest GP numbers, the worst bulk-billing rate, and we have closed schools. There are so many other things that this government have done because they cannot control their spending. It is important that when we spend taxpayers’ money we have respect for the taxpayer and that we ensure that people are well versed in what it is that the government are doing.
I remind this place that this Labor government in the ACT budgeted for eight deficits out of 10 budgets since it was elected in October 2001—eight deficits out of 10 since it was elected. I know the former Chief Minister never admitted that fact but there is no denying the reality of what actually happened. The provision of a cost of living statement with each budget might cause the government of the day to look closely at their fiscal policy decisions if budget deficits are anticipated.
It is important for governments to manage their fiscal policy soundly. The recent blow-out in deficit from $36 million to more than $180 million simply shows that this government cannot manage their fiscal policy soundly.
This means that requests for appropriations in addition to the annual budget need to be considered very carefully. I note that we have a second approp tomorrow, to which we look forward with interest to see what it is that the government wants more money for. We will be scrutinising that against such aspects as the likely effect of the proposals on the cost of living of Canberrans yet again.
The proposition from the Canberra Liberals for a cost of living statement to accompany the annual budget will enable the people of the ACT to have a much better understanding of what is in the annual budget, how it affects them directly and of how any taxing measures in the budget will affect their cost of living in the year ahead. I commend my bill to the parliament.
Debate (on motion by Mr Barr) adjourned to the next sitting.
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