Page 875 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013
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Of course, Mr Assistant Speaker, when you look at the capital works at the end of the mid-year update, you see how badly the government is struggling to deliver its capital works program. There are many examples there, whether it be in transport for Canberra, the town and district park upgrades, the strategic bushfire management plan—all are being reprofiled.
There is also the Molonglo path connection from John Gorton Drive and the revitalisation of Civic. There are so many projects listed here that have been reprioritised—that is, delayed, pushed back, not started. It is quite interesting to see the reasons given in the financial report from the Auditor-General. It states:
This significant underspend mainly resulted from delays in procurement for various capital works projects because it took longer than expected to scope the work, consult with those affected by these capital works projects and complete procurement. Also, additional time was needed to obtain approval for compliance with environmental requirements. Some projects were delayed because of wet weather.
Yes, the weather has changed recently. The big dry has finished. But, again, we see a picture that is repeated year after year after year, and all of this from a government that I think in the last decade or so only budgeted once to be in surplus. Once! Maybe it was twice, but I think it was once. I should check.
That is the economic record of this government. It is certainly not improving under this Treasurer. That was, of course, all before yesterday when we had the revelation from the ICRC. What did the minister say when asked about what the effect of the ICRC determination would be on the dividend from ACTEW? He said:
I can say that preliminary advice suggests ACTEW’s revenues could be impacted in the order of $80 million per annum.
$80 million! In 2015-16 we are hoping for just under a $30 million surplus. That is not to say that some of it will not be absorbed by ACTEW through various means, but we are talking about the government receiving $80 million less in revenue. You can kiss the 2015-16 deficit goodbye at the stroke of a pen because this government is just so dependent on superannuation and in many cases simply dependent on the dividends because it cannot manage its finances.
That is why we have brought this motion forward today. What we would like to know is how the government intends to restrain expenditure in order to live within its means and what the impact of those measures would be on the community. I can hear the minister’s answer now. He will stand up and say, “It is called a budget, Mr Smyth. You will find out in June.”
I think that people need to know well before June what this government is doing. If the government intends to wait till June then it simply shows that it has not got an answer. You only have to look at the minister’s media release of 14 February where he refers to the ACT government’s plan. It says that it will review the budget, its borrowing strategy, the capital works program, service delivery and revenue. He goes on to say:
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