Page 3245 - Week 11 - Thursday, 13 September 1990
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of hand funding method may produce problems in terms of future years' expenditure. Like all other aspects relating to this budget, the Government is hiding its facts. As I stated earlier, it is simply impossible to tell from the budget papers what is happening to the CDF.
Mr Speaker, it is on the revenue side of the budget that we can most easily see the callous disregard that this Government has for the people of Canberra. The decision to almost double the business franchise fee on petrol at this point in time clearly shows how out of touch this Government is. I would remind the members opposite that very few Canberrans are in the position of having their petrol paid for or of being driven around at public expense. Those Canberrans are already facing enormous price hikes, along with the price uncertainty associated with the Middle East crisis. We should also remember that, whether we like it or not, Canberra has been built for cars. Our public transport system at this point is not adequate. While this Government has talked a lot about improving public transport, it has done very little other than put up the bus fares. We must remember, when listening to this lazy Government, that talk is cheap. If you are serious about transport you should do something about it.
Other than petrol, there is not much bad news in the form of tax increases in the Treasurer's budget statement. The reason for this is that he announced all the tax hikes in June and got it over early. And what was announced is just what we could expect from a Liberal government. It seeks to place the economic burden on the average working person and allow the wealthy and the business community off. We have seen massive hikes in household rates, parking fees, and car registration. All this while the Treasurer laughs off the tax evasion schemes which his own party has entered into.
In terms of the financing of this budget, the people of Canberra must also be concerned at the enormous plundering of reserves which this Government is carrying out. A $4m special dividend from ACTEW has been raised. There has been no mention of what is to happen to the CDF and GALA reserves which jointly approach some $30m. In addition to this, the reserves of budget dependent statutory authorities are being run down to the tune of some $6m. I have no difficulty with the Government using some of these reserves during the transition phase after the real terms guarantee expires, but to empty out the hollow logs now is simply ridiculous. What is even worse is that the Government is simply not willing to tell the people of Canberra what it is doing.
I believe that the 10 months of this Government which have culminated in this budget have proved two things beyond any doubt. Firstly, this Government does not care at all for the people of Canberra. It does not care what the community wants from its Government, and it does not care
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