Page 2092 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
That is what the Grants Commission said as well. It was saved by the generosity of the Commonwealth Government to the tune of $55m. Figures speak for themselves. Anybody who has a look at the budget papers will confirm that. This Government has put off until tomorrow, or has attempted to put off until tomorrow, any attempt to come to grips with the future.
Mr Kaine: Why put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after?
MR DE DOMENICO: Exactly, Mr Kaine. There is no doubt that the level of spending is too high. We all know that. I think everybody opposite probably concedes that as well. Everybody keeps telling us that the level of spending is too high. We can do what others have done before, of course, and we will get into trouble. There is no doubt about that. Who cannot remember what happened to Victoria and South Australia? Mrs Carnell mentioned the fact that the Grants Commission has recognised that we spend $93m more than we should. Are we getting $93m more in services? The answer to that is no. Are we wasting $93m?
Mr Kaine: Yes.
MR DE DOMENICO: Totally, Mr Kaine, perhaps no. But in respect of a great amount of that the answer is yes.
Debate interrupted.
ADJOURNMENT
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Berry: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
APPROPRIATION BILL 1994-95
Debate resumed.
MR DE DOMENICO: When we talk about that we have to realise that reality is staring us in the face. The Government can sit back and do nothing, steady as she goes, and perhaps it might be successful in retaining power, and then perhaps we will continue to do nothing for the next three years, and on and on it goes. On the other hand, it can really grab the bull by the horns and say, "Listen, there is no doubt that we need to do something very dramatic - not radical, but very dramatic - in the way we handle the economy, or we are going to get into trouble down the track a piece".
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .