Page 134 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2006
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Mr Mulcahy: Read how it was achieved: equity markets and revaluing the convention centre.
MR STANHOPE: It is not as a result—
Mr Mulcahy: Of anything you have done.
MR STANHOPE: At this stage of the budget cycle it would not be, would it? The bare facts remain, the facts that opposition members resent, particularly in the circumstances or environment that I have seen over the last few months. This does interest me, Mr Mulcahy. This economic genius that we have in our midst is an embarrassment. All year Mr Mulcahy has been predicting a blow-out of $91 million to $200 million. Everyone knows that. Last night I was intrigued when I watched WIN news on television and heard Mr Mulcahy stating, “The deficit is $160 million; I predicted it to be $160 million.” Half an hour later on ABC news it was $200 million. It went from $160 million on WIN news to $200 million on ABC news.
I have worked it out. It increased at the rate of $1.5 million a minute. That is reflective of the grasp Mr Mulcahy has of the issues. His prediction for this year’s budget was a deficit of $160 million. That is what he is predicting on the basis of the published figure of $91.5 million. Mr Mulcahy said that that figure would increase to $160 million but he changed that figure to $200 million. Yesterday we published a figure of a $236 million surplus, but he is out there sticking steadfastly to his prediction of a $200 million deficit.
Mr Mulcahy: Because you are relying on an upgrade and superannuation.
MR STANHOPE: The facts are that it is $36 million. As at 7.00 pm last night Mr Mulcahy was still out there predicting a $200 million deficit. He is a goose. He has no credibility in this area.
MR SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Chief Minister to withdraw that statement.
Mrs Burke: On a point of order: under standing order 58 the Chief Minister must confine himself to the subject matter.
MR STANHOPE: I withdraw the statement that Mr Mulcahy is a goose.
Mrs Burke: Mr Speaker, I ask you to ask the Chief Minister to confine himself to the subject matter. Under standing order 58 he is continually digressing. The question was: Chief Minister, why has your government abandoned its commitment to maintaining a balanced budget over the forecast period?
MR SPEAKER: Order! This has been all about expenditure and savings by government. I could hardly draw the conclusion that the Chief Minister was not dealing with the subject matter.
MR STEFANIAK: I ask a supplementary question. Chief Minister, how does your government propose to turn around the financial performance of the general government sector?
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