Page 4166 - Week 13 - Thursday, 14 December 2006
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withdrawn release relating to the long-term financial position of the ACT. Mr Mulcahy, with a complete lack of understanding of the Auditor-General’s reports—
Mr Mulcahy: I think I understand them very well.
MR STANHOPE: He misunderstood them completely and he is embarrassed. Today we saw the amount of egg that was on his face.
Mr Mulcahy: Rubbish!
MR STANHOPE: How many times has the shadow treasurer had to issue secondary press releases withdrawing statements that he made in previous press releases? How embarrassing was that for him today? The shadow treasurer had to issue a clarifying press release suggesting that he did not understand the move from Australian accounting standards to GFS was designed to ensure that we did not rely unduly or unnecessarily on land sale receipts in the future. It must be most embarrassing for a shadow treasurer to admit publicly that he has a total lack of understanding of the accounting standard and of the Auditor-General’s financial report to the budget. The shadow treasurer said:
I do not find comfort in the Auditor-General’s comments that the ACT Government’s current use of land sales to achieve balanced budgets is not sustainable …
… that without land sales the Territory would have ongoing operating deficits.
… that the long-term financial position is weakening.
Those comments were all made prior to the last budget.
Mr Mulcahy: But they are still her comments.
MR STANHOPE: Why did Mr Mulcahy withdraw them today? Why did he publicly acknowledge that he simply did not understand the basic reason or justification for the move from Australian accounting standards to GFS? What appalling and embarrassing ignorance the shadow treasurer has shown. An interesting issue that is relevant to the decision of the opposition and the Greens to oppose this legislation is that it behoves the Greens, as much as the Liberals, to stand up in this place and say, “The Greens and the Liberal Party are happy to forgo that $16 million in revenue.” Which $16 million of expenditure do the Liberals—
DR FOSKEY: Did you listen?
Mr Stefaniak: No, he does not listen very well.
MR STANHOPE: Mr Stefaniak, whom we are told is leader of the opposition, should stand up today and tell us which $16 million of expenditure he will not pursue, as a result of his opposition and determination to abolish this tax, when he comes into office. Last time the Liberals were in government they refused to fund mental health. They refused to appropriately fund disability services, child protection and the Emergency Services Authority. Is that where the Liberals are going?
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