Page 2418 - Week 08 - Thursday, 6 June 2013
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to present his budget under the theme of “Supporting our economy, supporting jobs”. But only 12 months later he has ditched supporting our economy and jobs, and now he wants to transform Canberra. Yet the only transformation this budget contains is its presentation of our territory’s finances in order to hide this government’s debt, deceit, deficit and lack of delivery—highly ironic given Ms Gallagher’s pledge for open government and transparency when she became Chief Minister a couple of years ago.
Then again, this is an ACT Labor-Greens government who like to think of themselves as progressives but they have transformed life in Canberra into a routine. They like to think of themselves as open-minded, but they have taken away cherished aspects of Canberra living through draconian bans and manipulating supply. They like to think of themselves as idealistic revolutionaries of sorts but they harbour omnipotent government aspirations. They promise the blessings of a greener, more sustainable economy but this has led to nothing more than higher taxes and costs for negligible benefit.
In fact, whether it is forcing Canberra families out of their cars, making them pay for indulgent green schemes or government waste and mismanagement, the only thing new about this budget is that Canberra families will have to pay even more rates and charges than before.
Mr Assistant Speaker, this is not a budget for a centenary year. The Treasurer has claimed that his government has delivered a surplus for nine consecutive years. In fact, he has gone so far as to claim that, “During the financial boom the government put aside money for a rainy day.” Yet the budget that Mr Barr handed down on Tuesday is not a budget that is indicative of a well insulated, cashed-up government budget.
This is not a budget worthy of Canberra’s centenary. This is not a budget that shows a bold and vibrant Canberra. It is a budget on the defence—a massive running deficit over $340 million, job and service cuts to carve out $142 million in savings, borrowings ballooning from $2.7 billion to $3.5 billion with an interest bill over $655 million. In fact, within the next two years alone, whole-of-government borrowings will increase by $769 million.
If revenue grows by about $250 million a year, and it does, and you spend $668 million in excess of this funding growth, it is a structural deficit. Never mind the fact that the territory’s revenue has been growing year on year and exceeded budgeted revenue every year. In fact, between 2012-13 and 2016-17 the government is forecasting structural deficits in excess of $1 billion.
Truth is, Mr Assistant Speaker, this government have a spending problem. Their only measure is how much they spend with no regard to outputs, outcomes, results or improving the wellbeing of Canberrans. And Canberrans are the ones invariably left with footing the bill for this.
The gouge in fees and fines continues, and here are just a few examples. Taxation revenue is forecast to increase by 27 per cent in the cycle of this budget. Rates are expected to increase by more than 16 per cent this year. Rates revenue is expected to increase by 16 per cent this year. When this government has promised to get rid of
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