Page 2461 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 9 August 2016
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This fantasy has been exposed by Dr Khalid Ahmed. I remember when Dr Ahmed would appear before the estimates committee. He was a director in Treasury, a very senior official. There would be few with greater experience, knowledge and expertise in the ACT budget than Dr Ahmed. He has made a stinging criticism of Mr Barr’s budget management. I will quote from the Canberra Times of 26 July:
Dr Ahmed said the recovery in the forward years, a return to surplus in 2018-19, was even more “miraculous and unbelievable” than this year’s figure.
“Unbelievable” is what the experts are saying, Madam Deputy Speaker. I do not think there is anybody out there now, once they have been fooled once or twice, or three times or four times, by Mr Barr with his promises, who does not get disappointed. Then he promises it again and they get disappointed. I do not think there is anybody else left in this community—probably not even members of his cabinet, I would imagine, although they are, I suppose, duty bound to stand up and back him. The reality is that there is probably no-one outside that tight little group in cabinet that is anything other than entirely sceptical of promises of surplus made by somebody who can deliver only deficits and has been told by Dr Ahmed, experts in Treasury, his own former staff, that the promises are miraculous and unbelievable.
Management of the budget is important, but it has to be balanced with delivering services. I will make it very clear that we will address the issues in the budget but will not do so by cutting jobs—as is the lie that we have seen. Again, what I would say is that it has been debunked. It has been debunked again, and what we have seen—
Members interjecting—
MR HANSON: This is a government that has cut jobs. Mr Barr interjects. (Second speaking period taken.) We will be hiring. Mr Barr does not like it, but he is the person, while he is Chief Minister, who cuts jobs in policing—front-line police. He cut policing.
Mr Barr interjecting—
MR HANSON: Mr Barr wants to know if I will restore funding to police. He wants me to say it on the record. “Yes” is the answer. Unashamedly yes, Madam Deputy Speaker; I will support our front-line police. Yes, I am saying it for Hansard. Mr Barr is concerned that I am saying it on the record. I unashamedly will say on the record that we will restore funding to our police that was cut by Mr Barr, and I will say it repeatedly right up to the election. If I am elected as the Chief Minister, I will make sure that our police have the resources that they need to go out onto the front line to provide safety and security to our community. Yes, yes, yes, Mr Barr. You want me to say it repeatedly; I will say it.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Through the chair, please.
MR HANSON: Yes, Madam Deputy Speaker, through the chair. Mr Barr interjected, wanting me to say it on the record, so I just thought I would. The problem is this: the
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