BUDGET SAVINGS INITIATIVES

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:35): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer confirm that the budget savings measures requirement is now—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I can't hear.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Can the Treasurer confirm that the budget savings measures requirement is now over $2 billion and, if not, what is the new savings measure requirement, following cabinet's decision on 6 April? The government has previously announced budget savings measures targets of $375 million in 2008-09; in addition, $750 million in 2009-10. The opposition understands that the government agreed on 6 April to a savings target of $1.3 billion, in addition to the $375 million and $750 million, making a total budget savings task of over $2 billion.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Federal/State Relations, Minister for Defence Industries) (14:35): My colleagues are listening very intently. I am tempted to leave them a little anxious a little longer, but I guess that is probably not the smartest thing I can do. We are not looking at a $2 billion figure; that is a made up number. In terms of revelations, they are trying to make out they have some sort of shock leak or something. I am just looking at a press release I put out on Thursday 6 May—sorry, a ministerial statement in this place—where I said that I would update the house on the state of the GFC impact on the budget. I said:

Cabinet has also approved the 2010-11 budget process and, as part of that, has allocated the savings task to individual agencies. Agencies are now expected to identify measures to meet their specific savings task, and to submit them to the commission for appraisal.

I said that in here a month ago.

In doing so—

just listen—

cabinet deliberately sought a larger amount of savings from agencies than what is required to meet the government's budget objectives. This enables the cabinet to make appropriate choices from the measures submitted by each agency.

On 6 May, I said we are asking for a quantity significantly more than what we need, because—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The member for Norwood. Look at him. Who called him 'the peacock'?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Look at it!

Mr Venning: At least we know he is here.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You're awake are you, Ivan? You were dozing before.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The what is?

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The 1.3 million?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Give us a number. I have stated consistently that we are asking agencies to provide us with a menu of options well in excess of what we need.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Marshall: Why would you ask for more savings than what you need?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The member for Norwood just asked, 'Why would you ask for more savings than what you need?' The reason is choice. You can make choices about what measures you want to adopt—that is why. Member for Norwood, you have a lot to learn about budget processes. The $2 billion figure is a nonsense figure. It is just a little bit of Liberal Party scare campaigning. I can assure my colleagues that is not the number, although it has quite a nice ring to it. Perhaps we could make it the number—no. I am not going to release the details of the Sustainable Budget Commission until the budget. You will have to wait.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the deputy leader!

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Norwood!