House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time State Finances STATE FINANCES The Hon. I.F. EVANS House of Assembly Davenport STATE FINANCES The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:58): My question is to the Treasurer. How will the government now meet its promised savings targets, including the $100 million shortfall in its Shared Services savings target, and the $281 million shortfall in its annual health savings target, given that Standard & Poor's, in giving the state a negative credit outlook, raised concerns that 'the state government will not achieve its ambitious savings measures'. The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly Playford Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education Minister for Workers Rehabilitation STATE FINANCES The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation) (14:58): I am determined to make sure that we do make those savings measures. There is no doubt, as I have said publicly from the very day I walked into the office of Treasurer, that those savings targets are very ambitious. It is arguably the most ambitious round of savings measures— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —ever undertaken by a South Australian government but, nonetheless, we are determined to see those savings measures through to see that the savings targets are met. I know that I have the combined commitment of my fellow cabinet members to see that through. We have had to make some very difficult decisions to make sure those savings targets are met, but we believe that the AAA credit rating is important for South Australia, and we are determined to make sure that we retain it.