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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-09-15 Daily Xml
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BUDGET CUTS

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:32): My question is to the Treasurer. How could the Treasurer claim on the day before the last state election that 'under Labor for eight years we have been able to manage finances extremely well' with the state now facing significant cuts to both services and jobs?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Federal/State Relations, Minister for Defence Industries) (14:33): Madam Speaker, it is the same question packaged again. The budget settings and scenario are no great secret. We had an election campaign on the fiscal position. But what—

The Hon. I.F. Evans: You lied through the whole campaign.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I beg your pardon?

The Hon. I.F. Evans: You lied through the whole campaign.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Madam Speaker, I would ask that the member withdraw that remark.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Madam Speaker, the Treasurer has admitted that he told the public prior to the election that he had no knowledge of the Adelaide Oval blowout, and he has admitted that he did actually know. I suggested that he lied to the electorate during the campaign. On that issue, I think I am correct, Madam Speaker. If I am incorrect, I withdraw.

The SPEAKER: Certainly, there are a couple of standing orders there that I have concerns about: you have certainly used unparliamentary language and there is a personal reflection on the member. I would ask you to withdraw that, whatever you believe.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Then I withdraw, Madam Speaker—

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: —but I think my point is correct.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: I withdraw, Madam Chair.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. Treasurer.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Perhaps if the member for Davenport spent less time worrying about the Easling case and more time worrying about his job as shadow treasurer—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: These numbers, these accounts, these financial figures have been largely on the public record for many months. The fact that we have got a Sustainable Budget Commission is a matter of fact. The fact is that we are in a position beyond our control—beyond our control, I will repeat for the benefit of members opposite. How are we responsible as a state government for a reduction of $1.4 billion of GST and other own-source revenue—

The Hon. I.F. Evans: You are responsible for your expenditure.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: How are we responsible, or would you have done something different, for the extra $200 million we have provided to our health system and hospitals over the last year? They used to cut the health budget. They used to masquerade their overruns as being one-off incidents, but are members opposite saying that they would not have allocated that extra $200 million? Of course they would have.

The third element which really does destroy their line of attack and argument—as much of an attack as it is, it is a little bit like a wet lettuce—is that knowing the state of finances in the Mid-Year Budget Review, members opposite promised more spending in the election campaign than Labor. They promised more spending than Labor in the election campaign. So, had the shadow treasurer been doing my job, his task would have been much harder, because you promised more spending than us. How were you going to fund it? You would be cutting deeper and harder than what we are.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Williams: You have proved that you can't be believed.

The SPEAKER: Order, the deputy leader needs to be careful!

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