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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-07-04 Daily Xml
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APPROPRIATION BILL 2013

Estimates Committees

Adjourned debate on motion:

That the proposed expenditures referred to Estimates Committees A and B be agreed to.

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (15:59): I will attempt to take up where I left off just prior to lunch. I think I was on water. I was speaking about the expenditure allocated to the Tod Reservoir. I note with interest that there is no allocation of funds as yet to address Eyre Peninsula's ongoing potable water security issues. We will wait to see with interest the findings of the Natural Resources Committee of parliament, who are currently undertaking an investigation, of course, into Eyre Peninsula's water supply and the management thereof, and expect that, at some point in the near future, there will be an allocation of funds to address the security issues.

Back on the budget, I have to say that the Premier and Treasurer—one and the same, of course, part-time in both—has attempted to explain away his financial mismanagement, which we have spoken about much in this place since the handing down of the budget, by blaming a revenue downturn. The reality is very different: revenue has actually grown by 3 per cent per year in the last four years; there has, in fact, been $3.8 billion worth of unbudgeted spending under the Labor government; and we should never forget the GST revenues and various federal government grants. The people of South Australia simply cannot accept the Treasurer's claim that he has a revenue problem.

I will refrain from going over the same ground as our leader, shadow treasurer, and many other contributors from this side. Suffice to say that they have expertly articulated the story of this government. It is an unfortunate story. It is a story of deficit, debt and losing the AAA credit rating. Goodness knows what is going to happen when interest rates go up. Our interest rate repayment costs are going to be much higher than any other state's, of course. Increasing taxes and charges are hurting businesses and ratcheting up the cost of living pressures on hardworking South Australians.

We all know how much small businesses are suffering in the current environment, but I would like to put on record some of the state taxes and charges that affect not only the people of the state but my electorate of Flinders, and right across the regions. Major household fees and charges continue to outpace inflation. Over the past year alone, property charges have increased at twice the rate of CPI, state taxes have increased at three times the rate of CPI, electricity bills have increased at greater than five times the rate of CPI, gas bills have increased at seven times the rate of CPI, and water bills have increased at a staggering 11 times the rate of CPI. No wonder households are suffering.

All of these increases put pressure on household budgets, and it is certainly true in the regions. We often hear ministers and members of this government carp and whine, 'Well, what would you do about that?', but this is really missing the point, because in fact it is their record in government that we are talking about here and it is their budget. They have simply run out of puff, run out of ideas and they have resorted to playing the man, trying to deflect attention from their economic record. The people of South Australia will not be fooled. Unfortunately, the government has nobody to blame but itself.

The South Australian Centre for Economic Studies in the last week outlined a study which indicated that, in their view, South Australia could well be in recession. Certainly all the indicators are suggesting that. It was interesting to read some of the press reviews of the budget. In fact, the Financial Review suggested that this government 'are optimistic in rebounds in revenue and promises of cost cutting'. The Australian said that, 'Truth be known, after almost a dozen years of Labor government, South Australia has squandered its opportunity to reset the economy.' Finally, from The Australian, they were wondering, in fact, whether Australia can afford two Tasmanias.

Of course, Tasmania has historically been at the bottom of the tree as far as economic activity goes amongst the Australian states, and South Australia is now languishing down the bottom. I remember a much revered and famous former Labor premier, Mr Donald Dunstan, suggested in the 1970s that Adelaide could well become the Athens of the south. Well, I would suggest to the house that that prediction is finally coming true.

To finish off, I will quote from the media once again, an article I saw in the local press this last week, which summarised the state of our state. It was put very succinctly, and it is a summary I would agree with. It was stated that we have a strong agricultural sector, a new logo and not much else. It is time for this state to reprioritise, and the voters of the state will have that opportunity on 15 March of next year.

Mr PEGLER (Mount Gambier) (16:05): I rise to make comment particularly on the estimates committees. I think it is essential that there is some form of review of the budget, but I think that the present process is completely flawed. There are five days of estimates. This all comes at enormous expense. A lot of resources are put into place and a lot of time is taken up by ministers, our shadow ministers and our public servants in a process that I believe is completely flawed. Often the opening speeches by the ministers take up a lot of the time and then of course there are the Dorothy Dixers asked by the people in government and often those answers are longwinded and just go over what the minister said in the first place.

By the same token, I believe a lot of the questions that were asked right throughout this whole process leave a lot to be desired, and there must be a much better way to do it. I also think it is completely flawed that shadow ministers who happen to be in the upper house are not the lead questioners on behalf of the opposition. As far as I am concerned, we do have to have a process in place to review the budget and to get a much better understanding of the budget, but I believe the present processes do not work.

I did listen to some of the contributions from those in the Liberal Party and I hope that if they are ever on the other side of the house they remember what they have said here today, because, whilst they were being critical today, if they are ever on the other side, I hope they do make those changes. As I said, we do have to have a process in place, but I think we should all come together to work out a much better process so that parliament and the governments of this state can work a lot better.

Motion carried.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:07): I move:

That the remainder of the bill be agreed to.

Motion carried.

Third Reading

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:07): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.

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