Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Tuesday 12th January 2010

Government pork barrelling must stop

The Government must show some fiscal responsibility and immediately restrain its pre-election spendathon, which is obviously motivated by its greed for power and fuelled by its desire to cling to power.

Only 6 months ago, the Government brought down a budget that included tough but responsible cuts to Government spending that we supported at the time because it was the responsible thing to do in the midst of the global financial crisis.

However since then the Government have announced more than $500 million in new initiatives, impacting on the budget bottom line completely blowing any of the savings that were forecast to be achieved in the budget.

The Government must reign in its spending or Tasmanians will face the prospect of more budget deficits as a result mounting debt levels.

The Mid Year Financial Report forecast that as a result of the Government’s profligate spending that operating deficits in the next two years would worsen and that the modest surplus of $75 million planned for in 2012-13 would be slashed to a razor thin $9 million.

Whilst the Tasmanian Liberals will continue to make targeted investment in health, education, infrastructure and initiatives to stimulate the economy, we will do so in a responsible and prudent way.

My message to the Treasurer is very simple and one that even he should be able to understand - reign in the Premier and don’t let him spend in the next 10 weeks what it will take 10 years to repair.

Tasmanians deserve better than this and Michael Aird must act responsibly and get the Government’s spending under control.