| Premier Out Of Step With His Treasurer |
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Wed 1 April -
“The Government is committed to aligning revenue and expenditure and ensuring that it makes the right decisions to protect the New South Wales economy.” (Roozendaal, Hansard, Dec 4 2008) Premier Nathan Rees needs to explain why he is out of step with his Treasurer over the economic management of the state, said Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird. “In the last few days we have had Premier Rees berating the Opposition for standing up for sound financial management by demanding that the state’s day-to-day budget is responsible and is operating within its means. “Yet the Opposition’s position is exactly what has been demanded by former Treasury Secretary John Pierce, the Government’s own Vertigan and Stokes report, and the major credit ratings agencies who have linked this issue to the retention of the AAA rating. “In an embarrassing revelation, to the Premier and the Finance Minister, their own Treasurer has not only endorsed the Opposition’s position, he has been trying to implement the policy. “The Premier now has a choice - endorse the Opposition’s policy or sack his Treasurer. “We now ask that he rectifies his mistake and accepts the need to control government expenditure, which is critical to maintaining the AAA rating. “It is expenses like the additional $2.75 million for ministerial offices which was included in the Appropriation (Budget Variations) Bill 2009 this week. This is on top of the more than $20 million paid annually to lease some of the most luxurious office space in Australia to house the Ministers of this Government. “It is these sorts of expenses which the Opposition is committed to getting under control, so it can refocus funding on delivering services to the community and creating jobs’, said Mr Baird. Media Contact: Wendy Black 0418 532 534
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