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Do you support the RTA's proposal for a footbridge across the Spit?
| Federal Stimulus Package and Education |
| Tuesday, 02 June 2009 | ||||||
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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [4.01 p.m.]: Nothing is more urgent in this State than the financial position in which we find ourselves. If an argument for priority is needed, one has only to look at public responses, because they are an absolute indictment on the Government and what it represents. The people of New South Wales are fed up with this Government. They are sick to death of the State being run into the ground and they want the Labor Government to take some responsibility for its actions. The question that everyone is asking is: How did we get here? How could this once proud State that was leading Australia on every single measure—according to whatever economic indicator we used—now be going backwards? Today, both the Treasurer in the upper House and the Premier tried to pretend that the State is not going backwards. They both tried to pretend that the State is not in recession but the numbers are plain, and I refer them to the House. Those numbers tell the story very simply: When you have two quarters of negative growth you have a recession. That is a fact and that is what the numbers show. Premier Rees's comments at the end of question time contradict the public statement by former Premier Iemma that if we had two quarters of negative growth, such as we have seen in this State, we would be in recession. In the same way that Prime Minister Rudd cannot say "billions" of dollars, Treasurer Roozendaal and Nathan Rees cannot say the word "recession". So I will say it for them. What does that mean? To families across the State words are just words, but these economic times are impacting upon them. We must understand that these are not just numbers: real lives are being impacted. In classic Labor style, today we got spin. It is absolutely pathetic. The Treasurer's performance in the Legislative Council was about technicalities—what about this; what about that? The Treasurer has overseen two quarters of negative growth. He and the Premier need to be honest with the community that the Government has failed the people of New South Wales, as the numbers clearly demonstrate. This is the Reesession we did not have to have. There are two clear indicators as to why we are in this position. The first indicator is the mini-budget. I am not sure who put the mini-budget together but I am sure that Joe Tripodi, Eric Roozendaal and Nathan Rees were involved. Graham Wedderburn said to forget about it, and I can tell members why the document has been forgotten. Access Economics said today that just when we needed demand to be increased, it was cut. What did the Government do? It cut infrastructure. We have heard time and time again about infrastructure but the truth is in the mini-budget. The Government cut infrastructure in the mini-budget and raised taxes and charges at exactly the wrong time. The Government cut critical infrastructure such as the North West and South West metros. It spent $20 million on fees for the North West Metro project with nothing to show for it. That is why the State has gone backwards—it is being mismanaged. Yet Nathan Rees has had every opportunity. In the lead-up to the mini-budget we heard from Prime Minister Rudd—of all people—that we were headed for dire economic times. But he was ignored. The mini-budget was put together and its policies have come to fruition today. Every household in New South Wales is being impacted because of that document, and the picture looks bleak. The second indicator is infrastructure funding. Prime Minister Rudd ignored New South Wales. We have no policy. The infrastructure allocation was a once-only opportunity to secure funds for the State, and the Government failed on every front. How could a Premier not take responsibility for making the best possible submissions? When the Government did not do that we ended up with nothing. In fact, we got money for a study so that the Government can go away and do it properly next time. I am fearful about what is to come in the State budget. The Minister for Finance is arguing with the Treasurer about who should be Treasurer. That debate is ongoing. Perhaps the Caucus can enlighten the House as to what is happening. Joe wants to be the Treasurer and Eric does not want him to—what a shambles! The last semblance of hope is our credit rating and that is hanging in the balance, with policies leading us backwards. The Opposition hopes that it can turn the State around, and that starts with accountability. There is no accountability by this Government and there is no hope. The State's finances are going backwards, and the Government is responsible. Add to: Write Comment
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