Departments Must Live within Means
Tim Morris MP
Greens Treasury spokesperson
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the Treasurer’s commitment to quarterly reporting on the State Budget’s savings measure, saying that this would allow scrutiny of whether the cost savings’ regime is being delivered.
Greens Treasury spokesperson Tim Morris MP, who called for this measure during Budget Estimates Hearings today, said that regular reporting on budget savings measure is important for the community to be able to assess whether budget claims are being delivered.
Mr Morris also welcomed the Treasurer’s undertaking that Government Departments, such as Health, will be required to operate within their budget and will not be able to seek additional top-up funding in the form of a Supplementary Consolidated Fund Bill.
“Quarterly reporting on the progress of the budget savings regime is a welcome commitment by Treasurer Giddings, as the Greens believe this will be critical for the community to be able to assess whether the new fiscal strategy is on track,” Mr Morris said.
“Tasmanians are being asked to wear the tough measures in this budget, so it is only appropriate that there is a mechanism by which they can assess whether its been worth it, and whether the savings measures will result in putting the state’s finances on a sustainable footing.”
“It is also a significant breakthrough, if government departments such as Health, are required to live within their means and can no longer keep going back to Treasury to ask for extra money to bail them out. Health in particular has bad form in this regard.”
“The Greens have long been on the record calling for greater financial transparency and accountability, and for an end of departmental bail-outs via Supplementary Consolidated Fund Bills, and we will be holding the Treasurer to these commitments today,” Mr Morris said.
Tim Morris MP Greens Treasury spokesperson
