WILL HODGMAN, Lib Leader. PETER GUTWEIN, Shadow Treasurer
2009 Budget Reply
· We are facing challenging economic times
· Budget response to be strong and economically responsible
· Tasmanians will have a clear choice
Will Hodgman:
On Tuesday, I will be delivering my Reply to the Budget. It will be economically responsible and deliver some tough savings measures. It will plan properly for our long-term future and it will back the engine room of our economy, small business, to drive our economy forward.
Labor’s Budget was an extension of the last 11 years of Labor in that it was all about its political self-interest, not the long-term interests of Tasmania.
We are facing difficult economic times and they do not just demand a response, they demand leadership and vision for the future and they demand change.
A strong, positive Liberal alternative will be outlined in the Parliament next week.
The Liberal alternative will, amongst many other things, outline a plan to improve support for small business, the engine room of our economy, and ways to improve the woeful performance of Government businesses over the past five years.
Peter Gutwein:
Returns from Government businesses collapsed by $54.2M or 35% in last week’s State budget. Restraint is being demanded of the public sector, but what about these businesses?
Waiting for the economy to improve is the Government’s only solution in this budget and that’s not good enough.
For example, returns from our electricity entities Aurora and Transend have plummeted whilst power bills are expected to go through the roof. Where is the benefit for taxpayers in this?
These businesses are effectively regulated monopolies so why are they performing so poorly for the taxpayer?
Government businesses under Labor are simply not providing the returns that taxpayers should rightfully expect especially when ordinary Tasmanians are being forced to pay more for the services they provide.
Like this tired, 11 year old government, they need a wake-up call.
