By Peg Putt, Press Release
Compassionate Budget would not rely on pokies …
MEDIA RELEASE
Peg Putt MHA
Monday, 12 June 2006
COMPASSIONATE BUDGET WOULD NOT RELY ON POKIES, WOULD FUND PUBLICLY OWNED HOUSING, AND PLAN GREENFIELDS RHH
Pressure on Aird over GBE Debts, Tourism Promotion Spending
The Tasmanian Greens today said that this week’s State Budget must fund all of Labor’s election promises, outline a strategy to tackle ballooning debt in Government Businesses, set aside funds to commence planning and consultation studies for a greenfields Royal Hobart Hospital, and provide for building of more publicly-owned affordable housing.
Greens Opposition Leader and Shadow Treasurer Peg Putt MHA also commented that a truly compassionate Budget would step back from reliance on pokies revenue, and pointed out that leadership on investment in environmental excellence should also be a key Budget component.
Ms Putt agreed with the Treasurer that Opposition Parties should produce an Alternative State Budget to demonstrate how they would fund their priorities, but said that the heat is on Labor this week to produce a Budget which lives up to their promises.
“This week’s State Budget must fund all of Labor’s election promises, especially in Health, and to be truly compassionate will have to lessen reliance on pokies revenue from community gaming venues,” Ms Putt said.
“I am concerned that some of Labor’s election spending promises may have been fudged so that things are put off to future years, but also believe that issues coming to light since the election such as the rising debt in Government Businesses and the need to spend more on tourism promotion must also be addressed.”
“The pressure is on Labor and its new Treasurer Michael Aird to deliver, whether or not the Liberals are able to match the Greens in producing an Alternative Budget.”
“A greenfields Royal Hobart Hospital must be planned and developed over the next ten to fifteen years with funds set aside this year for planning and consultation so that we eventually end up with two campuses, one on the inner city site and one in the northern suburbs.”
“An alarming blank spot of the Lennon government is the pressing need to invest in more publicly owned affordable housing, another matter on which the compassion of this year’s Budget will be measured,” Ms Putt said.
