South Australia is “in a world of trouble”, state Liberal Leader Steven Marshall said in his reply to the State Budget today.
Focussing on job losses, Marshall told State Parliament today his party would allow the passage of the budget, but objected to its “poor policy settings”.
“Not only do we have a contracting domestic economy, increasing unemployment, but young people are leaving South Australia,” he said.
“There is a way forward; in each and every State (with Liberal Governments) they are moving ahead. It’s very exciting times in those States.
“I spent time this week with Victoria’s Premier Dennis Napthine.
“We’ve lost 19,600 jobs; 18,000 of those went to Victoria.”
Marshall said the State Budget delivered a string of broken promises.
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“It shelved the Modbury hospital expansion.
“The Flinders Medical Centre expansion has also been shelved. The QEH expansion, the Noarlunga Hosital expansion – that’s been shelved.
“It’s a Budget filled with broken promises.
“The Premier promised no substantial privatisation; I don’t know of anything more substantial than the Motor Accident Commission – that’s gone. We’ve got no indication yet that it’s a good thing for South Australia.”
Marshall also took aim at the increases in the Emergency Services Levy.
“Let’s look at the Big Daddy of them all.
“The Emergency services Levy.
“It’s a land tax. No more than a land tax.
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“We have a land tax on the family home and what a massive increase it is.
“The average home owner will pay a 163 per cent increase.
“$384 million in revenue will be raised and only $8 million will be spent on Emergency Services.”
“We’re heading in the wrong direction because the government policy settings are wrong.
Marshall said promises of a return to surplus would not be believed.
“They don’t have the backbone to bring in their Budgets as they promises.
“Each year, the government sets their Budget; each year they go over and above on their expenditure because they’ve got no fiscal discipline.
“That’s what’s holding this State back.”
Earlier today the State Liberal Leader announced he would be proposing a statutory inquiry into the electoral system in South Australia.
“This is not something I am doing because the Liberals are having a whinge about an electoral result,” he told parliament.
“I am arguing on behalf of the people of South Australia, who wanted a change in government and were denied by the electoral system in place in South Australia at the moment.
“I am arguing on behalf of the people of South Australia, and that is exactly what needs to happen.
“Their voice needs to be heard. One of the great things about our society is that it is underpinned by a democracy.”
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