Few answers to Budget questions
Detailed analysis of the State Budget hit an early hurdle today when Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis deferred answering Opposition questions on federal funding cuts.
State parliament started its annual Estimates Committee hearings this morning.
The hearings allow Opposition MPs to pick through every item of the State Budget in a more informal committee process.
Opposition Leader Steven Marshall led the questioning of the Treasurer, asking why his Budget had detailed the amount of Federal Government funding cuts, but had omitted to list any funding increases.
“You’re only presenting the cuts,” Marshall said.
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“We need to see the increases to fully understand the net effect.”
Koutsantonis, however, said he didn’t have the details of increases.
“I haven’t got that detail,” he replied.
“I’m happy to offer a full reconciliation on notice.”
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Frustrated at the lack of detail, Marshall then switched his attack to the mismatch between federal and state funding cuts.
“State cuts are four times that of federal cuts,” he said.
“It’s quite clear to me that State Government cuts are far, far greater than federal cuts.
“Isn’t it true that you’re misrepresenting the magnitude of federal cuts?”
Marshall then asked how the Treasurer could claim his Budget was under federal funding pressure when annual Goods and Service Tax payments from the Commonwealth were increasing over and above inflation.
“Yes, they are increasing,” Koutsantonis said.
“But every Budget you make an assessment of what you expect.
“You’d be right in saying GST went up, but I’d be right in saying it’s gone up by less than we expect.”
GST payments are expected to increases by 7.3 per cent this financial year and by more than inflation in future years included in the Budget estimates.
Marshall said the session had been frustrating.
“I’m asking plenty of questions, but I’m not getting many answers.”
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