The Liberals have sent forth Jeremy Hanson’s budget reply.
In which he outlines the staqgering debts of the Stanhope/Gallagher Government as they forever promise a balanced budget next year while running up the credit card this year.
The accumulated interest bill in this budget totals over $650 million dollars.
To put that into a meaningful context, that is the equivalent of building and staffing an entire new hospital, all in this term, and all without debt.
It would build all of light rail, all in this term, and all without debt.
It would cover the entire cost of the Cotter Dam, and leave $200 million in change.
And it could create and protect thousands of jobs.
But we cannot do any of that, because of the mismanagement of the budget by this government. That is why good governments avoid debt. That is why prudent management counts.
UPDATE: Andrew Barr is very cross:
The Opposition Leader has delivered a budget reply speech littered with lies, errors and distortions that demonstrate a complete lack of competence.
It’s also now clear why he refused a debate about our competing plans for Canberra – it was because he has no positive policy agenda.
Mr Hanson has had months to develop policy alternatives since becoming Opposition Leader – today was his chance to outline some of them. Not only was his speech devoid of vision, it was a re-hash of the same tired and discredited “Hansonisms” we’ve heard over the past few years.
Andrew has neglected to actually point out which of the specific statements were lies, errors, distortions.