15 May 2013

Budget reactions 2013

| johnboy
Join the conversation
39

First cab off the rank for budget reactions is Jeremy Hanson from the Liberals:

Attacks on public service job cuts, superannuation, reductions on family tax payments, scrapping the baby bonus, introducing paid parking in the parliamentary zone, ongoing efficiency dividends, potential wage squeezes, reductions in office space, and university cuts are all going to affect the lives of Canberrans and damage our economy, according to ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson.

“Canberrans will pay the price for Labor’s economic vandalism and would be within their rights to ask their local Labor representatives why they should trust Labor given the repeated assertions about budget surpluses and security of public service jobs under Labor – promises that are now all in tatters.

“Just next year, 1,262 public service jobs are going, with more hurt to come. This is on the back of efficiency dividends that have been cutting deep into the public service and almost 3,000 jobs that were lost in the six months leading up to December last year. The full extent of job cuts still remains unclear.

“Our city prospers when the national economy is strong and in surplus, and people trust their government. Despite the spin from Wayne Swan and local Labor politicians including Gai Brodtman, Kate Lundy, and Andrew Leigh, the grim reality is that Labor has not delivered a surplus for 23 years. Canberrans have been lied to by Labor politicians who should now apologise for their misleading statements.

“This is a bad budget for Canberra. Labor’s $19b budget deficit and public service job cuts, expose the full effect of their mismanagement of our economy and expose all the broken promises,” concluded Mr Hanson.

Local labor’s silence to date is eloquent.


Labor MP Andrew Leigh has blogged his chat with Mark Parton.


Kate Lundy says this budget will make Canberra stronger, smarter and fairer.

As would any adversity one supposes.

Join the conversation

39
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

johnboy said :

Andrew Leigh is now copying Senator Lundy and going all Kanye on us:

http://www.andrewleigh.com/blog/?p=4211

I particularly like this long bow that he drew:
“Canberra will be able to share in over $690 million in additions and amendments to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and $29.6 million for support in the dispensing of chemotherapy medicines”
?!
A win for Canberra! Hahaha!

Andrew Leigh is now copying Senator Lundy and going all Kanye on us:

http://www.andrewleigh.com/blog/?p=4211

Masquara said :

Questacon boss wants multistorey carparks in the Parliamentary Triangle. Not promising.

Wrong thread, sorry!

Questacon boss wants multistorey carparks in the Parliamentary Triangle. Not promising.

davo101 said :

bikhet said :

In my case the imposition of GST on my overseas purchases would make no difference .

I think you miss the whole point. The reason local retailers want to drop the limit is because the process will become:

1) Get a “Australia Post First Notice” telling you that you have a parcel with GST/duty owing on it.
2) Fill in a B374 and lodge it with Customs and Border Protection.
3) Allowing for the 5 working days to process you’ll be sent a Postal Import Declaration Payment Advice.
4) Pay your GST, duty and the $48.85 processing fee.
5) Parcel is released by customs and can be delivered to you.

or you can pay a licensed Customs broker to do it for you.

That $495 from the local bricks-and-mortar is not looking so bad now is it?

I’d still buy the stuff OS out of cussedness.

steveu said :

Perhaps they are realising that stripping agencies to the bone has had the opposite desired effect in that programs and projects are not being completed or progressed due to these cuts – hence actually wasting money as sufficient investment isnt being made, IMHO.

I’d like to think you’re right, but I doubt it. Canberra and PS bashing is a win-win for politicians of both stripes. It’s is a vote winner among the Alan Jones and Daily Terror brigade and, when services inevitably suffer as a result, it gives them a whipping boy and supports their “public bad, private good” position for selling off what little remains of the family silver.

steveu said :

Constitutional reform is required, give us senators and members that are proportional to our population

Hear, hear.

davo101 said :

2) Fill in a B374 and lodge it with Customs and Border Protection.

Whoops forgot:

2.5) Meet Evidence of Identity standard by providing 100 points of ID.

thebrownstreak69 said :

bikhet said :

In my case the imposition of GST on my overseas purchases would make no difference .To take a recent example:

OS purchase price AUD290 from a company with a substantial bricks and mortar presence
Exorbitant postage AUD80
Total AUD370

Adding the 10% GST the total would be AUD407, even if GST was changed on the total including postage – too lazy to look up whether it would be or not.

Lowest price from any Australian supplier – AUD495.

Draw your own conclusion.

I also purchase things OS when I can’t get them from any Australian supplier. Again, the imposition of GST would make no difference to my purchasing.

It would make no difference to me either. I wouldn’t buy something online for the sake of saving only 10% anyway. Most of the things I buy online I buy for no more than half the price of the local item, sometimes even less.

Unfortunately for retailers, it just doesn’t make sense to buy some things in shops any more.

Yes, it would probably be the same for me with most OS purchses (i.e still cheaper than local), but:
a) Then the locals couldn’t complain, as the only difference in the price would be down to them and
b) The Govt would get some extra $ for those OS purchases (instead of the $0 they get now) which would help towards their precious surplus – which both sides are obsessed with.
Everybody wins! 🙂

bikhet said :

In my case the imposition of GST on my overseas purchases would make no difference .

I think you miss the whole point. The reason local retailers want to drop the limit is because the process will become:

1) Get a “Australia Post First Notice” telling you that you have a parcel with GST/duty owing on it.
2) Fill in a B374 and lodge it with Customs and Border Protection.
3) Allowing for the 5 working days to process you’ll be sent a Postal Import Declaration Payment Advice.
4) Pay your GST, duty and the $48.85 processing fee.
5) Parcel is released by customs and can be delivered to you.

or you can pay a licensed Customs broker to do it for you.

That $495 from the local bricks-and-mortar is not looking so bad now is it?

thebrownstreak692:14 pm 15 May 13

bikhet said :

dpm said :

I have to say, I kinda agree with this:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-15/government-missed-chance-to-boost-budget-says-nra/4691006

But perhaps not quite as low as a $20 threshold! I’m the first to admit I get stuff from OS because it’s generally cheaper, but I do feel bad that local businesses (who employ locals) haven’t quite got a level playing field.

In my case the imposition of GST on my overseas purchases would make no difference .To take a recent example:

OS purchase price AUD290 from a company with a substantial bricks and mortar presence
Exorbitant postage AUD80
Total AUD370

Adding the 10% GST the total would be AUD407, even if GST was changed on the total including postage – too lazy to look up whether it would be or not.

Lowest price from any Australian supplier – AUD495.

Draw your own conclusion.

I also purchase things OS when I can’t get them from any Australian supplier. Again, the imposition of GST would make no difference to my purchasing.

It would make no difference to me either. I wouldn’t buy something online for the sake of saving only 10% anyway. Most of the things I buy online I buy for no more than half the price of the local item, sometimes even less.

Unfortunately for retailers, it just doesn’t make sense to buy some things in shops any more.

The way I read it, the reduction of the efficiency dividend back to 1.25% from 4% – the 4% was the bit that has been hurting Canberra in particular. You could read into it that they are actually giving agencies back money that they haven’t had for the last few years? This would equate to saving jobs. Perhaps they are realising that stripping agencies to the bone has had the opposite desired effect in that programs and projects are not being completed or progressed due to these cuts – hence actually wasting money as sufficient investment isnt being made, IMHO.

Canberra will always be the whipping boy of all sides of politics whilst we continue to be under-represented in federal parliament. Constitutional reform is required, give us senators and members that are proportional to our population, in return we will give up our MLAs and have a council instead of “self government”.

dpm said :

I have to say, I kinda agree with this:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-15/government-missed-chance-to-boost-budget-says-nra/4691006

But perhaps not quite as low as a $20 threshold! I’m the first to admit I get stuff from OS because it’s generally cheaper, but I do feel bad that local businesses (who employ locals) haven’t quite got a level playing field.

In my case the imposition of GST on my overseas purchases would make no difference .To take a recent example:

OS purchase price AUD290 from a company with a substantial bricks and mortar presence
Exorbitant postage AUD80
Total AUD370

Adding the 10% GST the total would be AUD407, even if GST was changed on the total including postage – too lazy to look up whether it would be or not.

Lowest price from any Australian supplier – AUD495.

Draw your own conclusion.

I also purchase things OS when I can’t get them from any Australian supplier. Again, the imposition of GST would make no difference to my purchasing.

“Canberrans will pay the price for Labor’s economic vandalism and would be within their rights to ask their local Labor representatives why they should trust Labor given the repeated assertions about budget surpluses and security of public service jobs under Labor – promises that are now all in tatters.”

Oh, lordy, lordy, lordy. This with the Mad Monk’s promise to sack 12,000 public servants. If hypocrisy were a saleable commodity Hanson would be the world’s richest man!

I have to say, I kinda agree with this:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-15/government-missed-chance-to-boost-budget-says-nra/4691006

But perhaps not quite as low as a $20 threshold! I’m the first to admit I get stuff from OS because it’s generally cheaper, but I do feel bad that local businesses (who employ locals) haven’t quite got a level playing field.
So, in the big picture scheme of things, this makes some sense. It’s not all about me after all! 🙂

chewy14 said :

Mysteryman said :

dpm said :

Mysteryman said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Any criticism from any Liberal of government public service cuts deserves nothing but utter disdain.

This is the best Hanson has got??

The government repeatedly denounced the opposition for being forthright about plans to cut funding to the public service, while at the same time touting their own loyalty to public service jobs/funding. Now they are significantly cutting funding. They deserve all the criticism they receive for misleading everyone. Especially from an opposition who were upfront about similar plans and criticised for them.

True. But really, the only thing the opposition should be saying is: “Look, they’re axing the PS before we can get a chance to!! No fair!” 🙂

Them pretending the actual cuts are bad *is* a bit rich….

I don’t think they are pretending the cuts are bad. I think they are being critical of the government committing to not make cuts while vilifying the opposition for saying they will, and then going ahead and doing it anyway.

Did you read Hanson’s statement in the OP? How could you possibly come to the conclusion that they aren’t pretending these cuts are bad?

Because one local liberal member doesn’t speak for the whole party, especially at the federal level, which is what I thought the comment I originally replied to was to implying. Hanson’s clearly being opportunistic and yelling about the local implications to make himself heard, but honestly, his view on this is not representative of the rest of them.

johnboy said :

The Register reports NICTA is for the chop:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/15/nicta_cut_in_fed_budget/

And yet the Commonwealth found $2 million to fund The Conversation; an investment I don’t get at all.

Michelle Grattan is funded by The Conversation. And it’s a mortal threat to News Limited.

Mysteryman said :

dpm said :

Mysteryman said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Any criticism from any Liberal of government public service cuts deserves nothing but utter disdain.

This is the best Hanson has got??

The government repeatedly denounced the opposition for being forthright about plans to cut funding to the public service, while at the same time touting their own loyalty to public service jobs/funding. Now they are significantly cutting funding. They deserve all the criticism they receive for misleading everyone. Especially from an opposition who were upfront about similar plans and criticised for them.

True. But really, the only thing the opposition should be saying is: “Look, they’re axing the PS before we can get a chance to!! No fair!” 🙂

Them pretending the actual cuts are bad *is* a bit rich….

I don’t think they are pretending the cuts are bad. I think they are being critical of the government committing to not make cuts while vilifying the opposition for saying they will, and then going ahead and doing it anyway.

Did you read Hanson’s statement in the OP? How could you possibly come to the conclusion that they aren’t pretending these cuts are bad?

well its odd for libs to cry out against cuts in universities since abbot said he would keep them without even the excuse of the gonski reforms…

HiddenDragon11:16 am 15 May 13

I don’t imagine it will make it into the Budget in Reply speech, but I will be interested to see what, if anything, the federal Liberals have to say of a positive nature about their plans for the PS and for Canberra. If they turned their minds to that, there might be some encouraging messages about clearer responsibilities, more professional relationships, (fewer imported spin doctors??) etc. – as well, of course, as more affordable housing and less parking and traffic problems in Canberra and Queanbeyan.

dpm said :

Mysteryman said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Any criticism from any Liberal of government public service cuts deserves nothing but utter disdain.

This is the best Hanson has got??

The government repeatedly denounced the opposition for being forthright about plans to cut funding to the public service, while at the same time touting their own loyalty to public service jobs/funding. Now they are significantly cutting funding. They deserve all the criticism they receive for misleading everyone. Especially from an opposition who were upfront about similar plans and criticised for them.

True. But really, the only thing the opposition should be saying is: “Look, they’re axing the PS before we can get a chance to!! No fair!” 🙂

Them pretending the actual cuts are bad *is* a bit rich….

I don’t think they are pretending the cuts are bad. I think they are being critical of the government committing to not make cuts while vilifying the opposition for saying they will, and then going ahead and doing it anyway.

Mysteryman said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Any criticism from any Liberal of government public service cuts deserves nothing but utter disdain.

This is the best Hanson has got??

The government repeatedly denounced the opposition for being forthright about plans to cut funding to the public service, while at the same time touting their own loyalty to public service jobs/funding. Now they are significantly cutting funding. They deserve all the criticism they receive for misleading everyone. Especially from an opposition who were upfront about similar plans and criticised for them.

True. But really, the only thing the opposition should be saying is: “Look, they’re axing the PS before we can get a chance to!! No fair!” 🙂

Them pretending the actual cuts are bad *is* a bit rich….

Mysteryman said :

Gungahlin Al said :

Any criticism from any Liberal of government public service cuts deserves nothing but utter disdain.

This is the best Hanson has got??

The government repeatedly denounced the opposition for being forthright about plans to cut funding to the public service, while at the same time touting their own loyalty to public service jobs/funding. Now they are significantly cutting funding. They deserve all the criticism they receive for misleading everyone. Especially from an opposition who were upfront about similar plans and criticised for them.

But the Liberals have bleated and whined and complained about the ‘big spending labor’ and then, as soon as the ALP cut spending, the Liberals bleat and whine and complain about the spending cuts.

So I’m not sure who is worse

chewy14 said :

I think the announced cuts are a good thing as long as they’re done sensibly and from the right areas. The feds (whoever’s in charge) need to rein in spending and increase revenue. I personally would have preferred if they’d gone harder at middle class welfare and started cutting more of the myriad tax breaks available.

But its laughable for a Liberal party politician to talk about how bad these cuts are whilst his own party are planning much larger and broad ranging cuts. Hypocrisy in the extreme.

Yep, and yep. The un-needed handouts should have been dismantled, you can already see the effect they have on peoples’ attitudes, that they’re entitled to money from the government. It’s horrendously expensive, and in the greater scheme of things, useless. Howard really started it. Surprisingly, Hockey’s making noises that suggest that the Liberals mean to get rid of it, which I find hard to believe. Then again, they’re going to bring in a millionaire’s mat leave scheme.

And the hide of them to criticise APS cuts, ye gods. Maybe they’re jealous, maybe they can’t wait for their go, maybe they’re resenting that the cuts made by Labor are depriving them of some fun when they get in.

Gungahlin Al said :

Any criticism from any Liberal of government public service cuts deserves nothing but utter disdain.

This is the best Hanson has got??

The government repeatedly denounced the opposition for being forthright about plans to cut funding to the public service, while at the same time touting their own loyalty to public service jobs/funding. Now they are significantly cutting funding. They deserve all the criticism they receive for misleading everyone. Especially from an opposition who were upfront about similar plans and criticised for them.

Budget?

You mean boojay.

thebrownstreak69 said :

chewy14 said :

As opposed to what the Liberals have planned? I don’t know how he can say that with a straight face.

I’ve understood the whole “yeah my lot suck but the others might be just as bad so I’ll never change” thing.

What?

I think the announced cuts are a good thing as long as they’re done sensibly and from the right areas. The feds (whoever’s in charge) need to rein in spending and increase revenue. I personally would have preferred if they’d gone harder at middle class welfare and started cutting more of the myriad tax breaks available.

But its laughable for a Liberal party politician to talk about how bad these cuts are whilst his own party are planning much larger and broad ranging cuts. Hypocrisy in the extreme.

Gai Brodtmann has apparently announced she wants an inquiry on pay parking in the Triangle.

Is it somewhat cynical to suggest that she should have tried sorting this *before* the Budget was released? Is it more cynical to suggest that she doesn’t expect to get anywhere on this, but can now put her hand on her heart and say that she tried?

Paid parking in the Parliamentary Zone make me mad, PBO not like mad, mad make PBO angry. When PBO get angry PBO get smashed!!!!

(Although it in the long run getting smashed really wouldnt help the issue and the anger would just return in the end. Things like this are what causes high levels of stress amongst Govt workers and breeds the likes of Colin Dunstans, David Eastmans and Godwin Grech’s)

thebrownstreak699:02 am 15 May 13

chewy14 said :

As opposed to what the Liberals have planned? I don’t know how he can say that with a straight face.

I’ve understood the whole “yeah my lot suck but the others might be just as bad so I’ll never change” thing.

Gungahlin Al9:02 am 15 May 13

Any criticism from any Liberal of government public service cuts deserves nothing but utter disdain.

This is the best Hanson has got??

damien haas said :

c_c™ said :

Paid parking in the Parliamentary Zone, it just makes sense.

I met with Simon Corbell last year (as Chair of ACT Light Rail) and asked if there were plans in place to cope with the increased public transport demand when paid parking in the Parliamentary Triangle came in. I guess we will find out.

Providing new ACTION buses, to cope with the expected increase in patronage that paid parking creates, requires a minimum 12-18 month period from specification and ordering to delivery.

This decision is one that any person across transport policy could see coming.

In the event of anyone tendering for the proposed City to Gungahlin light rail link, an option to include an “around the lake” service should be mandatory to service both tourists and workers.
The recently released City to The Lake vision depicts trams (catenary free at that) in the vicinity of the lake and the tourist industry in Canberra is being killed off because there is simply no where to park. The tourists affected will never return to Canberra and they bitch about it to all their friends who will never come to Canberra either. There is ample room around the lake to create a park and ride facility exclusively for tourists.
Meanwhile, Canberra’s public servants who may have to start paying for parking in the triangle will start to bitch.

As opposed to what the Liberals have planned? I don’t know how he can say that with a straight face.

c_c™ said :

Paid parking in the Parliamentary Zone, it just makes sense.

NCA seems to have no parking strategy whatsoever. They got rid of the White lawns parking, replaced with a system that doesn’t work and messes up tourists and built that horrid lake-side carpark a while back. All along they should have had pay parking, and invested in a decent underground parking station somewhere rather than the lake-side one.

I don’t think people would mind paying for parking if there was a decent structure and/or availability. Without it, it’s just another tax on a lot of people who go there for work or tourism.

c_c™ said :

Paid parking in the Parliamentary Zone, it just makes sense.

I met with Simon Corbell last year (as Chair of ACT Light Rail) and asked if there were plans in place to cope with the increased public transport demand when paid parking in the Parliamentary Triangle came in. I guess we will find out.

Providing new ACTION buses, to cope with the expected increase in patronage that paid parking creates, requires a minimum 12-18 month period from specification and ordering to delivery.

This decision is one that any person across transport policy could see coming.

So when the federal liberal party agree with 95% of this stuff Hanson will let them have it to. Or will past captain Zed swoop in and save the day.

Paid parking in the Parliamentary Zone, it just makes sense.

NCA seems to have no parking strategy whatsoever. They got rid of the White lawns parking, replaced with a system that doesn’t work and messes up tourists and built that horrid lake-side carpark a while back. All along they should have had pay parking, and invested in a decent underground parking station somewhere rather than the lake-side one.

HiddenDragon10:48 pm 14 May 13

Local Labor may (one hopes) already be turning their thoughts to how they will deal with the consequences of a post-election mini-Budget.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.