Budget responses

I’m sure Tuggeranong would like the $3 million being wasted on the Eastman inquiry.

After the mayor gets his light rail, will he start campaigning for ashtrays on motorbikes?

dtc said :

Will the Libs come out and say what cuts they think should be made in order to bring the budget back to surplus? Its all easy to say ‘dont spend so much’, not easy to say ‘you over there will lose all your funding’

Yes, that’s a very fair point – particularly with Jeremy Hanson apparently trying to win favour with ACT government employees who are unhappy about a pay offer which is not in excess of the CPI. I think it’s time for some sober straight talking about the ACT’s (and Australia’s) financial position and prospects.

HiddenDragon said :

I’m not sure if I’m perfectly correct but it would appear that, under this budget with an increase of 10% per annum over twenty years, rates will double in about eight years and triple in roughly twelve years.

After twenty years they will have increased sixfold.

What was it that Barr and Gallagher denied during the election?

And that’s assuming the increase is only 10%. Some of those who scoffed at the Liberals’ “scare campaign” might have cause for reflection when they get this year’s rates notice, and next year’s etc. etc. I think there will be surprises for quite a few, which will arrive around the same time they are coming to terms with rather diminished expectations for Canberrans under a new federal government.

I’ll agree that maths is not my strong point but taking a base figure of $1000 (admittedly, a very low figure) and increasing it 10% for 20 years gives a figure in excess of $6000.

One has to wonder how retirees are supposed to afford to live when paying such exorbitant amounts? Especially with the huge increases in energy bills, water bills, etc?

Indeed, one must also wonder how young couples new into the market will also be able to pay such bills?

Exactly – but the whole point, of course, is that retirees are supposed to get out of their homes in increasingly desirable surburbs, move to townhouses or apartments in less desirable suburbs (and end up paying more in rates and body corporate than hitherto) so that their houses can be replaced by over-priced apartments and town houses. Young couples (and singles, for that matter), unless they happen to be well up the feeding chain, can try Queanbeyan, Goulburn etc. etc. – as long as they can find a way to get to Canberra 5/6/7 days a week to their bit for the elites who run this town.

I’m not sure if I’m perfectly correct but it would appear that, under this budget with an increase of 10% per annum over twenty years, rates will double in about eight years and triple in roughly twelve years.

After twenty years they will have increased sixfold.

What was it that Barr and Gallagher denied during the election?

And that’s assuming the increase is only 10%. Some of those who scoffed at the Liberals’ “scare campaign” might have cause for reflection when they get this year’s rates notice, and next year’s etc. etc. I think there will be surprises for quite a few, which will arrive around the same time they are coming to terms with rather diminished expectations for Canberrans under a new federal government.

Plans to upgrade Ashley Drive haven’t fallen off the agenda yet… that’s about all I was looking for.

Will the Libs come out and say what cuts they think should be made in order to bring the budget back to surplus? Its all easy to say ‘dont spend so much’, not easy to say ‘you over there will lose all your funding’

miz said :

Little for Tuggeranong, as per usual. Lanyon in particular is very neglected. No library, few buses, poor maintenance of infrastructure, yet higher rates once again. I thought they might have learned something from the election, but it seems not. Still not listening.

miz said :

Just saw CT – it is completely unacceptable to count expenditure on things like the tip expansion, the gaol, etc as money for Tuggeranong! We have really been dudded.

Is Tuggeranong part of the ACT? But they need their own radio frequency, surely thats enough.

miz said :

Just saw CT – it is completely unacceptable to count expenditure on things like the tip expansion, the gaol, etc as money for Tuggeranong! We have really been dudded.

Fair go there – Andrew Barr is going to fix up the adventure playground at Kambah.

miz said :

Little for Tuggeranong, as per usual. Lanyon in particular is very neglected. No library, few buses, poor maintenance of infrastructure…

5mins to Tuggeranong Library, 20mins to the Nash. For a valley where the demographic doesn’t seem to into all that fancy book learn’n, that’s not bad.

What infrastructure maintenance do you refer to specifically?