Mr REED - 2003-05-28
Yesterday, the Treasurer told us that the health budget had been increased and that there would be additional programs. The health budget has been increased by some 2.5%. He said in his budget presentation yesterday that inflation was 2.5% so, in fact, the Health and Community Services budget has received no additional funding. Can the Treasurer reassure us that no programs across the Department of Health and Community Services will be cut as a result of his failure to allocate additional funds to that department?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, he really does need to have a close look at these figures. The Territory government’s own source funding going into health has a growth rate of 4.2%; that is the reality. If you add up key initiatives - and this is what I really like about the budget presentation this year, it has strategic issues and key initiatives coming forward in the forthcoming financial year, but it also has far more information on key variations. It is something that the Leader of the Opposition could have paid a bit more heed to this morning in his reply to the budget, because he jumped around different agencies and said: ‘This is up, this is down. Why is this, why is that?’. I suggest he reads - and has a bit of a closer read - the variations and the level of detail that is provided on the second page behind each agency.
As I said, if you work through health and see the new initiatives coming forward, they do not add up to $14m, which is the increase from us this year. Why he is suggesting that we have to slash programs to deliver on those key initiatives in the budget paper is a bit beyond me.
The government injected $15m into the Health and Community Services budget in this current financial year; the member opposite is aware of that. With the further injection of $14.2m for the 2003-04 financial year you have to wonder how the opposition would argue that it is not an increase in real terms for Health and Community Services. Since we came to government, all up, some $98m has been injected into the Health and Community Services budget.
However, I suggest you have a look at the strategic issues, the key initiatives, and the budget variations. I can remember, year in, year out, in opposition, standing in Estimates Committee and saying: ‘Sport and recreation appears to be $5.4m down from last year; what is this?’. They would stand up and say that they they had a lucky year or they got a special purpose payment, or it was a one-off last year - whatever reason came to their head, probably, most of the time. Well, we are a bit more strategic and specific than that. We provide …
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: Have a look, have a look. Why do you not read the budget papers, that have been printed at great expense to inform you guys? If you have a look at the key variations it will tell you.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, he really does need to have a close look at these figures. The Territory government’s own source funding going into health has a growth rate of 4.2%; that is the reality. If you add up key initiatives - and this is what I really like about the budget presentation this year, it has strategic issues and key initiatives coming forward in the forthcoming financial year, but it also has far more information on key variations. It is something that the Leader of the Opposition could have paid a bit more heed to this morning in his reply to the budget, because he jumped around different agencies and said: ‘This is up, this is down. Why is this, why is that?’. I suggest he reads - and has a bit of a closer read - the variations and the level of detail that is provided on the second page behind each agency.
As I said, if you work through health and see the new initiatives coming forward, they do not add up to $14m, which is the increase from us this year. Why he is suggesting that we have to slash programs to deliver on those key initiatives in the budget paper is a bit beyond me.
The government injected $15m into the Health and Community Services budget in this current financial year; the member opposite is aware of that. With the further injection of $14.2m for the 2003-04 financial year you have to wonder how the opposition would argue that it is not an increase in real terms for Health and Community Services. Since we came to government, all up, some $98m has been injected into the Health and Community Services budget.
However, I suggest you have a look at the strategic issues, the key initiatives, and the budget variations. I can remember, year in, year out, in opposition, standing in Estimates Committee and saying: ‘Sport and recreation appears to be $5.4m down from last year; what is this?’. They would stand up and say that they they had a lucky year or they got a special purpose payment, or it was a one-off last year - whatever reason came to their head, probably, most of the time. Well, we are a bit more strategic and specific than that. We provide …
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: Have a look, have a look. Why do you not read the budget papers, that have been printed at great expense to inform you guys? If you have a look at the key variations it will tell you.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016