The Labor government’s continuing debt binge will have ramifications for regional Australia.
The government is seeking to further increase its borrowings from $200 billion to $250 billion.
Senator Nash said the government’s being deceitful in the way it has sought to do this.
“The government has linked it to budget supply bills making it hard for the parliament to reject,” she said.
“It deliberately tried to bury its borrowing intentions in the secondary budget bill, otherwise known as an Appropriations bill. This is linked to the primary budget supply bill which is typically passed so that the ordinary annual services of government and departments can continue.
“The government should have done the decent thing and sought to raise its borrowings though a separate bill as done previously, that can be debated, amended and opposed if warranted.”
The budget bills are now in the senate.
“Just as regional Australians are grappling with rising living costs, the Labor government is on a spending splurge,” Senator Nash said.
“The net debt will climb to $107 billion in the 2011-12 financial year – that’s over $15 million in interest a day, or more than $4700 for every man, woman and child.
“Labor’s out of control spending will probably mean higher taxes and cuts to services, with regional Australia to feel the brunt of it
“The government’s already raided the Priority Regional Infrastructure and the Building Better Regional Cities programs, and has delayed funding for the regional priority round of the Health and Hospitals Fund and the Education Investment Fund to name a few examples.
“Add to that its refusal to make independent youth allowance fair and its plans for a carbon and mine tax that will be bad for jobs and regional economies.
“The list will get longer the more the government spends.”
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