(Cross-posted from What the people want)
Can Wayne Swan justify a $50B deficit? It’s a meaningless question in isolation. If he spends it on things that the public wants, then it will be justified. According to our polling about the only thing that the treasurer ought to consider spending on is infrastructure. According to our poll 74% rate infrastructure as the first or second most important thing that government should do. The next most popular are spending on social services on an anaemic 37% and means testing welfare on 35%.
The least popular initiatives are giving individuals money to go out and spend, whether by direct handouts or tax cuts. 60% rated tax cuts 7th or 6th on their list of priorities, and 62% gave the same ranking to the direct handout.
Tightening of tax concessions was also popular, with 73% putting it in their top 4 priorities.
However, analysis of priorities against voting intention shows significant variations between Labor, Liberal and Greens.
May 12, 2009 | Graham
Infrastructure the runaway favourite for budget
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It all depends on the infrastructure.Japan built lots of it that serviced few and cost a fortune.
The trouble with our Govts at the moment is all the regulation OH&S BS etc,which has blown out the costs of everything.
When private enterprise interacts,the costs of doing anything are at least a third of Govt contract costs because of the legal disease and regulation.This must be addressed before Kevin spends a cent more.
We need Govt accountability before any more debt is incurred by the tax payer.
Comment by Arjay — May 12, 2009 @ 11:43 pm
I’ll give you and example of Govt waste of one of out local primary schools.The Headmaster got quotes for a concrete slab which ranged between 10 and 12 thousand dollars.The NSW dept of public works elected to take control of the project and sent the school a bill for $40,000.00.Now that school could have used the extra $30,000.00 for other important projects.
We need serious reform of all our Govts.The waste is stupendous.
Comment by Arjay — May 16, 2009 @ 1:39 pm