Lateline - 01/05/2014: Audit Commission report
Like most other people, I'm sure, I had forgotten completely until I was watching Lateline last night that the incoming Howard government had a similar "Commission of Audit" back in 1996. Amusingly, many of the things recommended in that report have turned up again in this new one.
These reports can, to large extent, be ignored as being just a part of Coalition government tactics. Have a read of this part of the transcript from last night, and snigger away at how things haven't changed much over 20 years:
(1996)
BOB OFFICER, ARCHIVE: It's my pleasure to present this report.
TOM IGGULDEN: ...came not long after the last Coalition government was sworn in, the last Liberal treasurer took the same approach to the recommendations.
PETER COSTELLO, FORMER LIBERAL TREASURER, ARCHIVE: This is not a statement of government policy.
TOM IGGULDEN: The recommendations in 1996 were also broadly similar to today's...
(Excerpt from 1996 National Commission of Audit 1996)
VOICEOVER: A Medicare upfront payment for each visit to the doctor. The total replacement of university funding with scholarships, student fees and bequests. And a tougher approach to adjusting pensions.
TOM IGGULDEN: ...few were ultimately taken up...
(Excerpt from 1996 National Commission of Audit 1996)
VOICEOVER: Means testing nursing home care and the handing over to the states of key areas such as health and education.
TOM IGGULDEN: ...despite the warnings of a budget crisis to come, especially in health.
BOB OFFICER, ARCHIVE: That program is not sustainable in its current form.
1 comment:
Steve,
There is one big difference between 1996 and now.
The budget needed to be in surplus then as any Keynesian would have told you and the government adopted a keynesian policy which eventually put the budget into surplus.
There is no way anyone can put the present budget into surplus with nominal GDP growth of 3%.
but hey guess what if nominal GDP got back to trend of roughly 7.5% then hey presto we get a surplus and why. Revenue!
See the Kouk's latest excellent column to see why.
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