ACT budget fire-sale

By Tim Gooden

CANBERRA -- The ACT budget, released on September 24, puts Action Buses and three ACT government buildings up for sale in a controversial effort to balance the books through $100 million worth of asset sales.

The Greens and independent MLAs have expressed concern at the sell-off. A Community and Public Sector Union bulletin says the budget "fails to put money where the Chief Minister's mouth is".

Chief Minister Kate Carnell claims a $10 million surplus in last year's budget, but ALP opposition leader Andrew Whitecoss claims there is actually a $90 million deficit. Instead of borrowing, the Carnell government has sold off public assets which will be leased back.

Despite a record 8.9% unemployment rate (50% for youth) in the ACT, the budget projects zero employment growth over the next period. Carnell said in her budget speech, "We can not stand back and watch our economy and citizens suffer the pain of Commonwealth funding reductions and redundancies without doing anything", but has allocated $12 million for (around 500) redundancies in the ACT public service.

A $15 levy on vehicle registration will pay for one additional ambulance for the ACT.

Business is the winner in this budget, which exempts an additional 130 businesses from payroll tax. Despite a $20 million shortfall in stamp duty payments last year, mining giant CRA had its $10 million debt waived.

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