The Opposition attacked the Budget as a “”gutless”, “”no-jobs” Budget.
The Leader of the Opposition, Kate Carnell, said the Government had failed to make any of the tough decisions.
Despite cuts to public employment, the Government would spend $56 million more this year than last.
The 2 per cent cut across all departments would not work; it did not work last year when on 14 of 26 programs could not achieve the cuts.
The health strategy was founded on a claim that demand would not increase.
The Budget would not create one job, while South Australia, Queensland were giving incentives to the private sector to create jobs.
The voluntary separation scheme would cost about 400 jobs, there would be fewer jobs in construction because of the cut in the capital works programs and extra imposts on the private sector would cost jobs.
The voluntary separation scheme was untargeted and optimistic and was likely to result in a talent drain.
The Opposition spokesman on education, Greg Cornwell, said the Government was putting bricks and mortar before teachers and students.
He condemned the cut of 80 school-based positions _ one in each school.
The 2 per cent across-the-board cut was politically easy, but in the worst interests of ACT education, he said.
The spokesman on consumer affairs, Gary Humphries, said the rise in petrol prices would filter through to all products.
The Deputy Leader, Tony de Domenico, said the Government had not attacked the real problem at ACTION _ work practices. Workshop staff bore the brunt of cuts while “”drivers will continue to drive buses only three house out of an eight-hour shift, enjoy playing tennis, pingpong, darts, billiards and working out in the fully equipped gymnasium supplied by ACTION and the ratepayer”.
Independent MLA Michael Moore said, “”The Chief Ostrich has buried her head in the sand selling out the future of our children and the health of the less well off in our community. . . . .
“”Health has been cut by $3 million at a time when people have to wait more that six months for a tonsillectomy for their children. The wealth can use private hospitals but the less well off line up for basic health care.”
Independent MLA Helen Szuty said the education cuts were an unintelligent response tot he ACT’s financial position.
However, she was please with the Youth Joblink program and the new concessions for electricity and gas. She condemned the recurrent surplus of $12.8 million in difficult times.