The Treasurer’s responses in Budget Estimates today were basically limited to pleas to just trust him.
On the TasWater takeover, the Treasurer disagreed with claims that the accelerated schedule could not be achieved and that the takeover might be unlawful, but provided no evidence to back up his view.
To support these claims he repeatedly argued he had come to that view, without providing any detail of what rationale or evidence had led him there.
It was also reaffirmed that according to Treasury, his flagship housing policy involving stamp duty reforms would not have any material budget impact, due to the fact that people can currently get around this provision of the Act.
Despite this, the Treasurer is happy to continue claiming this could save some buyers up to $7,500 in stamp duty.
Once again, Mr Gutwein failed to explain how his payroll tax rebates would deliver jobs when it has failed to do so everywhere else it has been tried.
Again and again the Treasurer failed to defend poorly thought through, populist policies.
It has been reaffirmed that the Treasurer has squandered a GST and Stamp Duty windfall on policies and initiatives designed to get them through to the next election.
