Ms WOODRUFF question to TREASURER, Mr GUTWEIN
In the Leader of the Greens question to you, you refused to admit that you are trying to deceive Tasmanians, particularly the business community into believing you have delivered a surplus when in fact you have not. Will you now say that both the Auditor-General and your own Treasury Department are wrong?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a rubbish question; the member is making things up. The measure that is being discussed is not a standard accounting measure. It is just a table in the Budget to ensure the people understand what the ebb and flow is of capital, especially capital from the federal Government. That is it, yet you stand and suggest I deceive people. The net operating balance is the accepted measure for whether you have a surplus or a deficit in value each year. On that side of the House you became practised at ensuring that it was in deficit. On this side of the House we are going to take it to surplus. That is the difference. I reject the suggestion in that question.