Labor looking for life rafts as surplus sinks
20th December, 2012
A NEW chapter has been written into the annals of Labor lies, betrayal and failure. The much-touted and oft promised budget surplus is, officially, no more.In the shadow of Christmas, the World’s Greatest Treasurer Wayne Swan has confirmed what we have all known for five years… there will be no surplus under a government that Julia Gillard leads.
“Especially hard to stomach for families is the pain they have endured as Labor continued to deny its own incompetence, promising a surplus as recently as this week. Labor embarked on a litany of service cuts and introduced more than 20 new taxes… and there is still no surplus!
“A conga-line of Labor ministers have been dancing to the Treasurer’s tune, insisting a surplus would be delivered. Anthony Albanese stuck his neck out two days ago to continue the game - only to learn today the Treasurer has stopped the music.
“Labor’s announcement in the shadow of Christmas that Santa will not be putting a surplus under Wayne Swan’s Christmas tree goes to the heart of the dishonesty and trickiness that are the hallmarks of Labor’s five years in government.
“Labor has turned $70 billion in the bank into $150 billion of debt – a turnaround of $220 billion in just five years. They have chalked up $175 billion in cumulative budget deficits, all the biggest deficits in Australian history, and all despite the best terms of trade in 140 years.
“That’s an astonishing feat, even among Labor’s litany of disasters.
“Budget surpluses are just not in the ALP DNA. Managing money is a discipline they have proven time and time again they cannot master.
“What today’s admission signifies is that when Labor really puts its mind to something, it’s still a hopeless cause.
“The living standards of Australians have suffered as this government squandered its inherence and reneged on yet another repeated solemn commitment to the Australian people.
“The only thing you can bank on with Labor is more taxes, more waste and more debt. You cannot trust Labor, especially with your money.
“The Gillard Government is adrift, without a plan for the future and making it up as it goes along… that’s no way to run an economy or a country.”
[ENDS]
