NSW Labor's biggest Achilles heel? Hubris
When NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey heard that his third budget was widely being described as boring, it would have been a relief. Mookhey is known for his colourful frames, eclectic music taste and a penchant for the quirky, but he would take 'boring' over most other descriptors that could be thrown at his budget.
No big cash splashes, no reckless spending. Indeed, Mookhey even forecast a slim surplus (yes, just $1 billion) in coming years – a lofty promise that may well not materialise. It's contained in the budget papers, nonetheless.
But also in those budget papers is a clear signal that NSW Labor's pious stance in opposition is starting to take a different turn since it found itself in power. Hubris has started to seep into NSW Labor as it settles into government.
Here's a good example. In opposition, Labor boasted it would stop a treasurer from spending on a whim. The Coalition government had seen pork-barrelling, in the words of former premier Gladys Berejiklian, as 'not illegal'. It pork-barrelled to curry favour with voters. Labor vowed to do things differently, as a matter of principle.
A Labor government would abolish a little-known but long-existing 'Advance to the Treasurer', which allowed for a pot of money to be set aside for whoever held that office to deal with unforseen expenses. 'The Labor Party will promote stronger budgeting and clean up imprudent ad hoc spending,' the ALP boasted in its election costing request to the Parliamentary Budget Office, 'by eliminating the Advance to the Treasurer.'
Loading
Scrapping that advance, according to the budget office, would save $50 million, although it warned that it would 'reduce the government's capacity to undertake unexpected discretionary expenditures'. Axe it and the government would need to find savings elsewhere in the budget.
In the Coalition's final budget, delivered by then-treasurer Matt Kean, $120 million was set aside in the treasurer's advance for state contingencies, although it was not all spent before they were turfed from power. Labor stuck to its word, and there was no advance in its first budget. By its second budget, however, an eerily similar fund emerged in its appropriation bill.
Called a ' special appropriation for the treasurer', $322 million was set aside in last year's budget for state contingencies, essential services and 'expenditure related to the government's election commitments'. No specifics but a big pot of money. In this budget, that has ballooned to $868 million, again to be used on such things as election commitments.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Premier's surprise sledge in parliament
NSW Premier Chris Minns has slammed former Labor MLC Mark Latham as 'Australia's biggest bigot' in a surprise spray in state parliament. Mr Minns unleashed on the one-time One Nation NSW leader during question time on Thursday after he was asked about the blockage to reforms. The Premier summed up the challenges as he saw them in 'three words' – The Legislative Council – and claimed it appeared Mr Latham was 'calling the shots'. He accused Mr Latham of repeating 'old tropes' on his 'odious Twitter account' when referring to the Dural caravan 'hoax' and anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney this year. NSW Premier Chris Minns has slammed former Labor MLC Mark Latham as 'Australia's biggest bigot'. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia 'It may not shock people in the gallery of this parliament that one of Australia's biggest bigots doesn't like hate speech laws, but that doesn't mean they're not justified. 'I want to correct the record for members in the gallery and in the public, there were 14 incidents involved of anti-Semitism related to the Dural caravan inquiry. 'There were 367 anti-Semitism attacks in NSW over the past two years, 367 wisely ignored by the member in that other place, Mark Latham.' Mr Minns claimed there was a 'coalition emerging' between the Greens in the Upper House, the Legislative Council, the Coalition, and One Nation. He claimed they were 'voting together day after day' to 'platform one of the most shameful bigots in NSW', referring to Mr Latham. Mr Minns had been asked about the impediments to reform. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia 'At some point, members of this parliament and the other house have to stand against this bigotry,' Mr Minns said. It comes amid mounting tensions between the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, in particular over the Dural caravan inquiry. Five staffers from Mr Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley's office were at risk of arrest this week after they failed to appear before the inquiry last week. They have since agreed to appear on Friday before the inquiry, which seeks to establish who knew what and when about the explosive-laden caravan. Proceedings were interrupted briefly by a protester who was later seen being escorted by security from the parliament complex.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman pledges to establish AI minister
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has pledged to establish a minister for artificial intelligence and slammed the Labor government's budget as a 'Band-Aid' written in 'red ink' amid soaring cost of living. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey delivered Labor's third budget on Tuesday, with a new housing developer guarantee scheme and funding for vulnerable children. In his budget reply speech, Mr Speakman pledged to address low productivity growth in the state, which the budget said would continue 'without meaningful technological breakthrough', by embracing 'responsible artificial intelligence across public service processes'. Mr Speakman said the controversial technology would improve services and free up teachers, healthcare professionals and public servants to 'engage directly with people in problems, instead of being tied up with unnecessary administrative burdens'. 'This work would be preceded by the development of an AI opportunities action plan, as in the UK, overseen by a dedicated minister for artificial intelligence,' he said. 'For small and medium business owners looking to get ahead using AI, a Coalition government would set 'AI for biz' – a zero, low-interest loan scheme for small and medium businesses looking to introduce responsible AI into their business operations.' Mr Speakman used his address on Thursday to make his pitch on what a future Coalition government would look like, more details of which would emerge in the many months to come before the next state election. Among his pledges were to advocate for the restoration of the First Home Buyer Choice Program, 'removing the burden of stamp duty for young people trying to get into the market', and exempting stamp duty for eligible older Australians looking to downsize. On cost of living, Mr Speakman said he would call on the state government to reinstate the Full Active Kids Program as well as introduce a 'fairer' payroll tax scheme for small and medium-sized businesses, establish preventive health hubs, expand telehealth, and prioritise emergency care. Mr Speakman earlier praised the former Coalition government as the state's 'most successful' and accused Labor of failing to deliver more infrastructure. 'Labor has no plan to replace the pipeline of projects that have underpinned job creation, economic growth, and service delivery across the state,' he said on Thursday. 'Instead, under Labor, there's a whopping cut of public infrastructure investment as a share of the economy.' Mr Speakman described the budget as being 'written in red ink'. 'A budget of debt, not discipline, a budget of vagaries, not vision, a budget that's about papering over the cracks rather than building for the long term. 'A budget putting Band-Aids on the major problems faced by the state, like housing, cost of living, infrastructure and health. 'A budget that will be forgotten, even if the costs, the waste, and the missed opportunities that it presents linger long afterwards. 'Past this parliament and a budget which, after two years in office, shows the mettle of this government. 'A government sleepwalking through its term already out of steam. 'A government more focused on spin and soft congratulations than results, while everyday people see this state go backwards.' Mr Speakman said Labor had failed to deliver any additional cost-of-living support and was 'investing less in the future while letting debt spiral'. 'It's ordinary families who are paying the price while the government is building less, it's borrowing more on its own,' he said. He went on to describe Labor's projected 2028 budgetary surplus as a 'fairytale'. He noted there was also no provision in the budget for potential public service wage rises above the government's current offer. Originally published as NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman pledges to establish AI minister in budget reply
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
State leader's shock AI call
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has pledged to establish a minister for artificial intelligence and slammed the Labor government's budget as a 'Band-Aid' written in 'red ink' amid soaring cost of living. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey delivered Labor's third budget on Tuesday, with a new housing developer guarantee scheme and funding for vulnerable children. In his budget reply speech, Mr Speakman pledged to address low productivity growth in the state, which the budget said would continue 'without meaningful technological breakthrough', by embracing 'responsible artificial intelligence across public service processes'. Mr Speakman said the controversial technology would improve services and free up teachers, healthcare professionals and public servants to 'engage directly with people in problems, instead of being tied up with unnecessary administrative burdens'. 'This work would be preceded by the development of an AI opportunities action plan, as in the UK, overseen by a dedicated minister for artificial intelligence,' he said. NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has slammed the Labor government's budget as a 'Band-Aid'. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia 'For small and medium business owners looking to get ahead using AI, a Coalition government would set 'AI for biz' – a zero, low-interest loan scheme for small and medium businesses looking to introduce responsible AI into their business operations.' Mr Speakman used his address on Thursday to make his pitch on what a future Coalition government would look like, more details of which would emerge in the many months to come before the next state election. Among his pledges were to advocate for the restoration of the First Home Buyer Choice Program, 'removing the burden of stamp duty for young people trying to get into the market', and exempting stamp duty for eligible older Australians looking to downsize. On cost of living, Mr Speakman said he would call on the state government to reinstate the Full Active Kids Program as well as introduce a 'fairer' payroll tax scheme for small and medium-sized businesses, establish preventive health hubs, expand telehealth, and prioritise emergency care. Mr Speakman earlier praised the former Coalition government as the state's 'most successful' and accused Labor of failing to deliver more infrastructure. 'Labor has no plan to replace the pipeline of projects that have underpinned job creation, economic growth, and service delivery across the state,' he said on Thursday. 'Instead, under Labor, there's a whopping cut of public infrastructure investment as a share of the economy.' Mr Speakman described the budget as being 'written in red ink'. 'A budget of debt, not discipline, a budget of vagaries, not vision, a budget that's about papering over the cracks rather than building for the long term. 'A budget putting Band-Aids on the major problems faced by the state, like housing, cost of living, infrastructure and health. 'A budget that will be forgotten, even if the costs, the waste, and the missed opportunities that it presents linger long afterwards. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey delivered Labor's third budget on Tuesday. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia 'Past this parliament and a budget which, after two years in office, shows the mettle of this government. 'A government sleepwalking through its term already out of steam. 'A government more focused on spin and soft congratulations than results, while everyday people see this state go backwards.' Mr Speakman said Labor had failed to deliver any additional cost-of-living support and was 'investing less in the future while letting debt spiral'. 'It's ordinary families who are paying the price while the government is building less, it's borrowing more on its own,' he said. He went on to describe Labor's projected 2028 budgetary surplus as a 'fairytale'. He noted there was also no provision in the budget for potential public service wage rises above the government's current offer.
