SA budget 2011-12
The federal budget was not much interest for me but state budget brought be closer. As always, since my career started, keen on national budget. That’s why I am waiting Bhutan’s national budget as well, later this month.
Here in South Australia, Treasurer Jack Snelling’s presented his first State Budget on Thursday. I might not be able to give detail script of the budget yet my best attempt is to simplify it. Last year, the state government projected $55 million surplus budget but it came out to be $ 263 deficit.
The state government will further public sector job cuts (400) and lease out the state’s lotteries to private sector will help the SA government to increase infrastructure projects. $8000 first homeowners grant has been slashed and new liquor licensing fees and motor registration fees have been increased.
State government will spend extra $133.3 million over the next four years on health care, $69.1 million on child protection, $37.5 million for people with disability and needs carers, $19.3 million for breast cancer screening and $10.8 million for much-needed equipment for people with a disability.
The government will invest $3.3 billion in its infrastructure including Adelaide Oval, the Southern Expressway duplication, the Seaford rail line expansion and the Flinders Medical Centre redevelopment.
Rural sector budget has been slashed by $6 billion which will affect Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA.
The Agriculture, Food and Fisheries budget has been slashed, down from $216 million to $181 million.
Pleas for land and payroll tax relief have been ignored. Local news analysis project that payroll tax take is expected to increase 9.5 per cent to $1.04 billion next financial year – the first time it has topped $1 billion, and a $91 million increase and total property taxes are expected to increase by 7.4 per cent to $1.76 billion.
The Government pledged $1 million for funding over the next two years to small and medium sized businesses with overseas trade missions, language support and business matching. Another $5.3 million has been allocated for next five years for a refurbishment and upgrade of Technology Park.
Other highlights of the budget include:
More red lights camera on roads to scrutinise drivers, improving quality of life of the state’s 20,000 disabled citizens, two major redevelopment projects at metropolitan hospitals will be delayed to create savings, $50m to manage electric trains but the work has been delayed, pensioners get bigger water concessions, ignores the environment over families and infrastructure, preschools shifted to school campuses, the South Australian Art Gallery has been given $1.2 million – but sport funding has been cut.
This is certainly a fantastic write-up. Many thanks for making the effort to describe this all out for all of us. It is a great guide!
I donot know others but more red light camera is an alert for me. May be for u too 🙂