Labor wastereport Card 2011

Whether it be through the mismanagement of government programs,

bad policy decisions, or a total disregard for the term ‘value for money’, Labor continues to waste taxpayers’ money.

Jamie Briggs MP

www.laborwaste.com

at the Last eLeCtion, JuLia GiLLard promised she wouLd “maintain spendinG restraint”.

twelve months on and spending has increased, wasteful spending has carried on and the debt continues to pile up.

millions of dollars have been wasted on carbon tax ads and market research. billions have been wasted trying to fix Labor’s border protection mess. more examples of ber waste have been revealed. The clean-up bills for the home insulation scheme are rolling in. The Computers in schools program budget has blown-out, again. The nbn continues to proceed without a cost benefit analysis.

and then there are new programs being implemented which are ripe for more waste such as the $308 million set top box program and the $10 billion ‘Gillard bank’.

despite grand promises, Labor has again failed to deliver when it comes to sound management of taxpayers’ money.

in fact, the Coalition’s scrutiny of Government Committee has uncovered approximately $4.1 billion in new waste since the last election.

together with the waste revealed before the last election in the ber program, home insulation scheme and the immigration budget, wasteful spending tops approximately $8.3 billion.

whether it be through the mismanagement of government programs, bad policy decisions, or a total disregard for the term ‘value for money’, Labor continues to waste taxpayers’ money.

despite the rhetoric, Labor are not economic conservatives and they are not exercising fiscal restraint. The only way to stop Labor’s waste and to pay back the debt is to change the Government.

Jamie Briggs MPChair, scrutiny of Government Committee

Jamie Briggs MP

Scrutiny of Government Committee: Kelly o’dwyer mp, paul Fletcher mp, senator mary Jo Fisher, senator david bushby

More waste, More debt:

12 MonthS SinCe the 2010 eLeCtion and LaBor’S SeCond terM iS LookinG MuCh Like itS firSt.

report Card

$150 billion worth of deficits

$250 billion debt ceiling shame

$10 billion of stimulus spending yet to be spent

$10 billion ‘Gillard bank’, recipe for more waste

$25 million carbon tax propaganda

$1.75 billion immigration budget blow-out, taking total blow-out to $3 billion

$67 million wasted in admin fees on set top box program

$1.5 billion wasted under ber program, taking total waste to $3.2 billion

$500 million home insulation clean up bill

$200 million Computers in schools blow-out, taking total blow-out to $1.4 billion

$20 million gift to unions

$1 million travel bill for Kevin rudd’s overseas trips

$7 million wasted on market research to test government policies

$1 million staff blow-out in pmo; 24,000 public service jobs blow-out

$7 million in staff payouts following Kevin rudd’s political assassination and subsequent election

$15 million Green fund rip-off

$30 million wasted in admin costs to deliver indigenous housing programs

$30 million Green start clean up bill

$13 million wasted advertising Kevin rudd’s dumped health reforms

$1 million spent on office plants

$300,000 spent on replacing carpets in ministerial suites

$110,000 flower bill for Governor-General’s residence

$60,000 wasted on a “national Carbon offset standard” logo

$10,000 spent removing a tree and possum-proofing Kirribilli

$66,000 for new hot water system at The Lodge

$542,000 spent covering department’s bbQ area

Labor’s Waste August 2011assessment:

Approximately $4.1 billion in new waste

date:

LaBor deLiverS $150 BiLLion worth of defiCitS

Labor’s fourth budget again failed to rein in spending.

Labor has now accumulated over $150 billion worth of deficits since coming to office.

this year’s Budget deficit soared to $49.4 billion and the forecast deficit in 2011-12 has blown out by $9.6 billion to $22.6 billion.

net government debt will now climb to a record $107 billion in 2011-12 and is forecast to remain above $100 billion across the forward estimates. This amounts to more than $4700 for every australian.

by 2014-15 the Government will be spending $7.5 billion a year or around $20 million a day on interest payments.

This financial year, Labor will borrow $135 million every day, or almost $1 billion a week to fund its reckless spending spree.

despite Julia Gillard claiming there would be a “tight rein on spending”, spending decisions taken by Labor since november 2010 increased expenditure by around $19 billion.

LaBor’S $250 BiLLion deBt ShaMe

Labor has again lifted the debt ceiling to pay for its reckless and wasteful spending, this time by $50 billion to $250 billion.

if Labor was actually reining in spending, as they say they are, then why did they need to increase the debt ceiling, again?

two years ago, Labor increased the ceiling from $75 billion to $200 billion to pay for stimulus measures.

to raise it again clearly demonstrates that Labor continues to spend money and has not made the tough decisions needed to rein in debt.

FACT:Labor wasted almost $13 million advertising Kevin Rudd’s now obsolete health reforms. Unbelievably, it used taxpayer money to make claims it now says were not correct.

FACT:The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations spent more than $1 million to decorate offices with pot plants. Liberal Senator Brett Mason said: “It is $1 million of taxpayers’ money just spent on the bureaucrats’ visual pleasure; not even a lasting asset for the department.”

$10 BiLLion of StiMuLuS SPendinG yet to Be SPent

Labor’s 2008-09 stimulus measures will cost taxpayers $87 billion, $10 billion of which will be spent this financial year.

Labor’s continued stimulus spending, two years on from the worst of the financial crisis, is adding to debt and increasing pressure on interest rates.

The Coalition’s Finance spokesperson, andrew robb said: “i think most australians will be surprised tho learn that another $10 billion of stimulus is being spent in 2011-12 in response to the GFC back in 2008. if ever there was proof of the extent of Labor’s overreaction then surely this is it.”

$10 BiLLion ‘GiLLard Bank’ reCiPe for More waSte

The Labor-Greens $10 billion Clean energy Finance Corporation is a recipe for billions of dollars of more waste.

The ‘Gillard bank’ will invest in renewable energy projects that conventional financers would not touch because they would be deemed too risky.

in effect, taxpayers will be part owners and financers of high risk speculative ventures.

The ‘Gillard bank’ is to be funded off budget, so Labor can maintain its dodgy claim of running a surplus in 2012-13.

This also means it will be able to spend taxpayers’ money without having to do a cost benefit analysis for its decisions, just like Labor’s other huge off-budget project, the nbn.

This is a government that has wasted billions on pink batts and over-priced school halls.

how can Labor be trusted to oversee a $10 billion government bank?

FACT:Labor Ministers have spent $300,000 replacing perfectly good carpet in their offices since coming to power in 2007. Julia Gillard was the biggest spender, wasting $25,876 replacing carpet and locks in her suite while Deputy Prime Minister.

$25 MiLLion CarBon tax ProPaGanda

Julia Gillard is wasting at least $25 million of taxpayers’ money advertising a policy she promised the australian people she would not implement.

of the $25 million, $12 million is being spent on television ads and another $13 million has been put away for flyers and mail-outs.

This blatant political advertising is another broken promise by Julia Gillard. in opposition, she said herself taxpayer-funded advertising was an abuse.

$1.75 BiLLion iMMiGration BudGet BLow-out

Labor’s fourth successive budget deficit revealed an immigration budget blow-out of $1.75 billion, taking the total cost of Labor’s failed border protection policies to $3 billion. This includes the $292 million cost for the malaysian agreement.

the annual asylum seeker management bill is now costing more than $1 billion a year. This rising cost to the taxpayer is a creation of Labor’s own making.

as shadow minister for immigration, scott morrison said: “taxpayers will directly foot the bill for Labor’s successive policy failures, from their asylum freeze that has gridlocked our detention centres to their most recent desperate 5 for 1 refugee swap that will cost taxpayers more than $290 million alone.”

even if the boats stopped today, taxpayers will be paying for Labor’s failed border protection policies for years.

$67 MiLLion waSted in adMin feeS on Set toP Box ProGraM

Labor’s latest spending initiative – overpriced set top boxes – is yet another example of the Government’s addiction to spending.

Just like pink batts and green loans, this program is fraught with danger and a magnet for unqualified fly-by-nighters. The aCCC has even put the scheme on its sCamwatch website.

under the proposal, set top boxes will be installed in eligible homes for $350 for each; but harvey norman says it can do the same thing for $168!

Furthermore, Kogan technologies chief executive ruslan Kogan said: “we estimate the $308 million scheme could be completed for only $50 million.”

This was followed by revelations that $67 million will be spent on administering the scheme.

if there is a government that can find a way to waste money, it will be this one. taxpayers have every right to ask if this is value for money.

Ber ShaMBLeS roLLS on, rePort Card SayS BiLLionS waSted

The latest ber taskforce report has revealed at least $1.5 billion of taxpayers’ money was wasted in victorian and nSw public schools.

The taskforce found costs in these schools were on average 60% higher than in Catholic schools.

however, this report only touches the surface of the waste and mismanagement under this program. The taskforce only fully audited the costings of 137 projects and only examined complaints received.

a judicial inquiry, with the power to subpoena documents and summon witness is needed to uncover the true extent of the waste and mismanagement under the ber program.

This report came shortly after senate estimates revealed the ber program is way behind schedule, with $2 billion of funding still to be spent.

with the $1.7 billion ber blow-out revealed in Labor’s first term, at least $3 billion of taxpayers’ money has been wasted through budget blow-outs and excessive building costs under this program.

$500 MiLLion hoMe inSuLation CLean uP BiLL

The auditor General has delivered a damning report into the mismanagement of the disastrous home insulation scheme, confirming that Labor’s mismanagement seriously threatened the safety of workers and home owners.

the report placed the blame squarely at the feet of Labor. The scheme, once touted by peter Garrett as an “exciting and ambitious energy efficiency program”, led to four deaths and almost 200 house fires, and left more than 300,000 homeowners potentially exposed to serious safety risks.

taxpayers are now spending $85 million to check and fix homes fitted with foil insulation and a further $340 million to inspect 150,000 homes with non-foil insulation.

together with the $56 million assistance package already set aside, the total clean up bill has cost taxpayers almost $500 million.

$200 MiLLion CoMPuterS in SChooLS ProGraM BLow-out, way Behind SCheduLe.

another cost blow-out in the Computers in school program has been revealed, this time by $200 million, taking the total blow-out to over $1.4 billion.

This revelation came shortly after Julia Gillard admitted that Labor had delivered under half of the 1 million computers promised by december 2011.

if Labor is to achieve their december deadline, they will have to provide around 600,000 computers in less than six months, that’s more than Labor has managed to deliver in three and a half years.

again, a Labor spending program is over budget and way behind schedule.

FACT:The Attorney General’s Department has spent $542,000 constructing a roof to cover a BBQ area. The roof will address OH&S issues, such as “reflection of light from the pavement”.

$20 MiLLion Gift to unionS

Labor has quietly handed $20 million to the unions in the last two Federal budgets.

in the 2010-11 budget, Labor allocated $10 million for “trade union education foundation grant”. in this year’s budget, $10 million was handed to unions for supposably ‘education resources to their membership’.

it is interesting to note that Labor received approximately $20 million in donations from unions leading up to the 2010 election. Coincidence or reimbursement?

rudd CLoCkS uP $1 MiLLion traveL BiLL in JuSt 9 MonthS in his first nine months as Foreign minister, Kevin rudd visited more than 50 countries during 14 overseas tours, clocking up approximately 500,000km and costing an estimated $1.1 million.

spending over a million dollars in just nine months flying to many countries that australia has little strategic interest in raises taxpayers’ collective eyebrows. The Foreign minister of australia should travel overseas, but it shouldn’t be done like donald trump. This jet-setting far outstrips that of his predecessor, stephen smith who in his first six months as Foreign minister spent less than $150,000 on overseas travel.

$7 MiLLion waSted on Market reSearCh

in just six months, Labor has wasted $7 million on market research testing Federal Government policies.

This includes $1.2 million on developing its communications campaign on climate change, $754,160 testing the waters on pokies reform, and $406,532 testing the cigarette plain packaging policy.

This confirms paul Keating’s view that the Labor party is run by people who “…won't get out of bed in the morning unless they've had a focus group report telling them which side to get out."

FACT:The PM spent $8200 on removing a storm damaged tree at the Lodge and $1560 on putting possum collars on a camphor laurel tree at Kirribilli. In addition, Julia Gillard has received a new $66,000 hot water system at The Lodge, equivalent to replacing hot water systems in about 20 ordinary homes. And the new system isn’t even solar!

$1 MiLLion Staff BLow-out in PMo, PuBLiC ServiCe BaLLooninG

staff numbers in the prime minister’s office have blown out by almost 30% since Labor came to office in 2007, costing an additional $1 million a year.

This is despite Labor promising at the 2007 election to slash ministerial staffing levels.

This is on top of revelations that Labor has employed an additional 24,000 public servants since 2007.

That is an additional 6,000 public servants each year on average.

LaBor Staff revoLvinG door CoStS $7 MiLLion

The indulgence of the faceless men in knifing Kevin rudd had multi-million dollar consequence for the australian taxpayer.

The australian taxpayer paid $1.3 million in staff payments to terminated staff immediately following the political assassination of Kevin rudd, and a further $5.5 million following the subsequent election.

not only did australians wake up to a new Prime Minister on 24 June 2010, they also awoke to a massive bill.

while the faceless men who executed Kevin rudd have all been promoted by Julia Gillard, the australian people have had to pick up the tab.

FACT:Labor wasted $60,000 on designing a “National Carbon Offset Standard” logo, a logo experts say has no ‘wow’ factor.

$15 MiLLion Green fund riP-off

taxpayers are forking out a hefty $2022 for each tonne of carbon dioxide saved under Labor’s Green precincts Fund.

Labor has splurged $15 million on a dozen ‘demonstration’ projects under the program, including a $1.2 million grant to Cate blanchett’s sydney Theatre Company. This project will reduce the company’s energy bill by $98,000, but leave the australian taxpayer with a million dollar bill.

while australians wrestle with increased power bills, Labor continues to find new ways to burn money.

$30 MiLLion Pay out aS LaBor duMPS Green Start

again, taxpayers have been left with a multi-million dollar bill to clean-up another failed government program.

Labor’s dumping of its Green start program (The Green Loans replacement) left taxpayers with a $30 million bill to compensate the estimated 10,000 assessors who were left without work or had undertaken training to do a job that no longer exists.

$30 MiLLion SPent on adMin CoStS

over $20 million was wasted on administration costs under the $65 million strategic indigenous housing and infrastructure program.

This followed revelations in december 2010 that $10 million has been spent on administration fees to deliver just 15 loans worth $2.7 million under an indigenous home ownership program.

again, Labor has failed to deliver a program without wasting millions of dollars in the process.

FACT:Taxpayers foot a $110k flower bill for Governor-General Quentin Bryce’s official residences.

Printed and authorised by Jamie Briggs MP, Shop 1, 72 Gawler Street, Mount Barker Sa 5251.