Victorian Budget: GSP +1.5% BUT population +1.7%

Thu, 2014-02-27 22:06 by ilan

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The Victorian state budget was released today. The estimate for gross state product growth is 1.5% and population growth at 1.7% Note forecast for population growth has been raised to 1.7% for outlook period (until 2016) compared to 1.6% for previous budget. 0.1% seems tiny, but that is a 6.25% increase. No one is pointing out that per capita Victoria is going backwards.

Lots of mention of population growth, compared with the 2012-2013 budget, where the only mention of population was related to Victorian share of Commonwealth outlays.

From the Budget Overview, actually titled "BUILDING FOR GROWTH",
Building for Growth.pdf a quick search on "population" elicits the following:

The Coalition Government’s fiscal strategy allows it to advance major, transformational infrastructure projects, as well as the ongoing road, rail and other infrastructure required to keep pace with population growth Population growth in Melbourne, in particular in the west and north, will continue to place pressure on cross-city routes.

The Coalition Government continues to make significant investments in Victoria’s road network. These investments will meet the demands of a growing population and improve the safety and reliability of the State’s roads.

Monash Children’s Hospital Funded in the 2012-13 Budget Update, the new Monash Children’s hospital will deliver 230 paediatric beds to service growing populations in south east Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and south east Victoria.

Waurn Ponds Community Hospital – a new 32-bed community hospital in southern Geelong. This hospital will meet service pressures for the growing populations of Geelong and the Surf Coast Shire.

Planning for better cities The 2013-14 Budget funds several projects to plan for growth and change, and to cater for expected population growth. By laying the groundwork now, the Coalition Government is building for the future.

Targeting housing affordability As part of the 2013-14 Budget, the Coalition Government is targeting its support for first home buyers of new homes to improve first home affordability, increase jobs in the housing construction sector and increase the supply of housing to meet the demands of Victoria’s growing population.

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nimby

Fri, 2014-02-28 10:21

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Instead of "building for growth" what about services?

While our government boasts about how they lead the way in "managing population growth", they are hiding real cuts in spending, and "shortages" of public services - which is really due to an excessive population growth. Opposition education spokesman James Merlino said the shortage of investment in schools is causing chaos. Education now doesn't have a high priority. The government has cut education funding by $300 million for TAFE, $48 million from the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), with a total of $600 million cuts to public school spending. An Auditor General's report released last year showed that 33 per cent of schools – 505 in total – had buildings that were below standard. Melbourne’s population projected to reach 8.6 million, and Victoria 10.3 million by 2061, but spending on infrastructure and services are not being projected at a rate to match. A housing, development-based economy relishes the economic benefits from population growth, but the revenues fail to cover basic infrastructure demands. We have a dreaded "ageing population", but the cost the many years of dependency of children is overlooked. Education is an afterthought, a retro-fitting obligation for our present Napthine government. Rather, education should be thought of as an investment in skills, knowledge and leadership, to secure the future of the next generation in a post-growth era. The federal government is cutting $135 million from Victoria's health budget over the next three years, raising fears more Victorians will wait too long for care in public hospitals, doctors say. Victoria missed out on $20 million it was expected to receive last year and would get $135 million less over the next three years - the equivalent of nearly 5000 heart bypass operations or 6500 hip replacements. The Age: doctors say health budget cuts to Victoria may force longer wait for hospital care Plan Melbourne ambitiously is projecting our population's doubling, but the same isn't happening for public services, jobs, education and health care.

Anonymous (not verified)

Fri, 2014-02-28 13:41

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Danger! Napthine Summary offences and sentencing amendment bill

People should find out as much as possible about the Summary offences and sentencing amendment bill" currently in Victorian parliament. Many people are not aware that Victorian "tunnel vision" Premier Napthine and his government are pushing through legislation to give more power to police to deal with citizens who gather in groups to protest actively on certain government policy issues and unpopular projects. Police will be responsible to decide whose behaviour is unruly and to handcuff, detain and fine persons accordingly As I said to my local MP in an urgent email, we know this happens in China, North Korea and Russia but we dont need it in Australia, thankyou. I have attended many protest meetings and rallies and always valued my democratic right to do so. Although this legislation is disguised as being necessary for dealing with recalcitrant union members, community activists and demonstrators who supposedly prevent people going about daily activities, it is not hard to see how it will evolve to apply to protesters with banners who disagree with the Premier and his government when future issues concern the community. Already, with the aid of an independent "loose cannon" MP , the bill with the innocuous title "Summary offences and sentencing amendment bill" has already passed through the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and will soon be up for approval by the Legislative Council (Upper House). This devious chipping away at the democratic rights of Victorian citizens should not be allowed to slip through unnoticed. It is urgent that people question government MP's about this legislative assault on our democratic rights to object, assemble and protest. currently in Victorian parliament. Many people are not aware that Victorian "tunnel vision" Premier Napthine and his government are pushing through legislation to give more power to police to deal with citizens who gather in groups to protest actively on certain government policy issues and unpopular projects. Police will be responsible to decide whose behaviour is unruly and to handcuff, detain and fine persons accordingly As I said to my local MP in an urgent email, we know this happens in China, North Korea and Russia but we dont need it in Australia, thankyou. I have attended many protest meetings and rallies and always valued my democratic right to do so. Although this legislation is disguised as being necessary for dealing with recalcitrant union members, community activists and demonstrators who supposedly prevent people going about daily activities, it is not hard to see how it will evolve to apply to protesters with banners who disagree with the Premier and his government when future issues concern the community. Already, with the aid of an independent "loose cannon" MP , the bill with the innocuous title "Summary offences and sentencing amendment bill" has already passed through the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and will soon be up for approval by the Legislative Council (Upper House). This devious chipping away at the democratic rights of Victorian citizens should not be allowed to slip through unnoticed. It is urgent that people question government MP's about this legislative assault on our democratic rights to object, assemble and protest.

Dennisk (not verified)

Fri, 2014-02-28 15:38

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The ideals we developed are being discarded

There is a petition here:

Petitioning Victoria's Coalition Government

Stop Summary Offences and Sentencing Amendment Bill 2013

... at http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/victoria-s-coalition-government-stop-summary-offences-and-sentencing-amendment-bill-2013&npsp;.

Spread this far and wide.

Victorian Budget: GSP +1.5% BUT population +1.7%

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Instead of "building for growth" what about services?

Danger! Napthine Summary offences and sentencing amendment bill

The ideals we developed are being discarded

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