SA Liberals reveal cost of election promises

A LIBERAL Government would spend an extra $300 million a year to deliver promises in its first term of office — while asking departments to make cuts to save around the same amount.

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A LIBERAL Government would spend an extra $300 million a year to deliver promises in its first term of office — while asking departments to make cuts to save around the same amount.

Liberal treasury spokesman Rob Lucas on Thursday released his party’s costing document ahead of Saturday’s state election.

It imposes a savings target on government agencies, which the party expects will recoup almost $1 billion over the next three years.

Mr Lucas said there was no “hard target” to cut public service jobs to achieve the savings, and frontline workers would be protected from any cuts.

Opposition treasury spokesman Rob Lucas reveals the costs of the SA Liberals election promises. Picture: AAP / Tracey Nearmy

“A Marshall Liberal government will not be sacking any teachers, doctors, nurses, police or other frontline staff,” he said.

The Health Department has been given a reprieve through a smaller savings target than all other government agencies.

Money saved by health agencies would be “quarantined for reinvestment in new health initiatives”, the document states.

It forecasts savings of about $276 million next financial year and surpluses over the forward estimates, rising to $336 million in 2020-21.

Mr Lucas added that a Liberal Government would also save:

$75 million by reducing the use of consultants and contractors.

$15.7 million by cutting the number of ministerial staff.

$15 million by reducing spending on government advertising and communications.

The Liberals would also scrap three chauffeur-driven cars currently provided to MPs chairing three parliamentary committees.

Mr Lucas said the Liberal costings had been independently analysed by firm Dennison Advisory.

Labor proposed a savings target across government agencies in its mid-year Budget update in December to recoup savings, including to cover the lost $370 million that would have been collected by the scrapped state bank tax.

Labor Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis is expected to release his party’s pre-election costings later on Thursday.

Mr Lucas said the Liberals would not proceed with a number of policies promised by Labor if there was a change of government, including:

$1.3 billion to remove seven level crossings.

$530 million to build two new tram routes to Norwood and North Adelaide.

$70 million to provide laptops to high school students.

$8 million to support the Port Adelaide Football Club Alberton expansion.

“We haven’t sought to outspend the Government,” Mr Lucas said.

“They’ve gone on a mad spending splurge prior to the election in a desperate attempt to buy votes.”