BENSON:
David Bradbury, one of the headlines the Government is looking to the Budget to produce is that there is a surplus, the promise of about a $1.5 billion surplus is the consensus. But a surplus that small could be wiped out by a storm in Queensland. You can't predict a surplus of that margin over the next 12 months.
BRADBURY:
This is no precise science, it never has been but it can work both ways. In the same way that a deficit that is forecast might come in a bit bigger or a bit smaller, a surplus that's forecast might come in a bit bigger or smaller.
BENSON:
So you're saying the surplus might come in a bit smaller than $1.5 billion? There's not much scope.
BRADBURY:
No, what I'm saying is that, and I'm saying this very clearly, we are returning the Budget to surplus. That requires a very big savings exercise. A lot of effort has gone into ensuring that we make the necessary hard decisions so that we can achieve that, but in terms of the broader point you make on forecasts and final Budget outcomes, well these are matters that ultimately we see what occurs when the final Budget outcome comes into effect.
BENSON:
Well aren't you there agreeing that when you're spending $400 billion over the next year or so, you can't predict down to the last $1.5 billion?
BRADBURY:
We are handing down a Budget that will be in surplus. That's what we promised and that's what we'll be delivering.
BENSON:
There was another specific promise that company tax would be cut as a result of the mining tax – it would go down from 30 per cent to 29 cent – that promise has been scrapped?
BRADBURY:
Well you'll have to wait and see for the full details of what we do release in the Budget tonight. Obviously that's something that we've been advocating, that is something that we've had some difficulty in securing support from the Parliament in order to achieve. I make the point that when we look at the proposed company tax cuts, this is one area, and I find it extraordinary, where we have not been able to obtain support from the Opposition when it comes to delivering a tax cut for business.
BENSON:
You're promising a tough Budget. The Treasurer's talking about the toughest in 25 years but it will in the next few weeks be raining money for various people – parents with school children, amongst others, and there'll be compensation for the carbon tax. The Opposition is saying you're trying to be Santa Claus and Scrooge at the same time.
BRADBURY:
That also represents the mixed messaging from the Opposition. They don't know whether to attach us for this Budget being too hard or too soft. I suggest that people wait until the Budget is released in its detail.
BENSON:
David Bradbury, this is quite a different Budget day because the Budget is struggling to get attention over the scandal swirling around Craig Thomson. Are you happy to be part of a Government which relies, for its survival, on the vote of Craig Thomson after he's been found to have misused hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds on everything from prostitutes to politics?
BRADBURY:
Well Marius there are processes in place and the Government has been consistent in saying that it's appropriate to let those processes run their course.
BENSON:
Those processes have already produced findings. Those findings were released yesterday. He misused, according to Fair Work Australia, hundreds of thousands of dollars for prostitutes and politics, as I said. Are you happy to rely on his support?
BRADBURY:
These are findings that have been brought forward by Fair Work Australia. Fair Work Australia will now progress these matters to the next stage, whatever that might be. There are formal processes that these matters will still have to go through and it's appropriate that that be the case. In terms of Mr Thomson's vote, then I simply make this point, that Members are elected to the Parliament by their communities. Their communities require that that Member remember their interests. There's no provision anywhere in the Constitution or otherwise for people to be disenfranchising Members, unless and until they are shown to have not met all of the relevant qualification requirements. This is not different in that respect to many other cases where there's precedent on these matters before.
BENSON:
David Bradbury, thank you very much.
BRADBURY:
Thanks very much Marius.