Today I invite Australian families, individuals, businesses and community groups to submit their ideas and priorities for the 2012-13 Budget.
While Europe is dealing with a sovereign debt crisis, the Australian economy continues to outperform the developed world with solid growth prospects, strong public finances, low unemployment, and a record pipeline of resources investment.
The budget is on track to return to surplus in 2012-13 despite the significant global headwinds that have reduced government revenues by around $140 billion over five years.
The Government will continue its disciplined approach to spending, while also providing the necessary social protections for the most vulnerable in our community and ensuring our nation is prepared for long-term challenges such as the transition to a clean energy future and the ageing of the population.
Community views are a vital part of the development of Government policies and the budget process.
For the 2011-12 Budget, I received over 300 submissions that provided an insight into the challenges faced across our nation and opportunities to improve policy outcomes for all Australians.
In order to allow views to feed into the budget process at an early stage, I ask that interested parties lodge submissions as soon as possible, and no later than Friday, 27 January 2012.
Submissions should consider the Government's strong commitment to fiscal discipline and the need to offset any proposed new spending with equivalent savings.
Lengthier submissions should ideally include an executive summary of no more than two pages, and be accompanied by an electronic version, either on disk or CD, or emailed in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat format.
Submissions should be forwarded to the address below:
Budget Policy Division
Department of the Treasury
Langton Crescent
PARKES ACT 2600
Or email to: prebudgetsubs@treasury.gov.au
Contact officer: Mr Kurt Hockey
Telephone: (02) 6263 2028