TRANSCRIPT

THE HON PETER COSTELLO MP
Treasurer

Doorstop Interview

Rydges Wentworth Hotel

Sydney

Friday, 23 July 2004

2.15 pm

SUBJECTS: Latham; Liverpool Council; Flood Report; Family Tax Benefits Payments

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) Liverpool Council?

TREASURER:

Oh well, I think it is now known that the Council was in deficit. As the audited

accounts have shown that he engaged in a lot of capital expenditure and said

that savings would materialise to pay for it and the savings didn’t materialise.

And if you read the evidence that has been given to the Inquiry it is quite

clear that he set in train a series of events which put it in a very bad financial

position.

JOURNALIST:

He says he has nothing to fear from the Report coming down from this Inquiry.

Do you think that is correct?

TREASURER:

Well you can read the evidence that has already been given and he was given

an opportunity on Lateline on Monday night to answer these things and he was

incapable of doing so. And as Lateline interviewer Tony Jones put to him, how

could he maintain that the Council was still in surplus when the audit accounts

show a deficit. And I think he has got a lot of explaining to do.

JOURNALIST:

This afternoon the Opposition has been asking for a copy of the classified

version of the Flood Report. What is your take on that?

TREASURER:

On their request…

JOURNALIST:

On their request.

TREASURER:

…or on the report? Oh well their request will no doubt be forwarded

to the relevant Minister, it will be the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister

and they will decide it.

JOURNALIST:

Do you think they should have access to it?

TREASURER:

It is a matter for the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.

JOURNALIST:

The Government agreed to double the finance for the ONA. When is that likely

to be put in place?

TREASURER:

Well, in relation to expenditures matters there would have to be either an

appropriation or there would have to be an advance from the Minister for Finance

if there is capacity to do that. But I imagine it would be put in place as soon

as possible.

JOURNALIST:

Treasurer (inaudible)?

TREASURER:

…as soon as possible.

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) $600 for families (inaudible) will that have a Budget impact or

was it already costed?

TREASURER:

No the, look we costed our proposals on the basis that every eligible family

would receive $600 per child per annum. Where there are some people that may

have fallen through the cracks we now have a system which can pick them up but

the costings have been done on the basis that everybody would receive it. So

that is already there.

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) carers payment (inaudible)?

TREASURER:

No.