And while it wasn't discussed in the interview, the Prime Minister is preparing a new budget to be presented on January 14th which will be the earliest budget ever presented, just edging out the election year 2003 budget presentation which was read on January 17th. And that's not the only thing new about this budget. A release from the Cabinet states that the budget proposals will be presented to the group known as "the social partners" including the trade union and business groups. The Prime Minister and his team led by Financial Secretary Dr. Carla Barnett will try to convince them that the new tax measures which are likely to include increases to business and sales tax are within the context of reform.
But if we are to judge by a letter sent today from the Chamber of Commerce and the National Trade Union Congress, the Prime Minister will have some convincing to do. The letter signed by NTUCB General Secretary George Frazer and Chamber president, Tux Vasquez warns that both groups will not agree to any new taxes until the government "addresses as a priority...a number of specific reforms." It goes on to say, "increased taxes without reform will not alleviate the problem."
Of course while the issue of reform is one thing, responsibility is another, and as the vast expanse of fiscal wreckage that is the DFC unfolds and the Social Security scandal is exposed by the Senate special select committee, it's clear that who's going to be held accountable for all this becomes as valid a question as who is going to fix it
