Good stuff Roy. I agree with your proposals. The problem with austerity until Duncan took over the NT was that it was indiscriminate, across the board. The budget needs keyhole surgery, not a butcher's knife. I think you were around when Andrew D and I tried to lead such a process in 2012, but did not get political support. And more radical surgery in the SOE arena and among a range of other quangos would be helpful too. (Quango is a useful if dated UK term referring to 'a semi-public administrative body outside the civil service but receiving financial support from the government, which makes senior appointments to it'.)
Thanks Alan - yes, while I was in the Western Cape, the impact of the SOE bailouts was significant. To their credit, National Treasury made these trade offs very clear and public - showing, for example, how the SAA bailout led to cuts in education and health. I am excited about the possibility of an intelligent consolidation that improves the quality of spending.
Good stuff Roy. I agree with your proposals. The problem with austerity until Duncan took over the NT was that it was indiscriminate, across the board. The budget needs keyhole surgery, not a butcher's knife. I think you were around when Andrew D and I tried to lead such a process in 2012, but did not get political support. And more radical surgery in the SOE arena and among a range of other quangos would be helpful too. (Quango is a useful if dated UK term referring to 'a semi-public administrative body outside the civil service but receiving financial support from the government, which makes senior appointments to it'.)
Thanks Alan - yes, while I was in the Western Cape, the impact of the SOE bailouts was significant. To their credit, National Treasury made these trade offs very clear and public - showing, for example, how the SAA bailout led to cuts in education and health. I am excited about the possibility of an intelligent consolidation that improves the quality of spending.