But we have already seen a dangerous 17 per cent spending increase this year. That is without taking account of the many recent spending promises. And again, the States won't offset this. In this respect, the contribution to the debate from ex-Prime Minister Keating is salutary. He was the architect of the famous iron Trilogy which held down taxes, spending and the deficit for the Hawke 'Banana Republic' ministry in the mid-1980s.
Experience shows that the only way to restrain expenditure is to remove temptation.
No frowns from the Treasurer will keep Ministers' hands out of the till if they think there is money to spend in an election year. Finally, there is the promise of this government that taxes would not increase. Well, they have.