The Ministry of Finance is delighted to announce the launch of the "Tips for Trevor" campaign, which enters its fifth year. The Tips for Trevor campaign allows members of the public to put forward comments and suggestions for the upcoming budget, which the Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will deliver toparliament on 18 February 2004.
Five years ago the Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel called on South Africans from all walks of life to put forward their suggestions of what they would like to see included in the Budget. The "Tips for Trevor" was first mooted after a national radio programme on SAfm invited its listeners to phone in and provide tips for the budget presented by Trevor Manuel. The National Treasury has since taken on the campaign which runs on its website throughout the year.
Before last year's speech more than 1500 South Africans from diverse corners of the country offered their advice to the Minister. Many gave technical advice on tax issues and spending while others found the time to think through innovative and creative suggestions. In Cape Town, an organisation in an area called Vrygrond went as far as organising a "Tips for Trevor" workshop to draw on suggestions from their community for the Minister. The Minister in his budget speech often make reference to the suggestions received because of the Tips for Trevor campaign, even mentioning a few of them during the speech. Last year, the Minister invited two members of the public who forwarded their Tips to the Minister to a meeting to discuss their suggestions.
Since the budget speech last year, some of the ideas put to the Minister include a freeze salaries and wages as a short term measure to job creation, higher taxes on guns and tax relief on school fees, amongst others.
The Minister will deliver his Budget speech on 18 February 2004 in parliament in Cape Town. He keenly awaits ideas and suggestions from all South Africans.
Members of the public are therefore invited to forward their "Tips to Trevor" and perhaps get a mention in this year's budget speech.