TED Baillieu has flagged dumping or deferring some of his big-spending election promises if an audit of Victoria's finances reveals holes in the budget.

He has vowed to ditch some of the Brumby government's most contentious projects and policies, saying the $750 million north-south water pipeline will be "shut down", changes to clearway times in inner-suburban shopping strips will be reversed, and planning laws allowing high-rise residential developments along suburban train and tram corridors will be overturned.

In his first media conference since becoming Premier-elect, Mr Baillieu also pledged to quickly implement his reform agenda, including:

■ Deploying armed police on railway stations at night, despite concerns from the head of Metro, Andrew Lezala, that this could result in innocent passengers being shot.

■ Implementing all the recommendations of the Black Saturday Bushfires Royal Commission, including a government buyout of home owners who want to abandon high-risk bushfire zones.

■ Putting an end to government "spin" by slashing the number of taxpayer-funded advertisements and media advisers.

Mr Baillieu signalled that his cabinet would muscle up to the federal Labor government by urging Prime Minister Julia Gillard to give Victoria a better deal on hospital funding and to improve mobile phone reception in rural areas as part of her broadband agenda.

But he indicated he would hold back on some of his most expensive promises pending the results of a comprehensive audit of Victoria's finances, taxes and debt management.

"We will simply remain cautious about our funding commitments until we've had that review," he said, noting that similar exercises by previous in-coming governments had revealed budget black holes.

Mr Baillieu said he was concerned about the escalation of debt under the Brumby government, and the financial obligations on the state from public-private partnership projects including the $5.7 billion desalination plant and the $760 million Frankston bypass road.

"There are future obligations which are not yet fully accounted through the budget process which may impose constraints on the budget," he said. "We want to get to the bottom of those obligations — that remains a concern."

Mr Baillieu's cabinet, with Nationals leader Peter Ryan as deputy premier, is expected to be sworn in at Government House tomorrow.

"We have a detailed plan and we're going to get on with it," Mr Baillieu told yesterday's media conference.

Ms Gillard later contacted him to congratulate him on his election victory. She said she looked forward to working with the Liberal leader "to tackle the challenges facing all Australians, including the continuing need for improvements in health, education and broadband."

But Mr Baillieu signalled that he would seek to "expose the contents" of the national health reform deal struck by John Brumby, and would "need to renegotiate" the deal if he judged it not to be in Victoria's best interests.


http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/state-election-2010/baillieu-hedges-on-promise...



Ted would do well to have his promises costed, while checking the size of his inherited surplus

RACHEL AFFLICK
22 Dec, 2010 01:00 AM

THE Coalition's election promise to fund two additional paramedics to Daylesford must be implemented as soon as possible, Ambulance Employees Australia secretary Steve McGhie said.

Just days before last month's state election, Liberal candidate Ben Taylor said if the Coalition came to power, it would

Ballarat East MLA Geoff Howard last Wednesday wrote to Mr Davis seeking advice about when the Coalition's commitment would be honoured

" and this was done with the expectation of being able to increase the number of ambulance staff at Daylesford in the near future.

"Now, with the change of government, we want to ensure that the very clear commitment made ahead of the last election is honoured, and is honoured as quickly as possible.

"The summer period is clearly one where there can be higher visitor levels to Daylesford and Hepburn"

"The level of demand for ambulance services can also be increased and it will therefore be appropriate to ensure that at the earliest possible occasion the additional ambulance officers promised by the new government will be put in place"

But there has been no confirmation from Health Minister David Davis on when the commitment will be fulfilled.



http://www.hepburnadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/doubts-over-coalition-...

14 Dec 2010

FOR the time being Transport Minister Terry Mulder cannot confirm if the South Morang rail extension will go ahead.

Opposition spokeswoman for Public Transport Fiona Richardson called on the Liberal Government to come clean on their plans for the South Morang rail line extension.

Ms Richardson said .

“Ted Baillieu said that the Liberal Government would hit the ground running but it would appear that ,” Ms Richardson said.

Yan Yean state Labor MP Danielle Green said the new government should match the former Labor Government’s commitment.

“Incoming Premier, but I urge him not to halt the building of the South Morang Line, the proposed improvements on the Hurstbridge Line and the duplication of Epping and Plenty roads,” she said.


http://whittlesea-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/doubts-on-south-morang-rai...

Quote:

buzzanddidj wrote on Dec 5^th, 2010 at 12:53pm:




People had enough of -

Watching Victoria speeding fine collections increase by more than any other state but the road deaths also increase by more than any other state