Critical Times

Why do the media insist on using the same jargon as the government? Historically, governments have had a tendency to obscure the truth when it was in their interest to do so, but on the other hand journalists could supposedly see through spin and report objectively.

In the 2008-09 federal budget some $40 billion in unspent surplus to be deposited in various funds is referred to as “investment” when it is clearly not. Deferred spending is saving, not investment. It’s not going to increase the skill level of our workers, improve passenger and freight rail capacity, nor deliver renewable energy to fight rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Investment will not actually occur unless and until money is drawn from these funds and spent on infrastructure. We are not told when this is to occur and how much is to be spent, which is the whole point of a budget. So why aren’t journalists asking these questions?

David Bastin

Nicholls, ACT