Oct 06 - GSD Says Government's Refusal To Answer Parliament Questions Has Led To Public Finances Speculation

The GSD notes the response by the Minister for Economic Development, Joe Bossano, on GBC and the Government statement attempting to defend the non-disclosure of information on the state of public finances in Parliament.

GSD shadow minster for public finance Roy Clinton said: “Nothing that either the Hon Joe Bossano or the Government have said alters the position that they will no longer disclose that which they willingly disclosed as recently as February this year.

"It is for the Opposition not the Government to determine what financial information should be sought in Parliament to hold the Government to account. It is remarkable that the Government has by way of a press release given information as to the aggregate debt that it refused to give in Parliament on the basis that it could not be deemed accurate.

"Furthermore if we innocently speculated as to whether borrowing might go up it is only because without answers in Parliament we can only guess, which is why it is important the Government reverses its policy decision and give financial information as requested and when requested in Parliament. It is not their money but the taxpayers and transparency is the taxpayers right.”

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