Sorry, and I don't mean to offend you, but the argument that we can't afford it therefore shouldn't build it because it will put us into debt is irrelevant.JamesXander wrote: The Feds could afford it perhaps... But not South Australia. Im not politically inclined to any particular side, but the current financial situation SA sees itself in is scary. Yet we hear little about it. Deficits of nearly $1b and that's with highly optimistic construction and GST collection forecasts. Do you realize that we are very close to losing hundreds of millions of dollars through the current GST distribution review. I that happens we are screwed. SA has already cut thousands of PS jobs, you tell me how we are supposed to cut $1b+ in services each financial year. IMO Jack Snellings inability to control the budget blow out will spur its head in a year or two.
On the hospital- yes its great, I've heard terrible things about the current RAH. However building a $1.7b hospital when we are digging deeper into debt by the day... Scary. GFC or not SA is ina precarious financial spot of bother and next to nothing is being done about it besides crossing the old fingers and hoping Olympic Dam goes ahead!
It is costing 1.7 billion in todays dollars.
Do you think the state will ever have 1.7 billion dollars sitting around to spare that it can throw at one single project and not worry about how it is going to pay for or finance other projects and obligations?
Lets say in ten years when all the global financial worries blow over, it's going to cost significantly more then 1.7 billion to build this hospital. So we will again have to borrow money.
This isn't money being borrowed and thrown away at some ridiculous project to show we are better then other states or cities or paying of the irresponsible practices of banks.
This is money being used to fund necessary and needed infrastructure and public services for this city and state.
Imho, this is an acceptable debt burden for the state. Because while we may incur a debt either directly or indirectly through needing to borrow money for other things, we are getting necessary infrastructure and services for the public. And that is part of the governments role and responsibilities, to provide those services and infrastructure.
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