The Budget surplus/deficit level from 2012/13 to 2016/17

Ali Hydarbeg made this Freedom of Information request to Department of the Treasury

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Department of the Treasury should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Department of the Treasury,

Under the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd (under treasurers Wayne Swan and Chris Bowen) government, treasury estimated that the budget would be back in surplus from the 2016 to 2017 year.

Under the elected Abbott-Turnbull government (under treasurers Joe Hockey and Scott Morrison) the budget wasn't estimated to be back in surplus until the 2020 season. (Which obviously didn't happen because of Covid-19.)

Can you provide any documents stating why we would under surplus faster under the Rudd government that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio, then the elected Abbott-Turnbull government.

Yours faithfully, a student who needs this information for an essay

FOI, Department of the Treasury

OFFICIAL

Dear Ali Hydarbeg

 

We write to acknowledge receipt of your request, under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), seeking the following documents:

 

- Under the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd (under treasurers Wayne Swan and Chris
Bowen) government, treasury estimated that the budget would be back in
surplus from the 2016 to 2017 year.

- Under the elected Abbott-Turnbull government (under treasurers Joe
Hockey and Scott Morrison) the budget wasn't estimated to be back in
surplus until the 2020 season. (Which obviously didn't happen because of
Covid-19.)

- Can you provide any documents stating why we would under surplus faster
under the Rudd government that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP
ratio, then the elected Abbott-Turnbull government.

 

Seeking clarification of FOI request

 

Unfortunately we are unable to understand what you have asked in the third
paragraph of your request. Did you mean ‘Can you provide any documents
stating why we would return to surplus faster under the Rudd government
that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio, then the elected
Abbott-Turnbull government’?

 

Please confirm if this interpretation of your request is current or,
otherwise, tell us what you are seeking by 15 July 2022.

 

FOI process

 

The Treasury received your request on 1 July 2022. The FOI Act provides
that we have 14 days to acknowledge the request. The FOI Act provides that
we have 30 days to process the request. This period may be extended if we
need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if
this happens.

 

We will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the
amount of any such charge as soon as possible.

 

We make the following assumptions that affect the scope of the request.
These are set out below.

 

It is our usual practice:

• not to disclose the personal information of government employees or the
personal contact details of senior government employees (including those
of the Treasury). The names of senior officers will generally be released.

• not to release duplicates of any document captured within the scope of
the request.

• only the final version of a document will be considered within scope.

 

Please inform us if you do not agree to the request being processed on the
above assumptions. If we do not hear from you, your request will be
processed on the basis that these documents are outside the scope of your
request.

 

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

If you have any questions in relation to your application, please contact
the FOI Team on 02 6263 2800.

 

Kind regards

 

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

Email: [1][Treasury request email]

[2]www.treasury.gov.au

 

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Ali Hydarbeg <[FOI #9070 email]>
Sent: Friday, 1 July 2022 9:12 AM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - The Budget surplus/deficit level
from 2012/13 to 2016/17

 

Dear Department of the Treasury,

 

Under the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd (under treasurers Wayne Swan and Chris Bowen)
government, treasury estimated that the budget would be back in surplus
from the 2016 to 2017 year.

 

Under the elected Abbott-Turnbull government (under treasurers Joe Hockey
and Scott Morrison) the budget wasn't estimated to be back in surplus
until the 2020 season. (Which obviously didn't happen because of
Covid-19.)

 

Can you provide any documents stating why we would under surplus faster
under the Rudd government that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP
ratio, then the elected Abbott-Turnbull government.

 

Yours faithfully, a student who needs this information for an essay

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[3][FOI #9070 email]

 

Is [4][Treasury request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Department of the Treasury? If so, please contact us using
this form:

[5]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

 

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[6]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

 

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please Note: The information contained in this e-mail message and any
attached files may be confidential information and may also be the subject
of legal professional privilege.  If you are not the intended recipient,
any use, disclosure or copying of this e-mail is unauthorised.  If you
have received this e-mail by error please notify the sender immediately by
reply e-mail and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Treasury request email]
2. http://www.treasury.gov.au/
3. mailto:[FOI #9070 email]
4. mailto:[Treasury request email]
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

Dear FOI,

I've been asked to clarify of I meant this:

"Can you provide any documents
stating why we would return to surplus faster under the Rudd government
that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio, then the elected
Abbott-Turnbull government’?"

Yes I do clarify this statement

Yours sincerely,
Ali Hydarbeg

FOI, Department of the Treasury

OFFICIAL

 

Dear Ali Hydarbeg,

 

Thank you for your clarification below.

 

In your FOI request, you stated that you are seeking information for an
essay regarding why we would return to surplus faster under the Rudd
government that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio than the
elected Abbott-Turnbull government.

 

The 2013-14 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (2013-14 MYEFO) is a
publicly available document which contains information that may assist you
with your essay. That document can be found here:
[1]https://archive.budget.gov.au/2013-14/my.... The
2013-14 MYEFO provides information on the Commonwealth’s financial and
economic position, and contains information explaining the movement of the
estimated underlying cash balance (UCB) for 2016-17 from surplus to
deficit, including how the new Government planned to resolve legacy issues
from the former Government. The following pages may be of particular
relevance:

 

o Pages 2 -3 (pages 12 – 13 of 286) provide a high-level overview of the
deterioration in the UCB.
o Pages 19 – 23 (pages 29 – 33 of 286) contain more information on the
deterioration.
o Pages 29 – 39 (page 39 – 49 of 286) provide details on each aspect of
the deterioration.

 

If this information satisfies your queries, would you please withdraw your
FOI request by return email to enable us to close our file?

 

If you are minded to continue with your FOI request, we seek your
agreement to a 19-day extension of time to process your FOI request. Under
section 15AA of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) you can agree to
extensions of up to 30 days.

 

The current statutory timeframe is 31 July 2022. The extension of time
would extend this deadline to Friday 19 August 2022.

 

The additional time will be used to undertake further searches to
determine whether there may be other documents relevant to your request.

 

We would be grateful if you would agree to this 19-day extension of time
by COB Monday 25 July 2022.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

Email: [2][Treasury request email]

[3]www.treasury.gov.au

 

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Ali Hydarbeg <[FOI #9070 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 16 July 2022 7:24 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Re: FOI 3135 - Acknowledgement and request for clarification of
scope [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

Dear FOI,

 

 

 

I've been asked to clarify of I meant this:

 

 

 

"Can you provide any documents

 

stating why we would return to surplus faster under the Rudd government

 

that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio, then the elected

 

Abbott-Turnbull government’?"

 

 

 

Yes I do clarify this statement

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Ali Hydarbeg

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

 

 

 

Dear Ali Hydarbeg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We write to acknowledge receipt of your request, under the Freedom of

 

Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), seeking the following documents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Under the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd (under treasurers Wayne Swan and Chris

 

Bowen) government, treasury estimated that the budget would be back in

 

surplus from the 2016 to 2017 year.

 

 

 

- Under the elected Abbott-Turnbull government (under treasurers Joe

 

Hockey and Scott Morrison) the budget wasn't estimated to be back in

 

surplus until the 2020 season. (Which obviously didn't happen because of

 

Covid-19.)

 

 

 

- Can you provide any documents stating why we would under surplus faster

 

under the Rudd government that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP

 

ratio, then the elected Abbott-Turnbull government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeking clarification of FOI request

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately we are unable to understand what you have asked in the third

 

paragraph of your request. Did you mean ‘Can you provide any documents

 

stating why we would return to surplus faster under the Rudd government

 

that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio, then the elected

 

Abbott-Turnbull government’?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please confirm if this interpretation of your request is current or,

 

otherwise, tell us what you are seeking by 15 July 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOI process

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Treasury received your request on 1 July 2022. The FOI Act provides

 

that we have 14 days to acknowledge the request. The FOI Act provides that

 

we have 30 days to process the request. This period may be extended if we

 

need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if

 

this happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the

 

amount of any such charge as soon as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We make the following assumptions that affect the scope of the request.

 

These are set out below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is our usual practice:

 

 

 

• not to disclose the personal information of government employees or the

 

personal contact details of senior government employees (including those

 

of the Treasury). The names of senior officers will generally be released.

 

 

 

• not to release duplicates of any document captured within the scope of

 

the request.

 

 

 

• only the final version of a document will be considered within scope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please inform us if you do not agree to the request being processed on the

 

above assumptions. If we do not hear from you, your request will be

 

processed on the basis that these documents are outside the scope of your

 

request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if

 

you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions in relation to your application, please contact

 

the FOI Team on 02 6263 2800.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freedom of Information Officer

 

The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

 

 

 

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

 

 

 

Email: [1][Treasury request email]

 

 

 

[2][4]www.treasury.gov.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

 

[5][FOI #9070 email]

 

 

 

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

 

[6]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

 

 

 

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

 

 

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please Note: The information contained in this e-mail message and any
attached files may be confidential information and may also be the subject
of legal professional privilege.  If you are not the intended recipient,
any use, disclosure or copying of this e-mail is unauthorised.  If you
have received this e-mail by error please notify the sender immediately by
reply e-mail and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://archive.budget.gov.au/2013-14/my...
2. mailto:[Treasury request email]
3. http://www.treasury.gov.au/
4. http://www.treasury.gov.au/
5. mailto:[FOI #9070 email]
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

FOI, Department of the Treasury

OFFICIAL

 

Dear Ali Hydarbeg,

 

I refer to FOI 3135 and our email below dated 22 July 2022.

 

We would be grateful if you could respond as a matter of urgency noting
that the statutory timeframe is 31 July 2022.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

Email: [1][Treasury request email]

[2]www.treasury.gov.au

 

OFFICIAL

From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 22 July 2022 12:34 PM
To: 'Ali Hydarbeg' <[FOI #9070 email]>
Subject: FOI 3135 - Link to MYEFO document with relevant information
[SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

OFFICIAL

 

Dear Ali Hydarbeg,

 

Thank you for your clarification below.

 

In your FOI request, you stated that you are seeking information for an
essay regarding why we would return to surplus faster under the Rudd
government that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio than the
elected Abbott-Turnbull government.

 

The 2013-14 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (2013-14 MYEFO) is a
publicly available document which contains information that may assist you
with your essay. That document can be found here:
[3]https://archive.budget.gov.au/2013-14/my.... The
2013-14 MYEFO provides information on the Commonwealth’s financial and
economic position, and contains information explaining the movement of the
estimated underlying cash balance (UCB) for 2016-17 from surplus to
deficit, including how the new Government planned to resolve legacy issues
from the former Government. The following pages may be of particular
relevance:

 

o Pages 2 -3 (pages 12 – 13 of 286) provide a high-level overview of the
deterioration in the UCB.
o Pages 19 – 23 (pages 29 – 33 of 286) contain more information on the
deterioration.
o Pages 29 – 39 (page 39 – 49 of 286) provide details on each aspect of
the deterioration.

 

If this information satisfies your queries, would you please withdraw your
FOI request by return email to enable us to close our file?

 

If you are minded to continue with your FOI request, we seek your
agreement to a 19-day extension of time to process your FOI request. Under
section 15AA of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) you can agree to
extensions of up to 30 days.

 

The current statutory timeframe is 31 July 2022. The extension of time
would extend this deadline to Friday 19 August 2022.

 

The additional time will be used to undertake further searches to
determine whether there may be other documents relevant to your request.

 

We would be grateful if you would agree to this 19-day extension of time
by COB Monday 25 July 2022.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

Email: [4][Treasury request email]

[5]www.treasury.gov.au

 

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Ali Hydarbeg <[6][FOI #9070 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 16 July 2022 7:24 PM
To: FOI <[7][email address]>
Subject: Re: FOI 3135 - Acknowledgement and request for clarification of
scope [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

Dear FOI,

 

 

 

I've been asked to clarify of I meant this:

 

 

 

"Can you provide any documents

 

stating why we would return to surplus faster under the Rudd government

 

that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio, then the elected

 

Abbott-Turnbull government’?"

 

 

 

Yes I do clarify this statement

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Ali Hydarbeg

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

 

 

 

Dear Ali Hydarbeg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We write to acknowledge receipt of your request, under the Freedom of

 

Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), seeking the following documents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Under the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd (under treasurers Wayne Swan and Chris

 

Bowen) government, treasury estimated that the budget would be back in

 

surplus from the 2016 to 2017 year.

 

 

 

- Under the elected Abbott-Turnbull government (under treasurers Joe

 

Hockey and Scott Morrison) the budget wasn't estimated to be back in

 

surplus until the 2020 season. (Which obviously didn't happen because of

 

Covid-19.)

 

 

 

- Can you provide any documents stating why we would under surplus faster

 

under the Rudd government that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP

 

ratio, then the elected Abbott-Turnbull government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeking clarification of FOI request

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately we are unable to understand what you have asked in the third

 

paragraph of your request. Did you mean ‘Can you provide any documents

 

stating why we would return to surplus faster under the Rudd government

 

that had higher spending and lower tax to GDP ratio, then the elected

 

Abbott-Turnbull government’?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please confirm if this interpretation of your request is current or,

 

otherwise, tell us what you are seeking by 15 July 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOI process

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Treasury received your request on 1 July 2022. The FOI Act provides

 

that we have 14 days to acknowledge the request. The FOI Act provides that

 

we have 30 days to process the request. This period may be extended if we

 

need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if

 

this happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the

 

amount of any such charge as soon as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We make the following assumptions that affect the scope of the request.

 

These are set out below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is our usual practice:

 

 

 

• not to disclose the personal information of government employees or the

 

personal contact details of senior government employees (including those

 

of the Treasury). The names of senior officers will generally be released.

 

 

 

• not to release duplicates of any document captured within the scope of

 

the request.

 

 

 

• only the final version of a document will be considered within scope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please inform us if you do not agree to the request being processed on the

 

above assumptions. If we do not hear from you, your request will be

 

processed on the basis that these documents are outside the scope of your

 

request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if

 

you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions in relation to your application, please contact

 

the FOI Team on 02 6263 2800.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freedom of Information Officer

 

The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

 

 

 

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

 

 

 

Email: [1][Treasury request email]

 

 

 

[2][8]www.treasury.gov.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

 

[9][FOI #9070 email]

 

 

 

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

 

[10]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

 

 

 

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

 

 

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please Note: The information contained in this e-mail message and any
attached files may be confidential information and may also be the subject
of legal professional privilege.  If you are not the intended recipient,
any use, disclosure or copying of this e-mail is unauthorised.  If you
have received this e-mail by error please notify the sender immediately by
reply e-mail and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Treasury request email]
2. http://www.treasury.gov.au/
3. https://archive.budget.gov.au/2013-14/my...
4. mailto:[Treasury request email]
5. http://www.treasury.gov.au/
6. mailto:[FOI #9070 email]
7. mailto:[Treasury request email]
8. http://www.treasury.gov.au/
9. mailto:[FOI #9070 email]
10. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

Dear FOI,
Yes you can withdraw my
FOI request and shut it down down

Yours sincerely,

Ali Hydarbeg