维州政府可能提高借贷，因应开支

维州财政部长Pallas先生上周提议，不排除借贷更多的钱用以因应政府庞大的开销。

我非常关注这个提案，因为对政府而言，借钱和花钱虽然都是很简单的事，但伴随而来的加税、高利息等沉重代价却是要由整个社会和全体人民去承担。

选举前，工党曾告诉过维州人民，工党的政见可在不增加借贷或加税的情况下达成。 随着时间飞逝，当时的保证，现在看来格外讽刺，工党政府无法实现当初瞒天开价的承诺，也因此才会需要增税和借贷更多的钱。

有时候，政府提高借贷是为了能够做出更长远有价值的投资，但这些借贷行为是必需要负责任且又严格克制。羊毛出在羊身上，政府每一分花出去的钱都是纳税人辛苦工作缴纳的血汗钱，因此又岂能仅因政府想花更多钱就提高借贷呢？

英文版/ English version

State government looks at increasing borrowings

Last week, Victoria’s Treasurer, Mr Pallas, suggested the State government may borrow more money in order to increase its spending.

I am very concerned at about this proposal. It is very easy for governments to borrow and spend money, but then the community has to pay for it through higher taxes and higher interest costs.

Before the election, the Labor Party told Victorians they could afford to pay for all their promises and would not increase debt or taxes. Now it seems they can’t afford to pay for their promises and that is why they want to increase taxes and debt.

There can be times when it can be sensible to borrow to pay for productive assets, but this has to be done with responsibility and restraint, not just because a government wants to spend more than it can afford.