Opposition Leader Don Poyle

The O’Neill – Dion Government is expected to introduce the first reading to reduce the campaign period from two months to one, when Parliament reconvenes on January 24.

If the Government uses its numerical strength on the floor of Parliament to pass it, the date of the Issue of Writs for the 2017 National Elections on April 20, will be changed to May 20.

“The concept of bringing a supplementary (budget) addresses a very critical area and that is to address a budget that was wrong in the first place.”

Poyle also claimed the alternative government’s response in November last year regarding the 2016 budget projections were spot on.   

“If you look at the budget projections we gave on this side and the projections you gave, and compare with what you are doing right now, this side was on spot. 

Opposition Leader Don Poyle slammed the coalition government for bulldozing the passing of the budget on the same day without giving notice in advance for MPs to research and debate before passage of the budget.

Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch, when handing down the budget, said: “The 2016 supplementary budget comprises adjustments that include both expenditure saving measures of K928 million and additional revenue raising measures of K958 million”.