labour governments and debt, page-27

no argument from me we have too many tiers of government, but I totally disagree with your assertion the primary responsibility for infrastructure lies with the feds....that has never been the case and is just spin that formed part of the "blame game" which Rudd has supposedly abolished...the Feds just slice the pieces of the pie which the states spend as they see fit.

The pie has been bigger than it has ever been - until the past 12 months.

So I ask, who is really to blame for the state of our infrastructure?

The states do have their own sources of revenue, let's not forget - mining royalties, payroll tax, land tax, water authority and/or power co dividends, gambling revenues, stamp duties etc etc - all of these were through the roof during the boom...

Now all of a sudden the cupboard is bare. What do we have to show for this boom? Not even a surplus to spend, in the case of most states. Just downgraded debt ratings and higher levels of debt.