The Courier-Mail, August 6, 1984, p. 8.

A tax reform association yesterday called on the Federal Government to appoint an administrator to straighten out the Government’s financial affairs.

The newly formed Tax Payers United president, Mr Viv Forbes, said the administrator should try to balance the Budget, reduce total tax levies by 20 percent, sell all Government business ventures and reduce the national debt by 20 percent — all in his first three years.

If the administrator failed to achieve these goals, he should be sacked.

“There is a fatal flaw in the democratic process which, unless corrected, will lead to national bankruptcy or runaway inflation,” Mr Forbes said.

He said essential reform of Government could not be carried out by elected members, whose vision did not extend beyond the next election.

“The failure of both Liberal and Labor governments to control public spending shows there are too many voters dependent on the Government payroll,” he said.

“The electoral strength of the public service ensures that the majority of elected members vote for more taxes and more borrowing rather than less spending.”