Manuel3So I just caught a good part of Trev’s budget speech. As a presentation specialist I can tell you that I’m in awe – that guy knows how to tell a story.
All in all, pretty good news. A few things I liked.

- Sin tax is up, you’ll pay 60 odd cents more for 20 cigs, a few cents per beer, and just over 2 bucks for a bottle of hard tack – as a tee-totaling non-smoker, I’m down with that like a sweet-toothed lesbian on a chocolate vagina (thanks Ross).

- Electricity will cost 15% more. This is a good thing. Here’s the thinking, our electricity by global standards is already too cheap, we also don’t have enough of it. The belief is that this will force people to be a little more conservative with their energy (save 10% of your current usage and you’ll break even). The also gave R60bn (ish) loan to Eskom to sort their shit out. Like I said, a good thing.

- Oh, and about R9bn in tax cuts, mostly for us. Nice.

For more detail, I’m sure you can pop over to our friends at Commentary, or if your quick, catch Bruce Whitfield and Trevor Manuel breaking it down on 702 (Cape Talk) tonight at 18h00 (transcript here). Or if you’re really interested, you can read the transcript courtesy of Old Mutual.

Now to the greenback reference in my subject line. I thought this was a very rad touch:

In the interests of full disclosure of the relevant facts, I need to share with the House
also the costs to the environment of the budget documents that we produce. Our
estimate is that since the beginning of this year up to the tabling of this budget, the
National Treasury’s work has caused 38 000 kgs of carbon dioxide emissions. We have
used over 37 tons of paper, the equivalent of 726 trees.

- disgruntled muttering -

I am pleased to report that the budget documents are printed on a paper called Triple Green, which is chlorine free and
biodegradable, comprises of 60 per cent sugar cane fibre and meets the standard of
sustainable forestation.

- loud applause -

This is a start, but we need to know more. The Director
General of the Treasury has therefore pledged to continue to measure, and reduce our
2008 Budget speech
environmental footprint in future budgets. We call on other government departments to
take up the same challenge.

- more applause –

It’s a small detail, but I’m super-stoked that it found a place in something as serious as this year’s budget speech.

Trevor Manuel for Pres…!

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