CHIEF Minister Frank Walker silenced his critics with an upbeat economic forecast and a staunch defence of the record of ministers on spending and saving at a Chamber of Commerce lunch yesterday.

After a week’s debate, Senator Walker steered the Business Plan and a 7.2 per cent spending increase up to £559m through the House on Monday, fighting off plans to cut spending by more than £100m over five years. Senator Walker, who has been criticised for States overspending at previous Chamber events, told the audience of business leaders that the economy was growing at the healthiest rate for years, that £35m of efficiency cuts had already been achieved and that even after GST is implemented next May, the States would still be levying less tax than almost anywhere else in the world. He said: ‘Put all that together and it represents a remarkably strong and healthy position. Providing we can prevent those politicians who have their own agendas rocking the boat and putting all this in quite unnecessary jeopardy, we can continue to look forward with real and justified confidence’.