❓ A parliamentary question addresses the WA Premier regarding the government's response to the social and economic impacts of drought, particularly concerning the lack of analysis and support for affected communities. The Premier assures that the impact is being assessed and addressed.
AnsweredQoN 403Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the inability of the Treasurer yesterday to answer a question on the social and economic impact of the drought on regional areas and the State’s economy as a whole. I believe the words of his office were “they just about choked when they read the National Party question”. (1) As Chairman of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Regional Development, why has the Premier not instructed the Government to undertake an analysis of the impact of the drought on the State’s economy? (2) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said yesterday in the other place - We tend to forget about the drought once it breaks. In fact, many of our agricultural industries do not start to show an impact until the year after the drought breaks. Does the Premier agree with that? If he can understand that, he is doing better than I! (3) Will the Premier therefore support the National Party’s call today for a high-level response task force, equipped with the full resources of the Government, to ascertain the full social and economic impacts of the drought on the State? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
(1) As Chairman of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Regional Development, why has the Premier not instructed the Government to undertake an analysis of the impact of the drought on the State’s economy? (2) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said yesterday in the other place - We tend to forget about the drought once it breaks. In fact, many of our agricultural industries do not start to show an impact until the year after the drought breaks. Does the Premier agree with that? If he can understand that, he is doing better than I! (3) Will the Premier therefore support the National Party’s call today for a high-level response task force, equipped with the full resources of the Government, to ascertain the full social and economic impacts of the drought on the State? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
(2) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said yesterday in the other place - We tend to forget about the drought once it breaks. In fact, many of our agricultural industries do not start to show an impact until the year after the drought breaks. Does the Premier agree with that? If he can understand that, he is doing better than I! (3) Will the Premier therefore support the National Party’s call today for a high-level response task force, equipped with the full resources of the Government, to ascertain the full social and economic impacts of the drought on the State? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
(1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
(1) As Chairman of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Regional Development, why has the Premier not instructed the Government to undertake an analysis of the impact of the drought on the State’s economy? (2) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said yesterday in the other place - We tend to forget about the drought once it breaks. In fact, many of our agricultural industries do not start to show an impact until the year after the drought breaks. Does the Premier agree with that? If he can understand that, he is doing better than I! (3) Will the Premier therefore support the National Party’s call today for a high-level response task force, equipped with the full resources of the Government, to ascertain the full social and economic impacts of the drought on the State? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
(2) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said yesterday in the other place - We tend to forget about the drought once it breaks. In fact, many of our agricultural industries do not start to show an impact until the year after the drought breaks. Does the Premier agree with that? If he can understand that, he is doing better than I! (3) Will the Premier therefore support the National Party’s call today for a high-level response task force, equipped with the full resources of the Government, to ascertain the full social and economic impacts of the drought on the State? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
(1)-(3) The member has raised two issues: the social impact and the economic impact of the drought. I will deal with the latter first. Later this year, the Government will publish its midyear review of state finances, which will incorporate all the new assumptions that need to be made about the Western Australian economy, including the impact of the drought. That is ongoing work, conducted within the Treasury, just as the federal Government recently put out its midyear review of finances and indicated what the impact is. Until all that work is done, it cannot be forwarded to the public for debate. It will be done as part of the midyear review. The member for Avon knows that is the case. The Government knows what the social impact of the drought is. It is serious. That is why, as a matter of priority, the Government has allocated extra money in this year’s budget, out of the normal budget framework, to assist farming communities to deal with the problem. I am very pleased that an advisory committee has been set up by the minister, with stakeholder representatives from the rural community, to develop the criteria for the expenditure of that money. We are very keen to make sure that, in these difficult times, farmers and their families can meet their needs, so that when times get better they are still intact and working in rural Western Australia. The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
The Government is aware of the social impact of the drought on families, communities and, tragically, on some individuals. The stress becomes very significant. I am sure the Leader of the National Party would not want the Government of Western Australia to put a halt to all the good things it is doing and engage in some sort of inquiry before initiating action. The Government knows what the social impacts are, and what it needs to alleviate those impacts through the package it has introduced. We know what the economic impacts are, which is why we are assisting farmers in these times of need. The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
The work on the overall impact on the economy is being done by the Treasury and will be incorporated in the midyear review.
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