Hon. Charles Smith questions the Treasurer on the exclusive use of Gross State Product (GSP) growth measures in budget papers, advocating for the inclusion of GSP per capita for a more accurate economic assessment. The Treasurer declines, stating the measure can be derived from existing data.

AnsweredQoN 854Legislative Council
Asked
19 September 2018
Portfolio
minister representing the Treasurer

QuestionView source ↗

GROSS STATE PRODUCT
GROWTH
854. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Western Australian
Department of Treasury using only gross state product growth measures in its
budget papers.
(1) Taking into
account population growth, does the Treasurer concede that GSP alone does not
provide an accurate assessment of how much income has gone up or down?
(2) Will the
Treasurer include GSP per capita in future state budget papers, therefore
providing a more precise snapshot of how the average resident has gained or
lost economically?
(3) If no to (2),
why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Although the Western
Australian Department of Treasury does not publish separate forecasts for
growth in gross state product per capita, the measure can be derived from
published forecasts for GSP growth and population growth. It is also worth
noting that GSP and GSP per capita are two alternative estimates of the volume
of goods and services produced in the state, hence they tend to move together. Western
Australia has recorded the highest GSP per capita of all states since 1992–93.
(2) No.
(3) The measure
can be derived from published forecasts for GSP growth and population growth in
the annual budget papers.

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