❓ Mr. Healy questions the Treasurer on the WA Labor government's financial management and its comparison to the previous Liberal-National government. The Treasurer deflects, criticizes the opposition's policies, and defends the current government's financial record and cost-of-living measures.
AnsweredQoN 281Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET 2024–25
— GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
281. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Treasurer:
I refer to the release of the WA
Labor government's eighth state budget tomorrow.
(1) Can the
Treasurer advise the house what this government's longstanding
commitment to responsible financial management has meant for Western Australia?
(2) Can the
Treasurer advise the house how this government's financial management
compares with that of the previous Liberal–National government?
— GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
281. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Treasurer:
I refer to the release of the WA
Labor government's eighth state budget tomorrow.
(1) Can the
Treasurer advise the house what this government's longstanding
commitment to responsible financial management has meant for Western Australia?
(2) Can the
Treasurer advise the house how this government's financial management
compares with that of the previous Liberal–National government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Southern
River for the question; obviously the Liberal and National Parties do not want
to ask me a question about the budget! Thank you.
(1)–(2) It
was great to see the Leader of the Liberal Party there today, listening to the
Prime Minister give a speech and clapping and supporting the federal Labor government!
She was on my table, too, which was quite awkward!
But it was great to see the Liberal Party there, supporting Anthony Albanese as
he outlined his agenda for this budget and for the nation. It was great.
I mean, I would not go and see Peter Dutton speak, for example, but I am glad
she came to see Anthony Albanese speak! I am glad that she came to see at least
one federal leader speak, and this time she chose Anthony Albanese, as opposed
to the federal Liberal Party!
Let us reflect on the budget
tomorrow. As the Premier outlined, our major focus has been the cost of living.
This budget is consistent with the theme of the previous seven budgets: getting
the state's finances back on track; moving from a Liberal —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Oh, would you
listen? Honestly. For someone who has done nothing and has no policies, you do
talk a lot. No policies. She asks about housing. What is your policy on
housing, apart from opposing every housing development in the state?
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : So you oppose
it? Well, tell the people of Byford. Would you please listen? You oppose
housing developments. You want more housing, but you oppose any housing
developments. Tell the good people of Byford and across the metropolitan area
just how much you oppose public transport. We know you are going to increase
the price of public transport to achieve 50 per cent cost recovery, because
that is what the member for Cottesloe said. We know that you will reverse the
caps on public transport fares that we introduced. We know that, and we will
tell the good people of Western Australia what you will do about the cost of
living. As the Premier outlined, when you were last in government, all you did
was increase the cost of living for Western Australian families. There were massive increases in electricity—household
electricity costs were up by 90 per cent; household water, seven per
cent every year. Remember TAFE fees? There was a 500 per cent increase. You
basically made it unaffordable for people to train in this state. It is the
most shocking statistic that we have. Members opposite basically made it
impossible for young people to get training in this state. They should hang
their heads in shame. There was a 500 per cent increase in TAFE fees. Actually,
household fees and charges grew by $2 100 for a representative household under
the previous government. Not only did it do that, but it also took the economy
into recession. It lost the AAA credit rating by not one but both ratings
agencies and had exponential growth in debt from about $5 billion to a forecast
$43 billion.
This eighth budget is very similar
to the previous budgets when we deliver responsible financial management. We
are creating more jobs and opportunities throughout Western Australia, and we
are delivering record spending in areas like housing and health. This is very
much a budget for the times as we address the major challenges out there, delivering cost-of-living support and
making sure that we continue to invest in health and housing and continue to grow jobs and the economy for the state.
River for the question; obviously the Liberal and National Parties do not want
to ask me a question about the budget! Thank you.
(1)–(2) It
was great to see the Leader of the Liberal Party there today, listening to the
Prime Minister give a speech and clapping and supporting the federal Labor government!
She was on my table, too, which was quite awkward!
But it was great to see the Liberal Party there, supporting Anthony Albanese as
he outlined his agenda for this budget and for the nation. It was great.
I mean, I would not go and see Peter Dutton speak, for example, but I am glad
she came to see Anthony Albanese speak! I am glad that she came to see at least
one federal leader speak, and this time she chose Anthony Albanese, as opposed
to the federal Liberal Party!
Let us reflect on the budget
tomorrow. As the Premier outlined, our major focus has been the cost of living.
This budget is consistent with the theme of the previous seven budgets: getting
the state's finances back on track; moving from a Liberal —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Oh, would you
listen? Honestly. For someone who has done nothing and has no policies, you do
talk a lot. No policies. She asks about housing. What is your policy on
housing, apart from opposing every housing development in the state?
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : So you oppose
it? Well, tell the people of Byford. Would you please listen? You oppose
housing developments. You want more housing, but you oppose any housing
developments. Tell the good people of Byford and across the metropolitan area
just how much you oppose public transport. We know you are going to increase
the price of public transport to achieve 50 per cent cost recovery, because
that is what the member for Cottesloe said. We know that you will reverse the
caps on public transport fares that we introduced. We know that, and we will
tell the good people of Western Australia what you will do about the cost of
living. As the Premier outlined, when you were last in government, all you did
was increase the cost of living for Western Australian families. There were massive increases in electricity—household
electricity costs were up by 90 per cent; household water, seven per
cent every year. Remember TAFE fees? There was a 500 per cent increase. You
basically made it unaffordable for people to train in this state. It is the
most shocking statistic that we have. Members opposite basically made it
impossible for young people to get training in this state. They should hang
their heads in shame. There was a 500 per cent increase in TAFE fees. Actually,
household fees and charges grew by $2 100 for a representative household under
the previous government. Not only did it do that, but it also took the economy
into recession. It lost the AAA credit rating by not one but both ratings
agencies and had exponential growth in debt from about $5 billion to a forecast
$43 billion.
This eighth budget is very similar
to the previous budgets when we deliver responsible financial management. We
are creating more jobs and opportunities throughout Western Australia, and we
are delivering record spending in areas like housing and health. This is very
much a budget for the times as we address the major challenges out there, delivering cost-of-living support and
making sure that we continue to invest in health and housing and continue to grow jobs and the economy for the state.
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