❓ Question on Notice regarding the projected increase in Western Australia's state debt under the Liberal-National government, specifically its peak and per capita impact. The Treasurer's response is largely evasive, focusing on alternative debt measures and accusing the opposition of hypocrisy.
AnsweredQoN 427Legislative Assembly
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STATE DEBT
I refer to the growth of state debt under the Liberal–National government, which is like a mini-tsunami. In particular, I refer to the fact that state debt is predicted — Mr C.J. Barnett : Who’s the question to? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is to the Treasurer. Sorry, I thought that the Treasurer might have guessed that it was directed at him. I note that state debt is predicted to reach $22.4 billion by 2015. That is higher per capita than any other state. (1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER
I refer to the growth of state debt under the Liberal–National government, which is like a mini-tsunami. In particular, I refer to the fact that state debt is predicted — Mr C.J. Barnett : Who’s the question to? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is to the Treasurer. Sorry, I thought that the Treasurer might have guessed that it was directed at him. I note that state debt is predicted to reach $22.4 billion by 2015. That is higher per capita than any other state. (1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.J. Barnett : Who’s the question to? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is to the Treasurer. Sorry, I thought that the Treasurer might have guessed that it was directed at him. I note that state debt is predicted to reach $22.4 billion by 2015. That is higher per capita than any other state. (1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is to the Treasurer. Sorry, I thought that the Treasurer might have guessed that it was directed at him. I note that state debt is predicted to reach $22.4 billion by 2015. That is higher per capita than any other state. (1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
I note that state debt is predicted to reach $22.4 billion by 2015. That is higher per capita than any other state. (1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
(1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
(2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
(3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.J. Barnett : Who’s the question to? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is to the Treasurer. Sorry, I thought that the Treasurer might have guessed that it was directed at him. I note that state debt is predicted to reach $22.4 billion by 2015. That is higher per capita than any other state. (1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It is to the Treasurer. Sorry, I thought that the Treasurer might have guessed that it was directed at him. I note that state debt is predicted to reach $22.4 billion by 2015. That is higher per capita than any other state. (1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
I note that state debt is predicted to reach $22.4 billion by 2015. That is higher per capita than any other state. (1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
(1) When will net debt in Western Australia peak and what will this peak be? (2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
(2) Can the Treasurer confirm that by 2014–15, state debt will amount to nearly $9 400 for every man, woman and child in this state? (3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
(3) Does the government have any plans at all to bring state debt under control; and, if so, what are they? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for her question and also congratulate her on finally embracing A3 and lamination. It is obviously something that she has seen us do over here. It is very important, and I am a fan of it. The member’s questions were about per capita debt, and I will make a few comments on that. There are different ways of measuring state debt. I see that the member prefers the per capita measure; she has put that out in press releases in which she has said that when the state’s debt reaches the $20 billion mark in two years, it will be approaching a $10 000 debt for each man, woman and child, which is a slight difference from the member’s latest assessment. That is compared with — Mr W.J. Johnston : Why are you scared of answering the questions? You are so clever, but you won’t answer questions. Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : At least I am one up on you! The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
The SPEAKER : Order! I heard the question come from the member for Midland and I expect that she would like an answer. The member for Cannington’s interjections are not helping the member for Midland get the answer, and I formally call the member for Cannington to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The member for Midland uses the per capita measure. Of course, there are a range of other measures. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The member asked the question. She said that the per capita debt was $9 000 for each man, woman and child, and that that was the highest in Australia. I am offering some comment on that before I answer the rest of the member’s question. Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : My opening statement referred to the $22.4 billion. That is what I said. Why do you want to redefine the question? Why can’t you just answer it? Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I will make a quick comment on the per capita debt figure. When measuring the debt among all the states, a variety of things can be done. We can look at it as the per capita debt from state to state, as the total percentage of total revenue coming to each state government, or as a percentage of the gross state product coming in to each state. One of the reasons the opposition prefers the per capita measure is that we have a low population compared with the other states and a very large and capital-intensive economy for public sector capital and private infrastructure capital. It is very interesting that when we talk about building a desalination plant, the opposition criticises us for finding $300 million worth of savings from a $3.6 billion budget over four years but in the next question the opposition criticises us for having such a high level of debt. Presumably, if the Leader of the Opposition supported the desalination plant stage 2 — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I bet you won’t answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : In fact, I will; I am getting to that. In one question the opposition claims that state debt is too high but in the question before that the opposition criticised us for finding savings to fund infrastructure projects. That is hypocritical at best. When is debt going to peak and trough? That is very interesting. Presumably the Leader of the Opposition is saying that that is a fundamental thing that must be shown in the budget papers. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer the question. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The member is so angry. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The debt has quadrupled under you. Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The budgets in 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09 were framed by the now Leader of the Opposition. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition can answer this question: in each of the four out years, did he ever show debt peaking and reducing? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Treasurer. I have given only one person the call to ask a question, and that is you, member for Midland. I am expecting that the Treasurer will answer the questions coming from you, not from other members in this place. The Treasurer. Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The point is that at the moment our budget papers do not show a peak and trough to debt; neither did the last four budgets of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the reasons for that is, as the Leader of the Opposition would well recognise, that we are at a stage at which we require significant public borrowings to build critical economic infrastructure to keep our economy growing. Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Several members interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It is precisely the same situation that the former government was in 2005–06 and 2007–08. The former government’s predictions of debt are interesting: in 2005–06 the former government was 96 per cent out in its four out-year predictions of debt; in 2006–07 it was 111 per cent out; and in 2007–08 it was 74 per cent out. I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
I think the next part of the member for Midland’s question was about measures taken to alleviate debt. One of the things that this government has a very good track record on, and that we have been doing, is finding savings inside the budget. Again, we will look inside the Water Corporation budget of $3.6 billion over four out years and find programs that can be delayed slightly from which savings can be found to pay for a substantial part of a large piece of infrastructure. To ensure that public borrowings have not been higher than they reasonably need to be, we have found $1.461 billion worth of savings through the three per cent efficiency dividend. We have a review of specific programs to find $300 million worth of savings. We are finding $515 million worth of savings inside the government trading enterprises. We have found $281.4 million in savings between vehicle fleet and procurement. This raises a very interesting final question: what level of savings did the previous government find inside its budgets? The previous government engaged in one savings initiative and that was the Office of Shared Services — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : Standing order 78 states that an answer must be relevant to the question. The question was quite specific in four parts. On the first day back, after a seven-week break, the Treasurer continues to make a mockery of question time and does not answer the questions. He faffs and meanders around, and I think it is time that he actually answered the questions he was asked. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : I felt that I had answered that question in full.
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