❓ Dr. Nahan questions the Premier on his commitment to establishing a parliamentary budget office, referencing past promises and unanimous support in the Legislative Council. The Premier confirms support for *examining* the establishment of the office, but deflects by highlighting the Opposition's past unfulfilled promises.
AnsweredQoN 912Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET
OFFICE
912. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
Before I get to my question, I would
like to support the statement the Premier just made.
I refer to the Premier's
2013 promise, his Treasurer's 2017 promise and the Langoulant inquiry
recommendation to establish a parliamentary budget office, and to the unanimous
support yesterday in the other place for a committee to investigate the
establishment of this office. Will the Premier now join his Labor colleagues in
the other place in support of a parliamentary budget office?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! The
Premier will answer the question.
OFFICE
912. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
Before I get to my question, I would
like to support the statement the Premier just made.
I refer to the Premier's
2013 promise, his Treasurer's 2017 promise and the Langoulant inquiry
recommendation to establish a parliamentary budget office, and to the unanimous
support yesterday in the other place for a committee to investigate the
establishment of this office. Will the Premier now join his Labor colleagues in
the other place in support of a parliamentary budget office?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! The
Premier will answer the question.
AnswerView source ↗
I am unaware of any motion in the
other place.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : They are
investigating the PPO and they will take a year to report.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of
the Opposition raised this issue last week or the week before.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am advised
that there is a vote in the other place to examine the establishment of a parliamentary
budget office.
Dr M.D. Nahan : Will you
support that?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will
absolutely support examining the establishment of a parliamentary budget
office, which is exactly what we said we would do before the last state
election. It is true that in 2013 we made a commitment before that election;
before the last election, we did not. We said we would look at the matter.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Treasurer!
Leader of the Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Let me just
make one point on the logic of the Leader of the Opposition's stance:
if a party made a commitment two elections ago and has to deliver it two
elections hence, then I look forward to the commitment of the Leader of the
Opposition, in the next election campaign, to Metro Area Express light rail. I look
forward to that. After the next election, if members opposite are elected, the
then opposition will be able to ask where MAX light rail is, because the
Liberals promised that back in 2013.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Mr M. McGOWAN : If that is the
logic of the Leader of the Opposition as to how promises have to extend through
the years, why do we not go back five elections or 10 elections? Why do we not
go back and look at the White Australia policy? Let us go back and look at the
ban on the export of iron ore to Japan. Why do we not hold ourselves
accountable for those commitments that were made elections before? That is the
logic the Leader of the Opposition is pursuing.
other place.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : They are
investigating the PPO and they will take a year to report.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of
the Opposition raised this issue last week or the week before.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am advised
that there is a vote in the other place to examine the establishment of a parliamentary
budget office.
Dr M.D. Nahan : Will you
support that?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will
absolutely support examining the establishment of a parliamentary budget
office, which is exactly what we said we would do before the last state
election. It is true that in 2013 we made a commitment before that election;
before the last election, we did not. We said we would look at the matter.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Treasurer!
Leader of the Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Let me just
make one point on the logic of the Leader of the Opposition's stance:
if a party made a commitment two elections ago and has to deliver it two
elections hence, then I look forward to the commitment of the Leader of the
Opposition, in the next election campaign, to Metro Area Express light rail. I look
forward to that. After the next election, if members opposite are elected, the
then opposition will be able to ask where MAX light rail is, because the
Liberals promised that back in 2013.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Mr M. McGOWAN : If that is the
logic of the Leader of the Opposition as to how promises have to extend through
the years, why do we not go back five elections or 10 elections? Why do we not
go back and look at the White Australia policy? Let us go back and look at the
ban on the export of iron ore to Japan. Why do we not hold ourselves
accountable for those commitments that were made elections before? That is the
logic the Leader of the Opposition is pursuing.
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