❓ Opposition Leader questions the Treasurer about a proposed $4000 fee for children of 457 visa holders attending public schools, and its impact on the state budget. The Treasurer's response is evasive and dismissive.
AnsweredQoN 467Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
457 VISA HOLDERS — PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHARGE
1. 467. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's politically opportunistic
decision to slug 457 visa holders, many of whom the government invited to come
to Western Australia, $4 000 per child to attend school to help pay for his
poor financial management.
(1) Can the
Treasurer confirm whether the criteria are already set in budget paper No 3
that every child of a 457 visa holder will have to pay the $4 000 fee applied
to them resulting in $30 million of revenue a year?
(2) What will
be the impact on state finances if not all children of 457 visa holders are
charged the $4 000?
1. 467. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's politically opportunistic
decision to slug 457 visa holders, many of whom the government invited to come
to Western Australia, $4 000 per child to attend school to help pay for his
poor financial management.
(1) Can the
Treasurer confirm whether the criteria are already set in budget paper No 3
that every child of a 457 visa holder will have to pay the $4 000 fee applied
to them resulting in $30 million of revenue a year?
(2) What will
be the impact on state finances if not all children of 457 visa holders are
charged the $4 000?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) No.
Occasionally the Leader of the Opposition has his ears engaged, and when he
has, he would have heard the Premier clearly state a number of times that those
exact criteria are being worked through. In fact, I am pretty sure it happened
on the radio again this morning. I am sure that the Leader of the Opposition's
ears, notwithstanding his flu, are still working, in part.
(2) It may
have an impact on the budget bottom line—it is yet to be determined
exactly—but it will be reported as part of the midyear review in line
with normal budget processes.
Mr P. Papalia :
Like last year.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
If the member had looked hard enough, he would have found it. I cannot be held
responsible for the member's laziness when it comes to things like the
Insurance Commission of Western Australia dividend. If the member wants a
lesson on how to find that information, I am happy to sit down and show him
how, but it requires one thing that is absent sometimes from the member—that
is, hard work and a bit of intellectual capacity. The answers to the Leader of
the Opposition's questions are ''no'' and ''possibly''.
Occasionally the Leader of the Opposition has his ears engaged, and when he
has, he would have heard the Premier clearly state a number of times that those
exact criteria are being worked through. In fact, I am pretty sure it happened
on the radio again this morning. I am sure that the Leader of the Opposition's
ears, notwithstanding his flu, are still working, in part.
(2) It may
have an impact on the budget bottom line—it is yet to be determined
exactly—but it will be reported as part of the midyear review in line
with normal budget processes.
Mr P. Papalia :
Like last year.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
If the member had looked hard enough, he would have found it. I cannot be held
responsible for the member's laziness when it comes to things like the
Insurance Commission of Western Australia dividend. If the member wants a
lesson on how to find that information, I am happy to sit down and show him
how, but it requires one thing that is absent sometimes from the member—that
is, hard work and a bit of intellectual capacity. The answers to the Leader of
the Opposition's questions are ''no'' and ''possibly''.
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