❓ Mr. Wyatt asks the Treasurer about expected revenue from a proposed GST floor for WA. The Treasurer avoids a direct answer, criticising the opposition's stance and highlighting the reform's significance.
AnsweredQoN 504Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX DISTRIBUTION
504. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
I refer to the comments of the
Premier just a few minutes ago regarding the Prime Minister's vague
proposal about introducing a floor for Western Australian's GST, noting
that the Premier said that the commitment is to have something in place this
year. What is the expected extra revenue to be generated across the forward
estimates for Western Australia?
504. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
I refer to the comments of the
Premier just a few minutes ago regarding the Prime Minister's vague
proposal about introducing a floor for Western Australian's GST, noting
that the Premier said that the commitment is to have something in place this
year. What is the expected extra revenue to be generated across the forward
estimates for Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Thanks for the question. This is one
of the most fundamental proposals for reform to fiscal federalism in the last
30 years. It is absolutely essential. Unfortunately, members opposite have
taken a position of resistance on this and do not support it. Getting reform
would have been much, much better if the Labor Party had done the right thing
and worked with us in a bipartisan manner, but it chose to resist; in fact, its
members worked with the people in the eastern states to inhibit reform. They
have taken the view on this issue, just like everything else —
Point of Order
Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, being
probably the final question, you would appreciate that my question was short
and succinct.
The SPEAKER : Very short and
succinct.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : The Treasurer said that this is the most significant fiscal
issue. No doubt he would know of the extra revenue, in light of the fact that
an agreement has apparently been reached to implement a floor this year.
Perhaps you could bring the Treasurer back to the specific question.
The
SPEAKER : Let us deal with that, Treasurer.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : It may have been a short question but some short questions have
a lot of meaning. On this issue, the Labor Party has taken the position, just
like everything else, that whatever hurts Western Australia, our state revenue
or the economy is good for the Labor Party. We have achieved this despite the
Labor Party, and it stands condemned.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you. You have had a good lead-in now. Can you just answer
this question.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I might add that if this was not significant, why do we have
the cacophony of screams from the eastern states? Why would all the leaders
from the other states be screaming about this if this was not a major reform?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The Premier mentioned that the Prime Minister intends to put in
a floor and announce it this year, okay?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time. I want a very
short and succinct answer; we are running out of time.
Mr
P.T. Miles interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time. Thank
you.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The Premier has argued for this for a long, long time. You
people have said, ''It won't be done and can't be done.
It won't be done; can't be done.'' It is going to be
done. The Prime Minister will announce the floor. There are still some
discussions going on about it. It may be 70 per cent, which will be good. When
it comes into place, the Prime Minister has to say when we go beyond that.
Members opposite say that we will never have the growth relative to other
states that would otherwise bring us below the floor—pessimistic!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : What are you talking about? No-one has said that!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Yes, members opposite have! They are implying that. We planned
for this state to grow rapidly relative to other states. We expect —
Mr
M. McGowan : Don't look over there.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I am looking at you; you are the one who let the state down.
You have failed leadership.
Point of Order
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, my question was short and concise —
The
SPEAKER : I know what your point of order is. You have 30 seconds to
wind this up if you want to say anything else but we are not going on a ramble.
Thank you.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : When we see the nature of the floor and the timing of it, we
will be able to answer that question.
of the most fundamental proposals for reform to fiscal federalism in the last
30 years. It is absolutely essential. Unfortunately, members opposite have
taken a position of resistance on this and do not support it. Getting reform
would have been much, much better if the Labor Party had done the right thing
and worked with us in a bipartisan manner, but it chose to resist; in fact, its
members worked with the people in the eastern states to inhibit reform. They
have taken the view on this issue, just like everything else —
Point of Order
Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, being
probably the final question, you would appreciate that my question was short
and succinct.
The SPEAKER : Very short and
succinct.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : The Treasurer said that this is the most significant fiscal
issue. No doubt he would know of the extra revenue, in light of the fact that
an agreement has apparently been reached to implement a floor this year.
Perhaps you could bring the Treasurer back to the specific question.
The
SPEAKER : Let us deal with that, Treasurer.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : It may have been a short question but some short questions have
a lot of meaning. On this issue, the Labor Party has taken the position, just
like everything else, that whatever hurts Western Australia, our state revenue
or the economy is good for the Labor Party. We have achieved this despite the
Labor Party, and it stands condemned.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you. You have had a good lead-in now. Can you just answer
this question.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I might add that if this was not significant, why do we have
the cacophony of screams from the eastern states? Why would all the leaders
from the other states be screaming about this if this was not a major reform?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The Premier mentioned that the Prime Minister intends to put in
a floor and announce it this year, okay?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time. I want a very
short and succinct answer; we are running out of time.
Mr
P.T. Miles interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time. Thank
you.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The Premier has argued for this for a long, long time. You
people have said, ''It won't be done and can't be done.
It won't be done; can't be done.'' It is going to be
done. The Prime Minister will announce the floor. There are still some
discussions going on about it. It may be 70 per cent, which will be good. When
it comes into place, the Prime Minister has to say when we go beyond that.
Members opposite say that we will never have the growth relative to other
states that would otherwise bring us below the floor—pessimistic!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : What are you talking about? No-one has said that!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Yes, members opposite have! They are implying that. We planned
for this state to grow rapidly relative to other states. We expect —
Mr
M. McGowan : Don't look over there.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I am looking at you; you are the one who let the state down.
You have failed leadership.
Point of Order
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, my question was short and concise —
The
SPEAKER : I know what your point of order is. You have 30 seconds to
wind this up if you want to say anything else but we are not going on a ramble.
Thank you.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : When we see the nature of the floor and the timing of it, we
will be able to answer that question.
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