❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Treasurer about the timing of including Insurance Commission dividends in state finances and accuses him of misleading Parliament. The Treasurer denies misleading Parliament and clarifies his statements.
AnsweredQoN 487Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INSURANCE
COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA — DIVIDENDS
487. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
I refer to the consideration in detail stage on the Insurance
Commission of Western Australia Amendment Bill 2013 on 20 June this year. In
response to the question about whether Treasury or the minister started to
write into the budget an estimate of dividends from this bill, the Treasurer
replied —
It will be written into the budget
papers but that is dependent on this legislation passing through Parliament. As
to which years it is written in will depend on the timing of the passage of
this legislation.
(1) Is it not
true that despite the Treasurer's statement in the Parliament, the
revenue from the Insurance Commission dividend had already been written into
the state finances for the years 2012–13 through to 2016–17—some
$141 million?
(2) Why did
the Treasurer mislead the Parliament by stating that the revenue would be
claimed only once the legislation had passed through the Parliament?
(3) Did the
Treasurer instruct Treasury to ensure that the Government Mid-year Financial Projections Statement did not
specifically highlight the government's decision of October 2012 to
require the Insurance Commission of Western Australia to pay a dividend to
government?
COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA — DIVIDENDS
487. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
I refer to the consideration in detail stage on the Insurance
Commission of Western Australia Amendment Bill 2013 on 20 June this year. In
response to the question about whether Treasury or the minister started to
write into the budget an estimate of dividends from this bill, the Treasurer
replied —
It will be written into the budget
papers but that is dependent on this legislation passing through Parliament. As
to which years it is written in will depend on the timing of the passage of
this legislation.
(1) Is it not
true that despite the Treasurer's statement in the Parliament, the
revenue from the Insurance Commission dividend had already been written into
the state finances for the years 2012–13 through to 2016–17—some
$141 million?
(2) Why did
the Treasurer mislead the Parliament by stating that the revenue would be
claimed only once the legislation had passed through the Parliament?
(3) Did the
Treasurer instruct Treasury to ensure that the Government Mid-year Financial Projections Statement did not
specifically highlight the government's decision of October 2012 to
require the Insurance Commission of Western Australia to pay a dividend to
government?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) During
consideration in detail we were dealing with the bill on hand, which was the
2013 bill. I have reviewed every line of that debate in Hansard . I was very clear in every response I made to refer to that
particular bill and the application of that bill. I stand by those comments.
They were made then and I stand by them now.
(2)–(3)
In the second part of the question, the member insinuated that I picked up the
phone, called Mr Marney and said, ''Remove any reference —
Mr D.J. Kelly : Don't
rephrase the question; just answer it.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
If the member for Bassendean wants to ask me a question, he should hop up and
ask me a question any day of the week.
In response to that question, that did not happen. I sought
clarification from Mr Marney yesterday about that. I did not have a
conversation with Mr Marney about the removal or inclusion of any matter
relating to the dividend in the midyear review. I have asked Treasury to
explain to me where that appeared in the midyear review, as is required of
Treasury under the relevant state legislation. Yesterday the member for West
Swan insinuated that the legislation of this state compelled Treasury and the
government to present information in a certain way. The member is wrong. The
Government Financial Responsibility Act 2000 requires the Under Treasurer to
take account of the implications of all relevant decisions; in other words, to
ensure that they are included in the financials. Guess what? They are in there.
consideration in detail we were dealing with the bill on hand, which was the
2013 bill. I have reviewed every line of that debate in Hansard . I was very clear in every response I made to refer to that
particular bill and the application of that bill. I stand by those comments.
They were made then and I stand by them now.
(2)–(3)
In the second part of the question, the member insinuated that I picked up the
phone, called Mr Marney and said, ''Remove any reference —
Mr D.J. Kelly : Don't
rephrase the question; just answer it.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
If the member for Bassendean wants to ask me a question, he should hop up and
ask me a question any day of the week.
In response to that question, that did not happen. I sought
clarification from Mr Marney yesterday about that. I did not have a
conversation with Mr Marney about the removal or inclusion of any matter
relating to the dividend in the midyear review. I have asked Treasury to
explain to me where that appeared in the midyear review, as is required of
Treasury under the relevant state legislation. Yesterday the member for West
Swan insinuated that the legislation of this state compelled Treasury and the
government to present information in a certain way. The member is wrong. The
Government Financial Responsibility Act 2000 requires the Under Treasurer to
take account of the implications of all relevant decisions; in other words, to
ensure that they are included in the financials. Guess what? They are in there.
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