❓ Opposition questions the Premier about potential risks to WA's AAA credit rating due to pre-election spending. The Premier defends the government's financial management, highlighting debt reduction and contrasting it with the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 739Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to the recent warning by credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s that the Government’s pre-election spending spree could leave the AAA credit rating at risk. (1) Is the Premier aware that he and his ministers have made announcements worth more than $2 billion since the May budget? (2) Does the Government have a financial plan for these commitments or, as Standard and Poor’s has warned, will Western Australia’s AAA credit rating be threatened? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
(1) Is the Premier aware that he and his ministers have made announcements worth more than $2 billion since the May budget? (2) Does the Government have a financial plan for these commitments or, as Standard and Poor’s has warned, will Western Australia’s AAA credit rating be threatened? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
(2) Does the Government have a financial plan for these commitments or, as Standard and Poor’s has warned, will Western Australia’s AAA credit rating be threatened? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
(1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
(1) Is the Premier aware that he and his ministers have made announcements worth more than $2 billion since the May budget? (2) Does the Government have a financial plan for these commitments or, as Standard and Poor’s has warned, will Western Australia’s AAA credit rating be threatened? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
(2) Does the Government have a financial plan for these commitments or, as Standard and Poor’s has warned, will Western Australia’s AAA credit rating be threatened? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
(1)-(2) Yes, we have a plan. The plan is to ensure that we keep our AAA credit rating and that we do not do what happened under the previous Government, which produced five deficits in eight budgets. That is the record of the previous Government. We are committed to ensuring that Western Australia keeps its AAA credit rating. We have an excellent record in balancing the revenue side and the expenditure side of government to ensure that the needs of our community are met, particularly in health, education and policing. Of course we have in recent times reduced taxation in those important areas of stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax because the capacity was available to us. We have done all that and $400 million has been taken off state debt. I believe that the Treasurer recently published a document that indicated that when it comes to spending, there is no comparison with the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promise for every person in Western Australia, but he has no plan for the future of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The public understands that the Government must be responsible about finances, and we have been. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have taken a responsible approach to the management of finances, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies when they indicated that we had been prudent in the way in which we dealt with finances. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: No matter how hard the Leader of the Opposition tries to deny it, everyone knows that he took no account of financial responsibility when he was Minister for Education. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the simple fact that they had five deficits out of eight budgets. No matter how hard the Liberals try, they will not be able to avoid the fact that when things got tough, they flogged off another asset. We have not had privatisation. We have had good financial management. We have reduced state debt. We have had record capital works expenditure to build the infrastructure of Western Australia. We have preserved the AAA credit rating. On the question of financial management - Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: On the question of financial management, we are happy to have that debate, and we will beat the Opposition on that debate.
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