❓ Mr. Love questions the appropriateness of offering loans to local governments already in debt, suggesting alternative funding. The Premier responds that the lending facility was requested by local governments themselves.
AnsweredQoN 360Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND UNIVERSITIES — LENDING FACILITY
360. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Does the Premier agree that with local governments already collectively owing $700 million, it is inappropriate to ask them to
go further into debt, and there might be merit in reconsidering funding through the country local government fund to enable them to kickstart their
regional economies?
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND UNIVERSITIES — LENDING FACILITY
360. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Does the Premier agree that with local governments already collectively owing $700 million, it is inappropriate to ask them to
go further into debt, and there might be merit in reconsidering funding through the country local government fund to enable them to kickstart their
regional economies?
AnswerView source ↗
As
I recall it, the policy of providing a lending facility to local governments
was their suggestion and that they were keen on this concept. That is my
recollection of the issue.
A member interjected.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : There you go. It was
their suggestion and they asked us for this. Once again, it is hard to answer a question when the premise is wrong. Local governments were keen on some
support over this period. I must say, local governments' revenue base
is pretty secure, certainly compared with other levels of government at this
point in time. However, we were happy to work with local government on this, as
we were with universities the revenue base
of which is less secure, particularly in light of what has occurred with
international students. This is one of the measures we put in place to support economic activity and job creation
or job preservation across Western Australia. As I have said on numerous
occasions, I have been disappointed that local government has laid off people
over this period, particularly when the state and commonwealth governments have
not done that because keeping people employed is very important.
I recall it, the policy of providing a lending facility to local governments
was their suggestion and that they were keen on this concept. That is my
recollection of the issue.
A member interjected.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : There you go. It was
their suggestion and they asked us for this. Once again, it is hard to answer a question when the premise is wrong. Local governments were keen on some
support over this period. I must say, local governments' revenue base
is pretty secure, certainly compared with other levels of government at this
point in time. However, we were happy to work with local government on this, as
we were with universities the revenue base
of which is less secure, particularly in light of what has occurred with
international students. This is one of the measures we put in place to support economic activity and job creation
or job preservation across Western Australia. As I have said on numerous
occasions, I have been disappointed that local government has laid off people
over this period, particularly when the state and commonwealth governments have
not done that because keeping people employed is very important.
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