❓ Dr. Thomas questions whether the government's COVID-19 household fee freeze was pre-planned for the election. The Minister acknowledges considering relief options but frames the freeze as a COVID-19 response.
AnsweredQoN 227Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — HOUSEHOLD
FEES AND CHARGES
227. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
I
refer to the government's $607 million COVID-19 economic response
released yesterday, and to media reports of an impending pre-election freeze on household fees and charges, including
in The Sunday Times of 22 December 2019, prior to the
COVID-19 outbreak, in which we were told —
Power and water bills are likely to
be frozen next year, as part of a pre-election sweetener.
The
Sunday Times can today reveal that Premier Mark McGowan and Treasurer Ben Wyatt
are considering price freezes on not just power and water, but all
yearly government household fees and charges, which includes motor vehicle and
public transport charges as well as an emergency services levy.
(1) How much of
the $402 million freeze on household fees and charges was the government
contemplating for the 2020 pre-election budget anyway?
(2) Has the so-called pre-election
sweetener simply been rebadged as a COVID-19 response?
(3) What evidence can the Treasurer provide to prove
that yesterday's announcement of a freeze on household fees and charges was not already being considered
or indeed was not already in the 2020 pre-election budget?
FEES AND CHARGES
227. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
I
refer to the government's $607 million COVID-19 economic response
released yesterday, and to media reports of an impending pre-election freeze on household fees and charges, including
in The Sunday Times of 22 December 2019, prior to the
COVID-19 outbreak, in which we were told —
Power and water bills are likely to
be frozen next year, as part of a pre-election sweetener.
The
Sunday Times can today reveal that Premier Mark McGowan and Treasurer Ben Wyatt
are considering price freezes on not just power and water, but all
yearly government household fees and charges, which includes motor vehicle and
public transport charges as well as an emergency services levy.
(1) How much of
the $402 million freeze on household fees and charges was the government
contemplating for the 2020 pre-election budget anyway?
(2) Has the so-called pre-election
sweetener simply been rebadged as a COVID-19 response?
(3) What evidence can the Treasurer provide to prove
that yesterday's announcement of a freeze on household fees and charges was not already being considered
or indeed was not already in the 2020 pre-election budget?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some
notice of the question.
(1)–(3) As
part of the 2020–21 budget process, the government was considering a range
of options to provide relief to Western Australian
households. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the McGowan government has immediately frozen household fees and
charges, including electricity, water and motor vehicle charges , the
emergency services levy and public transport fares.
notice of the question.
(1)–(3) As
part of the 2020–21 budget process, the government was considering a range
of options to provide relief to Western Australian
households. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the McGowan government has immediately frozen household fees and
charges, including electricity, water and motor vehicle charges , the
emergency services levy and public transport fares.
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