❓ Mr. Nalder questions the Premier's delay in stimulating the economy due to Coronavirus-related supply chain disruptions. The Premier defends the government's financial management and planned response.
AnsweredQoN 122Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION
122. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Premier, my question was about the supply chain disruption that businesses are
facing out there. Why is the Premier waiting for weeks to stimulate the economy
given that damage is being done now to small businesses and jobs, especially
casual jobs?
122. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Premier, my question was about the supply chain disruption that businesses are
facing out there. Why is the Premier waiting for weeks to stimulate the economy
given that damage is being done now to small businesses and jobs, especially
casual jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
As
I outlined before, the best part of a billion dollars' worth of
measures has been put in place in the last couple of months on the back
of good financial management, which has allowed us to do that. Had the previous
government, in the good economic times in 2010 and thereabouts, not blown the
budget, we would have greater capacity. But over
the last three years we have taken the state from a $2.5 billion deficit to a $2.5
billion surplus. We are the only state in Australia to be driving down
debt. That is what this government has done. That has given us the capacity to
respond, but we are going to respond in a considered, reasonable and rational
way. That is what we will do. I will go to the Council of Australian
Governments tomorrow and the next day to meet with the other states and we will
announce further responses in the coming weeks.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman! You have asked your question.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : But as I have said,
we have announced a major housing stimulus package, a major maintenance stimulus package for schools and hospitals and we have cut payroll tax twice.
Remember, member, the previous government put up payroll tax and it put up land
tax three times. We cut payroll tax and we cut stamp duty. We have done that
just in the last few months to support Western Australia. But the best thing
that Western Australians can do is to
continue to support our businesses. I encourage us all to do that.
Scaremongering by the Liberal Party is not
helping the situation. I urge its members to stop this ridiculous
scaremongering and the politicising of this issue.
I outlined before, the best part of a billion dollars' worth of
measures has been put in place in the last couple of months on the back
of good financial management, which has allowed us to do that. Had the previous
government, in the good economic times in 2010 and thereabouts, not blown the
budget, we would have greater capacity. But over
the last three years we have taken the state from a $2.5 billion deficit to a $2.5
billion surplus. We are the only state in Australia to be driving down
debt. That is what this government has done. That has given us the capacity to
respond, but we are going to respond in a considered, reasonable and rational
way. That is what we will do. I will go to the Council of Australian
Governments tomorrow and the next day to meet with the other states and we will
announce further responses in the coming weeks.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman! You have asked your question.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : But as I have said,
we have announced a major housing stimulus package, a major maintenance stimulus package for schools and hospitals and we have cut payroll tax twice.
Remember, member, the previous government put up payroll tax and it put up land
tax three times. We cut payroll tax and we cut stamp duty. We have done that
just in the last few months to support Western Australia. But the best thing
that Western Australians can do is to
continue to support our businesses. I encourage us all to do that.
Scaremongering by the Liberal Party is not
helping the situation. I urge its members to stop this ridiculous
scaremongering and the politicising of this issue.
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