❓ Opposition MP Kirkup questions Premier McGowan on cost-of-living pressures in WA, particularly in outer suburbs and regional areas. McGowan defends his government's record, citing low fee increases and payroll tax cuts, while blaming the previous government for housing stress.
AnsweredQoN 1007Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COST-OF-LIVING PRESSURES
1007. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to recognise the teacher and students from Falcon Primary School in the
Speaker's gallery today. I had the pleasure of having lunch with them
in the dining room earlier this afternoon.
I
refer the Premier to today's expose on WAtoday by the outstanding journalists
Nathan Hondros and Hamish Hastie on the everyday struggles in the Western
Australian community. The article states —
The cost of living is out of control,
house prices are going backwards and Perth families are struggling.
Is
the Premier aware of how tough the people of Western Australia are currently
doing it, especially those in the outer suburbs of Clarkson, Joondalup
and Wanneroo and regional areas such as Pinjarra and Mandurah, or does the
Premier simply not care?
1007. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to recognise the teacher and students from Falcon Primary School in the
Speaker's gallery today. I had the pleasure of having lunch with them
in the dining room earlier this afternoon.
I
refer the Premier to today's expose on WAtoday by the outstanding journalists
Nathan Hondros and Hamish Hastie on the everyday struggles in the Western
Australian community. The article states —
The cost of living is out of control,
house prices are going backwards and Perth families are struggling.
Is
the Premier aware of how tough the people of Western Australia are currently
doing it, especially those in the outer suburbs of Clarkson, Joondalup
and Wanneroo and regional areas such as Pinjarra and Mandurah, or does the
Premier simply not care?
AnswerView source ↗
I have lived in the outer suburbs of
Western Australia, Rockingham, for 30 years. I am not a Johnny-come-lately to
the outer suburbs like the member for Dawesville.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for
Dawesville got the preselection and moved in at that point in time and pretends
he is a local!
Let us go through each of those
issues. I turn to the cost of living. This government had the lowest increase
in fees and charges in 13 years in last year's budget.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Members over
there can squawk like they do —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : That is the reality—the
lowest increase in 13 years. When it comes to house prices, yes we acknowledge
that there has been some housing stress; there is some housing stress.
Two-thirds of the fall in housing prices occurred during the term of the last
government. Do members know what the former government did? The former
government did it as a deliberate strategy. The mute Deputy Leader of the
Liberal Party admits that it was a deliberate strategy. How did the former
government achieve it? It put up land tax three times. Members opposite come in
here with amnesia about what they did. They seem to forget all those factors. I
will tell members one thing that this government has done today: we have
cut payroll tax. Small business across the state is welcoming that decision. We
have done that because we have managed the finances in ways that the Liberals
and Nationals could never dream of.
Western Australia, Rockingham, for 30 years. I am not a Johnny-come-lately to
the outer suburbs like the member for Dawesville.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for
Dawesville got the preselection and moved in at that point in time and pretends
he is a local!
Let us go through each of those
issues. I turn to the cost of living. This government had the lowest increase
in fees and charges in 13 years in last year's budget.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Members over
there can squawk like they do —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : That is the reality—the
lowest increase in 13 years. When it comes to house prices, yes we acknowledge
that there has been some housing stress; there is some housing stress.
Two-thirds of the fall in housing prices occurred during the term of the last
government. Do members know what the former government did? The former
government did it as a deliberate strategy. The mute Deputy Leader of the
Liberal Party admits that it was a deliberate strategy. How did the former
government achieve it? It put up land tax three times. Members opposite come in
here with amnesia about what they did. They seem to forget all those factors. I
will tell members one thing that this government has done today: we have
cut payroll tax. Small business across the state is welcoming that decision. We
have done that because we have managed the finances in ways that the Liberals
and Nationals could never dream of.
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