❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Premier on financial hardship in WA, citing ACOSS and WACOSS reports. The Premier acknowledges the issue and highlights government initiatives, deferring questions on fines to relevant ministers.
AnsweredQoN 6091Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Premier aware of the contents of the February 2007 Community Sector Survey published by the Australian Council of Social Service, which found that in 2005/2006 the 107 Western Australian respondent agencies surveyed assisted 13 percent more people than they had the year before but still had to turn away 54 percent more people than they had the year before?
(2) Is the Premier aware of the contents of the August 2007 paper ‘The Rising Cost of Living in Western Australia’ published by the Western Australian Council of Social Service Inc., which found that for low income earners and people experiencing disadvantage, the cost of living in Western Australia, particularly in respect of housing, food and petrol, is rising so much faster than their incomes so as to create significant financial hardship?
(3) Is the Premier aware of the contents of the October 2007 paper ‘Australia Fair: Update on those missing out’ published by the Australian Council of Social Service, including its finding that in 2005/2006 9.5 percent of Western Australians were living on less than 50 percent of the median disposable income for all Australian households?
(4) Is the Premier aware that in its 2008/2009 Pre-Budget Submission, the Western Australian Council of Social Service recommended as a result of the financial hardship being experienced by many Western Australians, that the Government develop and monitor a Cost of Living Index to inform financial and social policy?
(5) Is the Premier aware that in the week ending on 6 March 2008, fine default accounted for 1.8 percent of the adult prisoner population, and at times over 2007 accounted for over 4 percent of the adult prisoner population?
(6) Has the Government considered any of the following, -
(a) making fines means-tested, eg. via penalty units having a sliding scale of dollar values based on the person’s income tax bracket;
(b) alternative sanctions; and
(c) a reward system for good driving?
(7) If yes to (6), what were the reasons for dismissing each of these options?
(2) Is the Premier aware of the contents of the August 2007 paper ‘The Rising Cost of Living in Western Australia’ published by the Western Australian Council of Social Service Inc., which found that for low income earners and people experiencing disadvantage, the cost of living in Western Australia, particularly in respect of housing, food and petrol, is rising so much faster than their incomes so as to create significant financial hardship?
(3) Is the Premier aware of the contents of the October 2007 paper ‘Australia Fair: Update on those missing out’ published by the Australian Council of Social Service, including its finding that in 2005/2006 9.5 percent of Western Australians were living on less than 50 percent of the median disposable income for all Australian households?
(4) Is the Premier aware that in its 2008/2009 Pre-Budget Submission, the Western Australian Council of Social Service recommended as a result of the financial hardship being experienced by many Western Australians, that the Government develop and monitor a Cost of Living Index to inform financial and social policy?
(5) Is the Premier aware that in the week ending on 6 March 2008, fine default accounted for 1.8 percent of the adult prisoner population, and at times over 2007 accounted for over 4 percent of the adult prisoner population?
(6) Has the Government considered any of the following, -
(a) making fines means-tested, eg. via penalty units having a sliding scale of dollar values based on the person’s income tax bracket;
(b) alternative sanctions; and
(c) a reward system for good driving?
(7) If yes to (6), what were the reasons for dismissing each of these options?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 May 2008
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Premier
Response time
42 days
(1-4) I am well aware of the levels of financial hardship in our community and as a Government we are proud of our record in continuing to address this issue. Since taking office in 2001, over seven successive budgets, we have worked to keep household fees and charges below the rate of inflation, effectively reducing household fees and charges by $413 in real terms or 10.8%. We have also introduced 7 new social concessions and increased the amount spent annually on household concessions and rebates from $381 million in 2001, to over $442 million in 2005/6.
We are committed to building on measures announced in our last State budget, such as the $238 million housing affordability package and the additional $36 million in extra indexation payments to non-government organisation, to further address this important issue. On 4 April 2008, for example, I announced the introduction of a $24.4million package of new measures to tackle 'utility' hardship. The package includes more financial counselling, grants to assist those in genuine financial hardship and energy efficiency initiatives to lower power bills.
The State Government recognises that more needs to be done and has committed itself to working in partnership with WACOSS to develop a social inclusion policy framework for Western Australia that will link to the Australian government's social inclusion agenda. I have asked the Social Policy Unit of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department for Communities to work with WACOSS to ensure the engagement of non-government, government and private sector stakeholders in developing this framework.
(5-7) The Member needs to direct these questions to the relevant Minister(s).
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We are committed to building on measures announced in our last State budget, such as the $238 million housing affordability package and the additional $36 million in extra indexation payments to non-government organisation, to further address this important issue. On 4 April 2008, for example, I announced the introduction of a $24.4million package of new measures to tackle 'utility' hardship. The package includes more financial counselling, grants to assist those in genuine financial hardship and energy efficiency initiatives to lower power bills.
The State Government recognises that more needs to be done and has committed itself to working in partnership with WACOSS to develop a social inclusion policy framework for Western Australia that will link to the Australian government's social inclusion agenda. I have asked the Social Policy Unit of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department for Communities to work with WACOSS to ensure the engagement of non-government, government and private sector stakeholders in developing this framework.
(5-7) The Member needs to direct these questions to the relevant Minister(s).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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