Shadow Treasurer Ripper questions Premier Barnett's confidence in Treasury's forward estimates for the upcoming budget. Barnett expresses confidence in Treasury but clarifies forward estimates are not a budget and subject to change, while also criticising Labor's past spending.

AnsweredQoN 339Legislative Assembly
Asked
5 May 2009
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

STATE BUDGET — FORWARD ESTIMATES, AND DEFICIT
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier stand by the forward estimates that have been prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance for next week’s budget? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

I have confidence in Treasury’s capacity and ability to project and produce forward estimates, but again I reiterate that the forward estimates are not a budget. There will be changes in the economic environment; there will be changes in government policy decisions, year in, year out. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : What do they mean then? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They provide a guide to the trend of the finances of the state if nothing changes in the intervening period. Things will change, and this government will make policy decisions and will, as the Treasurer has been saying, do a lot to rein in recurrent spending in particular. It was out of control during the Labor years. A number of measures have been put in place. We have placed a ceiling on the total size of the public sector. We have realigned some of the capital works projects. When the Treasurer presents this year’s budget—the first budget of the Liberal-National government—members will see that we will honour our commitment to the electorate and deliver our election promises.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I have confidence in Treasury’s capacity and ability to project and produce forward estimates, but again I reiterate that the forward estimates are not a budget. There will be changes in the economic environment; there will be changes in government policy decisions, year in, year out. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : What do they mean then? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They provide a guide to the trend of the finances of the state if nothing changes in the intervening period. Things will change, and this government will make policy decisions and will, as the Treasurer has been saying, do a lot to rein in recurrent spending in particular. It was out of control during the Labor years. A number of measures have been put in place. We have placed a ceiling on the total size of the public sector. We have realigned some of the capital works projects. When the Treasurer presents this year’s budget—the first budget of the Liberal-National government—members will see that we will honour our commitment to the electorate and deliver our election promises.
I have confidence in Treasury’s capacity and ability to project and produce forward estimates, but again I reiterate that the forward estimates are not a budget. There will be changes in the economic environment; there will be changes in government policy decisions, year in, year out. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : What do they mean then? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They provide a guide to the trend of the finances of the state if nothing changes in the intervening period. Things will change, and this government will make policy decisions and will, as the Treasurer has been saying, do a lot to rein in recurrent spending in particular. It was out of control during the Labor years. A number of measures have been put in place. We have placed a ceiling on the total size of the public sector. We have realigned some of the capital works projects. When the Treasurer presents this year’s budget—the first budget of the Liberal-National government—members will see that we will honour our commitment to the electorate and deliver our election promises.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : What do they mean then? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They provide a guide to the trend of the finances of the state if nothing changes in the intervening period. Things will change, and this government will make policy decisions and will, as the Treasurer has been saying, do a lot to rein in recurrent spending in particular. It was out of control during the Labor years. A number of measures have been put in place. We have placed a ceiling on the total size of the public sector. We have realigned some of the capital works projects. When the Treasurer presents this year’s budget—the first budget of the Liberal-National government—members will see that we will honour our commitment to the electorate and deliver our election promises.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They provide a guide to the trend of the finances of the state if nothing changes in the intervening period. Things will change, and this government will make policy decisions and will, as the Treasurer has been saying, do a lot to rein in recurrent spending in particular. It was out of control during the Labor years. A number of measures have been put in place. We have placed a ceiling on the total size of the public sector. We have realigned some of the capital works projects. When the Treasurer presents this year’s budget—the first budget of the Liberal-National government—members will see that we will honour our commitment to the electorate and deliver our election promises.

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