Dr. Nahan questions the Premier about a significant increase in hardship utility grant applications following an electricity price increase. The Premier deflects, accusing the Liberal Party of not caring about low-income earners and blaming them for the state's financial woes.

AnsweredQoN 566Legislative Assembly
Asked
31 October 2017
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

ELECTRICITY PRICES — PENSIONERS
566. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Is
the Premier aware that the number of people needing financial assistance
through the hardship utility grant scheme has increased from 2 650 in January
of this year to a massive 10 697 in July following his government's
mean-spirited price increase? That is equivalent to a 300 per cent increase in
demand for HUGS under the Premier's watch.

AnswerView source ↗

It
is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to come in here and act like it cares about
people on low incomes. It is a bit rich.
Dr
M.D. Nahan : You don't!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Look at you! You sit there and show scant concern —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members, a question has been asked; listen to the answer.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : The Liberal Party is made up —
Dr
M.D. Nahan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
Liberal Party is made up of people who do not care about those on low incomes.
That is the bedrock of the Liberal Party in this country—people who do
not care about those on low incomes.
I just outlined to the house a whole
range of initiatives that this government has put in place to assist those
people on lower incomes. We are dealing with the worst set of finances ever
bequeathed to another government in the history of this country, and it was the
Liberal Party's doing.

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