❓ Opposition questions Treasurer about budget surplus predictions given new spending commitments and economic changes. The Treasurer's response is evasive and descends into personal attacks and disorder.
AnsweredQoN 592Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET — SURPLUS PREDICTIONS
Since the Treasurer tabled the state budget, the Premier has announced hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new commitments, including the new Perth waterfront project, the mid-west powerline, the western suburbs police complex and the new rectangular stadium, none of which appear in the budget. I further note parameter movements such as the exchange rate and the iron ore price that have wiped billions in estimated revenue from the state’s finances. (1) Does the Treasurer still expect surpluses of $409 million and $23 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively? (2) Will the Treasurer now finally agree to provide the Parliament and the people of Western Australia with an urgent, honest and accurate account of the state’s finances, including an explicit plan to deal with the state’s exploding debt levels? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
Since the Treasurer tabled the state budget, the Premier has announced hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new commitments, including the new Perth waterfront project, the mid-west powerline, the western suburbs police complex and the new rectangular stadium, none of which appear in the budget. I further note parameter movements such as the exchange rate and the iron ore price that have wiped billions in estimated revenue from the state’s finances. (1) Does the Treasurer still expect surpluses of $409 million and $23 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively? (2) Will the Treasurer now finally agree to provide the Parliament and the people of Western Australia with an urgent, honest and accurate account of the state’s finances, including an explicit plan to deal with the state’s exploding debt levels? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
(1) Does the Treasurer still expect surpluses of $409 million and $23 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively? (2) Will the Treasurer now finally agree to provide the Parliament and the people of Western Australia with an urgent, honest and accurate account of the state’s finances, including an explicit plan to deal with the state’s exploding debt levels? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
(2) Will the Treasurer now finally agree to provide the Parliament and the people of Western Australia with an urgent, honest and accurate account of the state’s finances, including an explicit plan to deal with the state’s exploding debt levels? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
(1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
(1) Does the Treasurer still expect surpluses of $409 million and $23 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively? (2) Will the Treasurer now finally agree to provide the Parliament and the people of Western Australia with an urgent, honest and accurate account of the state’s finances, including an explicit plan to deal with the state’s exploding debt levels? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
(2) Will the Treasurer now finally agree to provide the Parliament and the people of Western Australia with an urgent, honest and accurate account of the state’s finances, including an explicit plan to deal with the state’s exploding debt levels? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
(1)-(2) Mr Speaker, the shadow minister for arts strikes again! Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, but you just made an order about appropriately addressing members of Parliament by their appropriate title, whether it be their seat title or whatever their title may be. I notice that you, Mr Speaker, did not correct the Treasurer. There are a number of things you could call the Treasurer, none of which you would probably agree to or allow under standing orders. I ask you, again, to let the clown of a Treasurer actually answer the question rather than acting like the sexual predator that he tends to be around this place! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : I take the member for Victoria Park’s point of order. I have no disagreement in essence with what the Treasurer has said; that is, I believe that you are the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : I am not, and I have not been for some months! The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : The member is not the shadow minister for the arts. Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : I asked the question, Mr Speaker, not him. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : Thank you very much. It is good to be informed and to be open in this place. Treasurer, I insist that you refer to the member for Victoria Park as the member for Victoria Park or as the shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Warnbro! Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I was simply assuming that something must be filling up the member for Victoria Park’s time lately because of his absence from debates on any matters to do with the economy in Western Australia. It was a mistake. Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : What do you mean? I have been in more of the debates than you have, you big fool—many more, you big fool! The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Victoria Park to order for the first time. I urge the Treasurer to get to the core of this question. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : There have been two press releases in six weeks; no wonder some of his friends call him lazy. The question — Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is that how you judge yourself a success—by the number of media releases you make? That is interesting, yes. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is the member ready because here is the answer. I expect that the budget surplus will shift. In fact — Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : How far? Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : That was the question. I expect that the budget surplus will shift, as it did previously, and as I would expect would be the case every time a budget is brought down. The fact is, shadow Treasurer, that we do not bring a budget down and then freeze the world. We do not bring a budget down and then stick our heads in the sand. We go on and live in a vibrant, dynamic world. As I said yesterday, the price of iron ore moves; perhaps we can influence that! The exchange rate moves; perhaps we can influence that. The volume of iron ore exported to China moves. I know that the Premier is doing a great job. I know that many members opposite look at him as a Messiah-like figure, but the fact is he cannot influence all that stuff! Lift yourself, Premier! Get out there to China and get the price of iron ore up, Premier! Get on the Today show and boost the exchange rate, Premier! I know the Premier is friends with Kevin. Can the Premier call Barack Obama and do something about the exchange rate? Life goes on, shadow Treasurer. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mrs C.A. Martin : Sit down now, Noddy! Come on; we have suffered enough, Noddy. Please sit down. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Such a nice person, and we shared so much together! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I expressed some disappointment yesterday with both sides in this place. The way all members are going today, this question time is going to finish in about 10 minutes. While I am on my feet, I formally call for the first time the members for Albany, Bassendean, Warnbro and Kimberley. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
As I was saying, we live and we operate in a dynamic environment. We manage the state’s finances in a dynamic way. I expect that the surplus forecast handed down in the budget will shift. Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I do. We are working hard to manage those flexible dynamic factors that impact on the budget to ensure that we stay in surplus and to ensure that we deliver debt levels that will keep us within acceptable parameters. That is what I said yesterday, and that is what we will do. That is not easy. I have to tell members that it is not an easy task, yet we are committed to delivering on that task. I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
I just want to close, Mr Speaker, by way of comparison with a shadow Treasurer whose fixation is with the mini-budget. As I said yesterday, the mini-budget is the mini-tool for the mini shadow Treasurer.
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