❓ The Treasurer outlines the government's commitment to key services in the state budget, highlighting increased spending in health, education, and police, and comparing WA's expenditure favorably to other states. The response also criticises the opposition's stance on tax relief and service delivery.
AnsweredQoN 245Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET - SERVICE DELIVERY
Can the Treasurer outline details of the government’s ongoing commitment to the delivery of key services in the state budget? Mr E.S. RIPPER
Can the Treasurer outline details of the government’s ongoing commitment to the delivery of key services in the state budget? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
The shadow Treasurer did not talk about services before the budget. However, he challenged me to jump a tax hurdle and provide $350 million worth of tax relief next year. I could not wait for budget day because as soon as he said that, I knew that our $433 million would mean that I could meet that challenge and exceed that hurdle. I was disappointed that I could not deviate from the formal budget speech, because I could see the gloom on the faces of members opposite as they realised that tax relief in the budget exceeded their expectations. I could see that the member for Vasse was embarrassed. The member for Kalgoorlie knows that it is difficult to embarrass the member for Vasse and that if he is embarrassed, he does not stay embarrassed for very long. What did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition do? He slipped away from the house before I had finished my budget speech to cook up his response. He put on hippo hide and made it up. Mr T. Buswell : I did not want to sit here and listen to your tripe. I slipped off because you would not give us the facts and figures. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The shadow Treasurer did not talk about services before the budget. However, he challenged me to jump a tax hurdle and provide $350 million worth of tax relief next year. I could not wait for budget day because as soon as he said that, I knew that our $433 million would mean that I could meet that challenge and exceed that hurdle. I was disappointed that I could not deviate from the formal budget speech, because I could see the gloom on the faces of members opposite as they realised that tax relief in the budget exceeded their expectations. I could see that the member for Vasse was embarrassed. The member for Kalgoorlie knows that it is difficult to embarrass the member for Vasse and that if he is embarrassed, he does not stay embarrassed for very long. What did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition do? He slipped away from the house before I had finished my budget speech to cook up his response. He put on hippo hide and made it up. Mr T. Buswell : I did not want to sit here and listen to your tripe. I slipped off because you would not give us the facts and figures. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
The shadow Treasurer did not talk about services before the budget. However, he challenged me to jump a tax hurdle and provide $350 million worth of tax relief next year. I could not wait for budget day because as soon as he said that, I knew that our $433 million would mean that I could meet that challenge and exceed that hurdle. I was disappointed that I could not deviate from the formal budget speech, because I could see the gloom on the faces of members opposite as they realised that tax relief in the budget exceeded their expectations. I could see that the member for Vasse was embarrassed. The member for Kalgoorlie knows that it is difficult to embarrass the member for Vasse and that if he is embarrassed, he does not stay embarrassed for very long. What did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition do? He slipped away from the house before I had finished my budget speech to cook up his response. He put on hippo hide and made it up. Mr T. Buswell : I did not want to sit here and listen to your tripe. I slipped off because you would not give us the facts and figures. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Mr T. Buswell : I did not want to sit here and listen to your tripe. I slipped off because you would not give us the facts and figures. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The shadow Treasurer did not talk about services before the budget. However, he challenged me to jump a tax hurdle and provide $350 million worth of tax relief next year. I could not wait for budget day because as soon as he said that, I knew that our $433 million would mean that I could meet that challenge and exceed that hurdle. I was disappointed that I could not deviate from the formal budget speech, because I could see the gloom on the faces of members opposite as they realised that tax relief in the budget exceeded their expectations. I could see that the member for Vasse was embarrassed. The member for Kalgoorlie knows that it is difficult to embarrass the member for Vasse and that if he is embarrassed, he does not stay embarrassed for very long. What did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition do? He slipped away from the house before I had finished my budget speech to cook up his response. He put on hippo hide and made it up. Mr T. Buswell : I did not want to sit here and listen to your tripe. I slipped off because you would not give us the facts and figures. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
The shadow Treasurer did not talk about services before the budget. However, he challenged me to jump a tax hurdle and provide $350 million worth of tax relief next year. I could not wait for budget day because as soon as he said that, I knew that our $433 million would mean that I could meet that challenge and exceed that hurdle. I was disappointed that I could not deviate from the formal budget speech, because I could see the gloom on the faces of members opposite as they realised that tax relief in the budget exceeded their expectations. I could see that the member for Vasse was embarrassed. The member for Kalgoorlie knows that it is difficult to embarrass the member for Vasse and that if he is embarrassed, he does not stay embarrassed for very long. What did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition do? He slipped away from the house before I had finished my budget speech to cook up his response. He put on hippo hide and made it up. Mr T. Buswell : I did not want to sit here and listen to your tripe. I slipped off because you would not give us the facts and figures. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Mr T. Buswell : I did not want to sit here and listen to your tripe. I slipped off because you would not give us the facts and figures. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Next year there will be $433 million worth of tax relief. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Vasse to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : That figure is $1.2 billion when one takes into account the four previous rounds of tax cuts before this one. The member for Vasse is untrustworthy not only when it comes to taxes, but also when it comes to services. I noticed one line in his budget reply to the budget, meagre as it was. When he referred to services, he said “Show me the money!” Here it is: there has been a 5.4 per cent increase in health, a 5.7 per cent increase in education and training and a 7.6 per cent increase in police. There might be more than one doubting Thomas on the other side of the house who will ask how that compares with the other states. Our health and community services expenditure per capita is seven per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our education and training expenditure is 15.35 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Our law and order expenditure is 18.6 per cent above the average of the other mainland states. Doubters on the opposition benches will ask what that means for services for Western Australians. I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
I have some more information. For example, the latest Productivity Commission figures, which relate to 2004-05, reveal that elective surgery waiting times in Western Australia are the second lowest in the nation, having been sixth in 2001. The Minister for Health and his predecessor were able to achieve that significant improvement. The Productivity Commission also states that Western Australian employers have the highest satisfaction with employees possessing formal vocational qualifications. That is a tribute to the quality of our training system. Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Other figures show that the amount of money we have been pouring into services is translating into improved benefits for the people of Western Australia - namely, since 2001, an 82 per cent increase in the number of apprentices, a 30 per cent drop in burglary rates, and almost a 50 per cent drop in motor vehicle thefts. “Show me the money” turns out to be as untrustworthy an argument as is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s so-called analysis of the tax relief package in the budget. He is as untrustworthy when it comes to speaking the truth on services as he is on tax. There is a more important issue with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition; that is, when it comes to services, he cannot be trusted to deliver them. He is a man who believes in fewer services with less money. We should never forget that. I believe, and this government believes, that we are elected, firstly, to provide decent health, decent education and decent law and order services to the people of Western Australia. Services are our priority. Members on the other side mislead the community about tax and they do not care about services because their shadow Treasurer actually wants fewer services with less revenue. We know he cannot be trusted on tax or services. According to his colleagues, of course, he cannot be trusted at all. I cannot help myself, Mr Speaker, I must quote once again the member for Hillarys when he said the following about the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - His cowardly and gutless disloyalty will be the start of his demise and I think you will find the shining star of Troy Buswell will diminish over the coming months. Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party. So sayeth the member for Hillarys.
Let me tell you, if he is the future of the Liberal Party then God help the Liberal Party.
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