❓ Mr. Buswell questions the Treasurer about increased stamp duty receipts despite a projected fall, accusing him of a 'brutal assault' on taxpayers. The Treasurer defends the government's economic management, emphasizing the need for balanced investment in services and infrastructure.
AnsweredQoN 764Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STAMP DUTY ON PROPERTY PURCHASES
The Treasurer estimated in his budget for this year that stamp duty receipts on property purchases would fall by five per cent. In the first test of this commitment, the month of July, stamp duty receipts did not fall by five per cent but actually increased by 71 per cent. How can the Treasurer justify this ongoing brutal assault on Western Australian taxpayers, and when will he dispense with his farcical state tax review and provide meaningful tax relief to Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER
The Treasurer estimated in his budget for this year that stamp duty receipts on property purchases would fall by five per cent. In the first test of this commitment, the month of July, stamp duty receipts did not fall by five per cent but actually increased by 71 per cent. How can the Treasurer justify this ongoing brutal assault on Western Australian taxpayers, and when will he dispense with his farcical state tax review and provide meaningful tax relief to Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
Let me start by declaring that I am in favour of tax relief. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: Let me start by declaring that I am in favour of tax relief. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Let me start by declaring that I am in favour of tax relief. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: Let me start by declaring that I am in favour of tax relief. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Let me start by declaring that I am in favour of tax relief. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : That seems to have attracted a lot of support! I am in favour of tax relief, but two issues need to be taken into account. The first issue to be taken into account is the sustainability of economic performance. We must look forwards rather than backwards when making that assessment. The second issue that must be taken into account is that, as are other members of the community and of this house, I am in favour of fair wage increases for public sector workers; improvements to key community services, such as health, education, law and order, disability services; environmental protection; and child protection. As are other members of the community and of this house, I am also in favour of building the infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, rail, port facilities, electricity network improvements and the water infrastructure that this community needs for future delivery of services and future economic growth. Any responsible government must do those two things: it must look to the future and it must have the appropriate balance between taxes, wages, services and infrastructure. Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Mr T. Buswell : You lied to this state. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Order! I direct the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment. Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
Mr T. BUSWELL : I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : Finally, I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition misused the English language when he described a forecast of economic activity as a commitment. The government is committed to its policy settings, but although I would like to have absolute power to direct the course of the economy, that is not something that is available to me in a free market system. The fact that the economy has done better for longer and that the property market has done better for longer than the government forecast at the time of the budget can hardly be described as a breach of a government commitment. We need to be sensible about the housing market. We need to understand that the rates of growth in property values that Western Australia has experienced over the past year are not repeatable year after year. The property market will soften. It would be imprudent and unwise of any member of Parliament to pretend otherwise to the community. Let us not mislead people into imprudent investments in the housing market by trying to tell them that the rate of growth that WA has experienced in the past year will continue year after year. In conclusion, I support tax relief, but the timing has to be right, the sustainability has to be right and the balance with wages, services and infrastructure has to be right.
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