❓ Treasurer Ripper defends the state's GST forecast against opposition claims of misleading the public and criticises the Leader of the Opposition for undermining Treasury officials' integrity. He highlights federal Treasury support for the state's forecast.
AnsweredQoN 288Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX — STATE AND FEDERAL BUDGET FORECASTS
Recently there has been some confusion about the difference between the state and commonwealth goods and services tax forecasts in the budgets of both governments. Would the Treasurer please clarify the reason for the difference between these forecasts? Mr E.S. RIPPER
Recently there has been some confusion about the difference between the state and commonwealth goods and services tax forecasts in the budgets of both governments. Would the Treasurer please clarify the reason for the difference between these forecasts? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
I thought I might get a question from the opposition on this matter—or at least that members opposite would have made some comment on this matter during the budget debate, given the song and dance they made during the estimates committee process, when the Leader of the Opposition accused me of stashing away nearly $1 billion in a war chest. However, we heard nothing from the opposition during that debate. The Leader of the Opposition accused the government of misleading the people of Western Australia by using $972 million of our forecast share of federal GST revenue for political purposes. Unforgivably, he cast aspersions on the integrity of Treasury officials by implying that there was something amiss with their GST forecast. He cast aspersions on their integrity and he cast aspersions on their professionalism. He would not accept the Under Treasurer’s explanation that the commonwealth did not need to use an elaborate forecasting methodology in this instance, because they are concerned about the aggregate and not the division between particular states. He did not accept the explanation that the commonwealth methodology does not forecast the states’ future relativities. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry took a different view. It accepted the Treasury’s expertise, at least according to the report in The West Australian . The Leader of the Opposition has form on this matter. In the last budget process he accused the government and Treasury of lying about the tax cuts in that budget. Unfortunately, he does get some encouragement: The West Australian gave his comments front page prominence in both instances. However, I commend The West Australian because it subsequently corrected the latest ridiculous assertion made by the Leader of the Opposition. On 6 June The West Australian published an article on page 6 headed “Treasury backs Ripper on predicted GST loss”. The article pointed out that the federal Treasury had told the Senate estimates committee that our estimates were both correct and rational. The article states — Federal Treasury official Nigel Ray told the committee the Federal Budget figures were based on the assumption the commission would not change the “relativity arrangements” between the States . . . This is another example of an immature and inexperienced opposition leader refusing to deal responsibly with the issues—a leader who will not listen to reason, and a leader who shoots from the lip. I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I thought I might get a question from the opposition on this matter—or at least that members opposite would have made some comment on this matter during the budget debate, given the song and dance they made during the estimates committee process, when the Leader of the Opposition accused me of stashing away nearly $1 billion in a war chest. However, we heard nothing from the opposition during that debate. The Leader of the Opposition accused the government of misleading the people of Western Australia by using $972 million of our forecast share of federal GST revenue for political purposes. Unforgivably, he cast aspersions on the integrity of Treasury officials by implying that there was something amiss with their GST forecast. He cast aspersions on their integrity and he cast aspersions on their professionalism. He would not accept the Under Treasurer’s explanation that the commonwealth did not need to use an elaborate forecasting methodology in this instance, because they are concerned about the aggregate and not the division between particular states. He did not accept the explanation that the commonwealth methodology does not forecast the states’ future relativities. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry took a different view. It accepted the Treasury’s expertise, at least according to the report in The West Australian . The Leader of the Opposition has form on this matter. In the last budget process he accused the government and Treasury of lying about the tax cuts in that budget. Unfortunately, he does get some encouragement: The West Australian gave his comments front page prominence in both instances. However, I commend The West Australian because it subsequently corrected the latest ridiculous assertion made by the Leader of the Opposition. On 6 June The West Australian published an article on page 6 headed “Treasury backs Ripper on predicted GST loss”. The article pointed out that the federal Treasury had told the Senate estimates committee that our estimates were both correct and rational. The article states — Federal Treasury official Nigel Ray told the committee the Federal Budget figures were based on the assumption the commission would not change the “relativity arrangements” between the States . . . This is another example of an immature and inexperienced opposition leader refusing to deal responsibly with the issues—a leader who will not listen to reason, and a leader who shoots from the lip. I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
I thought I might get a question from the opposition on this matter—or at least that members opposite would have made some comment on this matter during the budget debate, given the song and dance they made during the estimates committee process, when the Leader of the Opposition accused me of stashing away nearly $1 billion in a war chest. However, we heard nothing from the opposition during that debate. The Leader of the Opposition accused the government of misleading the people of Western Australia by using $972 million of our forecast share of federal GST revenue for political purposes. Unforgivably, he cast aspersions on the integrity of Treasury officials by implying that there was something amiss with their GST forecast. He cast aspersions on their integrity and he cast aspersions on their professionalism. He would not accept the Under Treasurer’s explanation that the commonwealth did not need to use an elaborate forecasting methodology in this instance, because they are concerned about the aggregate and not the division between particular states. He did not accept the explanation that the commonwealth methodology does not forecast the states’ future relativities. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry took a different view. It accepted the Treasury’s expertise, at least according to the report in The West Australian . The Leader of the Opposition has form on this matter. In the last budget process he accused the government and Treasury of lying about the tax cuts in that budget. Unfortunately, he does get some encouragement: The West Australian gave his comments front page prominence in both instances. However, I commend The West Australian because it subsequently corrected the latest ridiculous assertion made by the Leader of the Opposition. On 6 June The West Australian published an article on page 6 headed “Treasury backs Ripper on predicted GST loss”. The article pointed out that the federal Treasury had told the Senate estimates committee that our estimates were both correct and rational. The article states — Federal Treasury official Nigel Ray told the committee the Federal Budget figures were based on the assumption the commission would not change the “relativity arrangements” between the States . . . This is another example of an immature and inexperienced opposition leader refusing to deal responsibly with the issues—a leader who will not listen to reason, and a leader who shoots from the lip. I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
The Leader of the Opposition has form on this matter. In the last budget process he accused the government and Treasury of lying about the tax cuts in that budget. Unfortunately, he does get some encouragement: The West Australian gave his comments front page prominence in both instances. However, I commend The West Australian because it subsequently corrected the latest ridiculous assertion made by the Leader of the Opposition. On 6 June The West Australian published an article on page 6 headed “Treasury backs Ripper on predicted GST loss”. The article pointed out that the federal Treasury had told the Senate estimates committee that our estimates were both correct and rational. The article states — Federal Treasury official Nigel Ray told the committee the Federal Budget figures were based on the assumption the commission would not change the “relativity arrangements” between the States . . . This is another example of an immature and inexperienced opposition leader refusing to deal responsibly with the issues—a leader who will not listen to reason, and a leader who shoots from the lip. I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I thought I might get a question from the opposition on this matter—or at least that members opposite would have made some comment on this matter during the budget debate, given the song and dance they made during the estimates committee process, when the Leader of the Opposition accused me of stashing away nearly $1 billion in a war chest. However, we heard nothing from the opposition during that debate. The Leader of the Opposition accused the government of misleading the people of Western Australia by using $972 million of our forecast share of federal GST revenue for political purposes. Unforgivably, he cast aspersions on the integrity of Treasury officials by implying that there was something amiss with their GST forecast. He cast aspersions on their integrity and he cast aspersions on their professionalism. He would not accept the Under Treasurer’s explanation that the commonwealth did not need to use an elaborate forecasting methodology in this instance, because they are concerned about the aggregate and not the division between particular states. He did not accept the explanation that the commonwealth methodology does not forecast the states’ future relativities. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry took a different view. It accepted the Treasury’s expertise, at least according to the report in The West Australian . The Leader of the Opposition has form on this matter. In the last budget process he accused the government and Treasury of lying about the tax cuts in that budget. Unfortunately, he does get some encouragement: The West Australian gave his comments front page prominence in both instances. However, I commend The West Australian because it subsequently corrected the latest ridiculous assertion made by the Leader of the Opposition. On 6 June The West Australian published an article on page 6 headed “Treasury backs Ripper on predicted GST loss”. The article pointed out that the federal Treasury had told the Senate estimates committee that our estimates were both correct and rational. The article states — Federal Treasury official Nigel Ray told the committee the Federal Budget figures were based on the assumption the commission would not change the “relativity arrangements” between the States . . . This is another example of an immature and inexperienced opposition leader refusing to deal responsibly with the issues—a leader who will not listen to reason, and a leader who shoots from the lip. I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
I thought I might get a question from the opposition on this matter—or at least that members opposite would have made some comment on this matter during the budget debate, given the song and dance they made during the estimates committee process, when the Leader of the Opposition accused me of stashing away nearly $1 billion in a war chest. However, we heard nothing from the opposition during that debate. The Leader of the Opposition accused the government of misleading the people of Western Australia by using $972 million of our forecast share of federal GST revenue for political purposes. Unforgivably, he cast aspersions on the integrity of Treasury officials by implying that there was something amiss with their GST forecast. He cast aspersions on their integrity and he cast aspersions on their professionalism. He would not accept the Under Treasurer’s explanation that the commonwealth did not need to use an elaborate forecasting methodology in this instance, because they are concerned about the aggregate and not the division between particular states. He did not accept the explanation that the commonwealth methodology does not forecast the states’ future relativities. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry took a different view. It accepted the Treasury’s expertise, at least according to the report in The West Australian . The Leader of the Opposition has form on this matter. In the last budget process he accused the government and Treasury of lying about the tax cuts in that budget. Unfortunately, he does get some encouragement: The West Australian gave his comments front page prominence in both instances. However, I commend The West Australian because it subsequently corrected the latest ridiculous assertion made by the Leader of the Opposition. On 6 June The West Australian published an article on page 6 headed “Treasury backs Ripper on predicted GST loss”. The article pointed out that the federal Treasury had told the Senate estimates committee that our estimates were both correct and rational. The article states — Federal Treasury official Nigel Ray told the committee the Federal Budget figures were based on the assumption the commission would not change the “relativity arrangements” between the States . . . This is another example of an immature and inexperienced opposition leader refusing to deal responsibly with the issues—a leader who will not listen to reason, and a leader who shoots from the lip. I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
The Leader of the Opposition has form on this matter. In the last budget process he accused the government and Treasury of lying about the tax cuts in that budget. Unfortunately, he does get some encouragement: The West Australian gave his comments front page prominence in both instances. However, I commend The West Australian because it subsequently corrected the latest ridiculous assertion made by the Leader of the Opposition. On 6 June The West Australian published an article on page 6 headed “Treasury backs Ripper on predicted GST loss”. The article pointed out that the federal Treasury had told the Senate estimates committee that our estimates were both correct and rational. The article states — Federal Treasury official Nigel Ray told the committee the Federal Budget figures were based on the assumption the commission would not change the “relativity arrangements” between the States . . . This is another example of an immature and inexperienced opposition leader refusing to deal responsibly with the issues—a leader who will not listen to reason, and a leader who shoots from the lip. I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
I put on record that the Department of Treasury and Finance officers, particularly the officers working in this area, are highly skilled people of great integrity who offer quality independent advice that the government accepts and the government does not change. They should not have their integrity undermined by the Leader of the Opposition’s tawdry attempts to score political points. Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are now hearing from the Leader of the Opposition—he is starting to interject. Will he apologise to the Under Treasurer and his staff for what he said? Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr T. Buswell : No, I will not. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Corrected by federal Treasury officials, shown to be absolutely wrong, the Leader of the Opposition has no shame at all. He refuses to apologise on the record for his aspersions cast against Department of Treasury and Finance officers. I think that sums up the opposition leader’s immature approach to politics.
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