Mr. Barnett questions the Treasurer, Mr. Ripper, regarding the specific definition of a "priority dividend" in the context of budget spending cuts. Mr. Ripper explains it as a reallocation of funds from lower priority, wasteful programs to higher priority election commitments.

AnsweredQoN 374Legislative Assembly
Asked
18 September 2001
Member
Portfolio
Treasurer

QuestionView source ↗

BUDGET, SPENDING CUTS
In view of the Treasurer’s response, will he give this Chamber a specific definition of a “priority dividend”? Mr McGinty: One that reflects priorities. Mr RIPPER

AnswerView source ↗

I would have thought that was evident. The Government has targeted lower priority, wasteful programs. These included programs that, while they might once have been effective, have now served their purpose. We have shifted the money from those programs to the programs we put to the people as priorities during the election campaign. Mr Barnett: What’s the definition? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from lower priority, wasteful and extravagant programs, and travel, advertising and consultancy, to the election commitments which we put to the people and which constitute our contract with the people. In case I have created a misunderstanding, I should add that the savings on travel, advertising and consultancies were in addition to the priority dividend. Mr Barnett: What is the definition of a priority dividend? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.
Mr McGinty: One that reflects priorities. Mr RIPPER replied: I would have thought that was evident. The Government has targeted lower priority, wasteful programs. These included programs that, while they might once have been effective, have now served their purpose. We have shifted the money from those programs to the programs we put to the people as priorities during the election campaign. Mr Barnett: What’s the definition? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from lower priority, wasteful and extravagant programs, and travel, advertising and consultancy, to the election commitments which we put to the people and which constitute our contract with the people. In case I have created a misunderstanding, I should add that the savings on travel, advertising and consultancies were in addition to the priority dividend. Mr Barnett: What is the definition of a priority dividend? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.
Mr RIPPER replied: I would have thought that was evident. The Government has targeted lower priority, wasteful programs. These included programs that, while they might once have been effective, have now served their purpose. We have shifted the money from those programs to the programs we put to the people as priorities during the election campaign. Mr Barnett: What’s the definition? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from lower priority, wasteful and extravagant programs, and travel, advertising and consultancy, to the election commitments which we put to the people and which constitute our contract with the people. In case I have created a misunderstanding, I should add that the savings on travel, advertising and consultancies were in addition to the priority dividend. Mr Barnett: What is the definition of a priority dividend? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.
I would have thought that was evident. The Government has targeted lower priority, wasteful programs. These included programs that, while they might once have been effective, have now served their purpose. We have shifted the money from those programs to the programs we put to the people as priorities during the election campaign. Mr Barnett: What’s the definition? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from lower priority, wasteful and extravagant programs, and travel, advertising and consultancy, to the election commitments which we put to the people and which constitute our contract with the people. In case I have created a misunderstanding, I should add that the savings on travel, advertising and consultancies were in addition to the priority dividend. Mr Barnett: What is the definition of a priority dividend? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.
Mr Barnett: What’s the definition? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from lower priority, wasteful and extravagant programs, and travel, advertising and consultancy, to the election commitments which we put to the people and which constitute our contract with the people. In case I have created a misunderstanding, I should add that the savings on travel, advertising and consultancies were in addition to the priority dividend. Mr Barnett: What is the definition of a priority dividend? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.
Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from lower priority, wasteful and extravagant programs, and travel, advertising and consultancy, to the election commitments which we put to the people and which constitute our contract with the people. In case I have created a misunderstanding, I should add that the savings on travel, advertising and consultancies were in addition to the priority dividend. Mr Barnett: What is the definition of a priority dividend? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.
In case I have created a misunderstanding, I should add that the savings on travel, advertising and consultancies were in addition to the priority dividend. Mr Barnett: What is the definition of a priority dividend? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.
Mr Barnett: What is the definition of a priority dividend? Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.
Mr RIPPER: A priority dividend is about shifting money from low priority programs to high priority programs.

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