Mrs. Roberts questions Treasurer Porter on whether the government has abandoned its commitment to cap net debt at $20 billion, a commitment she attributes to the former Treasurer (now Premier). Porter avoids a direct yes/no answer, stating the commitment is to keep debt 'manageable'.

AnsweredQoN 19Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 February 2011
Portfolio
Treasurer

QuestionView source ↗

PUBLIC SECTOR — NET DEBT
I have a supplementary question. Why has the Treasurer abandoned the commitment of the former Treasurer—his Premier—to cap net debt at $20 billion? Mr C.C. PORTER

AnswerView source ↗

I think the member for Midland has possibly misconstrued some statements. We have a commitment to make debt manageable. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is net debt of $20 billion not a commitment? Is it or not? Can you answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : I have just spent some time answering that. Our commitment is to keep debt at levels that are, according to the best financial indicators, manageable; to spend money as debt on important infrastructure; and to ensure that that infrastructure program does not blow out in its costs.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I think the member for Midland has possibly misconstrued some statements. We have a commitment to make debt manageable. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is net debt of $20 billion not a commitment? Is it or not? Can you answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : I have just spent some time answering that. Our commitment is to keep debt at levels that are, according to the best financial indicators, manageable; to spend money as debt on important infrastructure; and to ensure that that infrastructure program does not blow out in its costs.
I think the member for Midland has possibly misconstrued some statements. We have a commitment to make debt manageable. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is net debt of $20 billion not a commitment? Is it or not? Can you answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : I have just spent some time answering that. Our commitment is to keep debt at levels that are, according to the best financial indicators, manageable; to spend money as debt on important infrastructure; and to ensure that that infrastructure program does not blow out in its costs.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is net debt of $20 billion not a commitment? Is it or not? Can you answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : I have just spent some time answering that. Our commitment is to keep debt at levels that are, according to the best financial indicators, manageable; to spend money as debt on important infrastructure; and to ensure that that infrastructure program does not blow out in its costs.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Mr C.C. PORTER : I have just spent some time answering that. Our commitment is to keep debt at levels that are, according to the best financial indicators, manageable; to spend money as debt on important infrastructure; and to ensure that that infrastructure program does not blow out in its costs.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I have just spent some time answering that. Our commitment is to keep debt at levels that are, according to the best financial indicators, manageable; to spend money as debt on important infrastructure; and to ensure that that infrastructure program does not blow out in its costs.

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