❓ Opposition questions Treasurer about a significant budget blowout and alleged tax increases. Treasurer deflects, highlighting increased spending on key services like health and accusing the opposition of lacking a coherent strategy.
AnsweredQoN 154Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Treasurer to his first budget in 2001 in which he planned for general government expenditure to increase from $10.6 billion in 2001-02 to $11.3 billion in 2004-05, and to the latest Treasury figures that show actual spending will blow out in 2004-05 to $13.1 billion. (1) Does the Treasurer concede that he has failed to manage expenditure responsibly in this state resulting in a staggering $2.5 billion spending blow-out between 2001-02 and 2004-05? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that this $2.5 billion spending blow-out is the fundamental reason Labor has increased state taxes to the point at which, according to the latest ABS figures, Western Australia is now the second-highest taxing state in the country? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(1) Does the Treasurer concede that he has failed to manage expenditure responsibly in this state resulting in a staggering $2.5 billion spending blow-out between 2001-02 and 2004-05? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that this $2.5 billion spending blow-out is the fundamental reason Labor has increased state taxes to the point at which, according to the latest ABS figures, Western Australia is now the second-highest taxing state in the country? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(2) Does the Treasurer concede that this $2.5 billion spending blow-out is the fundamental reason Labor has increased state taxes to the point at which, according to the latest ABS figures, Western Australia is now the second-highest taxing state in the country? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(1) Does the Treasurer concede that he has failed to manage expenditure responsibly in this state resulting in a staggering $2.5 billion spending blow-out between 2001-02 and 2004-05? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that this $2.5 billion spending blow-out is the fundamental reason Labor has increased state taxes to the point at which, according to the latest ABS figures, Western Australia is now the second-highest taxing state in the country? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(2) Does the Treasurer concede that this $2.5 billion spending blow-out is the fundamental reason Labor has increased state taxes to the point at which, according to the latest ABS figures, Western Australia is now the second-highest taxing state in the country? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
(1)-(2) I have noticed that the advocates of expenditure restraint have a very general approach. They support expenditure restraint as a concept but they do not support any particular example of restraint. I would like the Leader of the Opposition to indicate to the house at least one example of expenditure in which he would like to see a cut? Perhaps he can name half a dozen areas in which cuts should be made if the expenditure growth is as bad as he says it is. Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : Do you want me to answer? Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : He can indicate whether there is one cut he would support? Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : You did not have to double the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Would the Leader of the Opposition like to cut expenditure on the Office of Science and Innovation, or perhaps the Office of Crime Prevention? They are both part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This is the problem. The opposition should have a little meeting and decide whether, in response to the forthcoming budget, it will call for expenditure restraint or expenditure growth. Usually, the opposition calls for both. The Leader of the Opposition, or whoever the shadow Treasurer is, will call for expenditure restraint, while every shadow minister will call for increases in expenditure in their own portfolio areas. Before asking questions, the Leader of the Opposition should call a little strategy meeting to work out whether he is for increased funding of services or expenditure restraint. I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
I return to the record of the government. Western Australia is in fact the lowest taxing of all of the states. As Peter Costello says, taxation should be measured as a proportion of the relevant economy. That is the measure that Peter Costello uses. After all, the importance of taxation to the economy is whether it has a negative effect on the growth of the economy. When that measure is applied to Western Australia, we see that we have the lowest taxation revenue as a proportion of gross state product of any state. By that measure, Western Australia is the lowest taxing state. Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Yes, there have been big increases in expenditure, but on key community priorities. For example, the government is spending $1.9 billion more each year on health, education, law and order and community support. It is spending almost $900 million a year extra on health. Is that the expenditure the Leader of the Opposition would like to see restrained? Does he want the government to cut health expenditure? Yes, the government is spending more on health than it originally estimated. In 2001, when the forward estimates were included in the budget, a certain amount of expenditure on health was estimated for this financial year. However, when we reached this year, we found we were spending $600 million more on health than was estimated in 2001. Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr J.A. McGinty : Well done! Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Is that not a key community priority? As the Minister for Health says, “Well done”. It is a good thing that the government is spending money to deal with, for example, mental health issues, waiting lists and cancer treatment. Is that not a good thing to be spending money on? We have increased expenditure, particularly in the past financial year, because the state has had the financial capacity as a result of the state’s economy going so well. When there is 7.5 per cent economic growth during a financial year, there is the capacity to spend, and the community expects that that capacity will be used on key community priorities. The government has also cut taxes to the extent of $1.5 billion in the past 12 months. The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The Leader of the Opposition should go back to his strategy session and work out a coherent line before asking me another question on these issues. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
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