❓ Opposition questions the Treasurer about the lack of a debt repayment plan in the budget, particularly concerning infrastructure projects. The Treasurer defends borrowing for job-creating infrastructure and promises a plan when economic conditions improve.
AnsweredQoN 573Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET — DEBT REDUCTION
I refer to the budget papers, which do not contain any provision for the expenditure required on, amongst other things, Oakajee port, the Northbridge Link and the upgrade of the nickel circuit at Esperance port, and to the Treasurer’s answer in this house yesterday, in which he repeatedly refused to produce a time line or any information relating to how he would retire $19.1 billion in debt facing Western Australia. (1) Why has the Treasurer refused to even discuss his plan to repay government debt? (2) Will the Treasurer now commit to bringing down a mini-budget in August, after the parliamentary recess, containing all the government’s spending commitments with a debt repayment plan? (3) Does the Treasurer agree with the position of the federal Leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, that governments have a responsibility to explain how they intend to repay government debt? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
I refer to the budget papers, which do not contain any provision for the expenditure required on, amongst other things, Oakajee port, the Northbridge Link and the upgrade of the nickel circuit at Esperance port, and to the Treasurer’s answer in this house yesterday, in which he repeatedly refused to produce a time line or any information relating to how he would retire $19.1 billion in debt facing Western Australia. (1) Why has the Treasurer refused to even discuss his plan to repay government debt? (2) Will the Treasurer now commit to bringing down a mini-budget in August, after the parliamentary recess, containing all the government’s spending commitments with a debt repayment plan? (3) Does the Treasurer agree with the position of the federal Leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, that governments have a responsibility to explain how they intend to repay government debt? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
(1) Why has the Treasurer refused to even discuss his plan to repay government debt? (2) Will the Treasurer now commit to bringing down a mini-budget in August, after the parliamentary recess, containing all the government’s spending commitments with a debt repayment plan? (3) Does the Treasurer agree with the position of the federal Leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, that governments have a responsibility to explain how they intend to repay government debt? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
(2) Will the Treasurer now commit to bringing down a mini-budget in August, after the parliamentary recess, containing all the government’s spending commitments with a debt repayment plan? (3) Does the Treasurer agree with the position of the federal Leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, that governments have a responsibility to explain how they intend to repay government debt? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
(3) Does the Treasurer agree with the position of the federal Leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, that governments have a responsibility to explain how they intend to repay government debt? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
(1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
(1) Why has the Treasurer refused to even discuss his plan to repay government debt? (2) Will the Treasurer now commit to bringing down a mini-budget in August, after the parliamentary recess, containing all the government’s spending commitments with a debt repayment plan? (3) Does the Treasurer agree with the position of the federal Leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, that governments have a responsibility to explain how they intend to repay government debt? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
(2) Will the Treasurer now commit to bringing down a mini-budget in August, after the parliamentary recess, containing all the government’s spending commitments with a debt repayment plan? (3) Does the Treasurer agree with the position of the federal Leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, that governments have a responsibility to explain how they intend to repay government debt? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
(3) Does the Treasurer agree with the position of the federal Leader of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull, that governments have a responsibility to explain how they intend to repay government debt? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
(1)-(3) I thank the debt-reduction guru for his question. I again make the point that I am very happy to get up every single day and make this point: we are borrowing money to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. We are borrowing money, my friend the member for Willagee, to invest in infrastructure that is keeping Western Australians in jobs. The member for Willagee should come out with me and I will take him for a trip around the northern suburbs. Point of Order Mr B.S. WYATT : Yesterday, when I asked the Treasurer a question about debt, he gave the exact same answer without addressing the issue. Today I have asked three specific questions and he is giving the exact same answer again, and not attempting to deal with issue about the debt-repayment plan. I ask the Speaker to direct the Treasurer to answer the question. The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : I insist that the Treasurer answer the question, but I will also ask him not to take any interjections and go with those interjections. I just want him to answer the question from the member for Victoria Park. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : My apologies for being distracted, Mr Speaker. I will focus on the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : I do not want the member taking interjections. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I just heard rumblings from that cranial vacuum, and it attracted me. Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : It is improper to refer to someone in that manner. The Treasurer referred to a member on this side of the house as having a cranial vacuum. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I actually think that the vast majority of people in this house and in the general public would regard that remark as unparliamentary and inappropriate, and I ask that the member withdraw. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, the remark was not directed to any particular member. The Treasurer was referring to a mumble that he heard from that side of the house. The comment was not directed at any particular member. The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : If indeed that remark was directed at a particular member, Treasurer, I ask you to withdraw it, and I give you that opportunity now. I will then give you the opportunity to answer this question, which I want to hear. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did indeed direct that comment, I believe, to the member for North West. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I directed it to one of the members opposite, and to whomever it was, I withdraw the use of the term “cranial vacuum”, and I apologise if it has caused offence. I cannot help it if a lot of people jump up at one time. The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, Treasurer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : We are going into debt—$19 billion worth of debt. It is a modest level of debt when compared with the outcomes delivered by other Australian states. It is reflective of the current economic climate and of the government’s desire to protect jobs. When will we repay the debt? As economic circumstances improve, and we find ourselves in a position to repay the debt, we will present that information at the time of the budget, as has historically been the case in this house. We could adopt an approach similar to that used, for example, by the New South Wales government, which has assumed that, miraculously, in the out years economic growth will be 4.5 per cent or five per cent—voodoo economics—but we will not do that. We take a very modest approach to where we see the state. Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It is so modest that no plan has been published. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the previous government have a published plan to reduce debt? Debt was going through the roof in the last four years, because the previous government injected these structural imbalances into the state’s economy that the present government is now dealing with. Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr A.J. Carpenter interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : The member for Willagee can talk! I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
I do not think the debt is beyond a manageable level by a long shot, and nor does the body which casts its measure over state finances—Standard and Poor’s—and which has endorsed the government’s management of the state’s finances and its approach to protecting jobs by keeping the state’s AAA credit rating in place. We will repay state debt when economic conditions allow that to happen. I will not create an eight, 10 or 15-year mythical forecast of where we are headed. That would be a complete nonsense.
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