❓ Mr. Healy questions the Treasurer on the impact of the 2019-20 federal budget on WA and whether WA is no longer under fiscal stress. The Treasurer highlights the government's success in securing a fairer GST share but expresses disappointment with the timing of infrastructure funding.
AnsweredQoN 225Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY —
GST DISTRIBUTION
225. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Treasurer:
Before I commence, I acknowledge the
student leadership team from Caladenia Primary School in my electorate. I also
acknowledge the Darlington car club, on behalf of the member for Kalamunda.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's success in finally securing a fairer share of GST from the
federal government.
(1) Can the Treasurer outline to the house what impact
the 2019–20 federal budget will have on Western Australia?
(2) Can the
Treasurer advise the house whether Western Australia is no longer under fiscal
stress, as claimed by the Leader of the Opposition?
GST DISTRIBUTION
225. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Treasurer:
Before I commence, I acknowledge the
student leadership team from Caladenia Primary School in my electorate. I also
acknowledge the Darlington car club, on behalf of the member for Kalamunda.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's success in finally securing a fairer share of GST from the
federal government.
(1) Can the Treasurer outline to the house what impact
the 2019–20 federal budget will have on Western Australia?
(2) Can the
Treasurer advise the house whether Western Australia is no longer under fiscal
stress, as claimed by the Leader of the Opposition?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for a very good question. Clearly, the relationship that has
developed between this government and the current commonwealth government has
been, as I think most would reflect upon, a successful relationship. In the
space of two short years we have managed to resolve a sore on our fiscal
relationship for a fairer share of the GST, ensuring that we now get a floor of
70� in the dollar, a floor that the Liberal Party opposed, members may recall.
Secondly, we are getting a much fairer share of infrastructure payments.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right.
Mr B.S. WYATT : I note that
the opposition told us at the time that there is no way the federal Liberal
government would allow us to reallocate the Roe 8 money to other projects that
the Minister for Transport is now busily spending on other projects—that
happened. Despite that, we are somewhat disappointed with the cash flow via
some of the projects announced in last night's budget. Indeed, it is a budget
that assumes the current government will be re-elected two more times before it
gets to deliver some of the infrastructure money to Western Australia and that
suggests to me that this budget may not really survive, regardless of the
election outcome.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition.
Mr B.S. WYATT : But I was
particularly chuffed, I can only say, when I heard the Leader of the Opposition
say that we are under no more fiscal stress in Western Australia.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr B.S. WYATT : I can only
assume that he was complimenting me and the government on the efforts that we
have gone to to ensure that the finances are back on track. I want to remind
people that the Leader of the Opposition was the man responsible for the fiscal
stress that our state is under and the man responsible for the record debt and
deficits that we inherited when we came into government, and, you know what?
The job is not done. There is this kneejerk reaction that goes to the core of
the Leader of the Opposition's DNA that as soon as a $5 note is waved
under his nose, he wants to spend $10.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition.
Mr B.S. WYATT : I know exactly
what is going on there.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I warned you
four times; I thought you would learn. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr B.S. WYATT : He does not
learn well, because as soon as that $5 note is waved, he wants to spend it
twice. I assure all members of Parliament and the people of Western Australia
that the efforts of budget repair continue. I am surprised to see a commonwealth
budget, to be honest, that is contradictory in its economic assumptions and its
assumptions around revenue. I dare say the federal government may be
disappointed again with some of the revenue that it is assuming across the
forward estimates.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, it was quiet yesterday.
Mr B.S. WYATT : I dare say the
federal government will be very disappointed, regardless of the outcome of the
election. While I have to sometimes react and point out the usually incorrect
commentary from the Leader of the Opposition, I want to highlight one point:
the work around fiscal repair continues. I say to the Leader of the Opposition
that the one thing that he should know is that he is living proof that it is
much easier to predict a surplus than it is to deliver one.
thank the member for a very good question. Clearly, the relationship that has
developed between this government and the current commonwealth government has
been, as I think most would reflect upon, a successful relationship. In the
space of two short years we have managed to resolve a sore on our fiscal
relationship for a fairer share of the GST, ensuring that we now get a floor of
70� in the dollar, a floor that the Liberal Party opposed, members may recall.
Secondly, we are getting a much fairer share of infrastructure payments.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right.
Mr B.S. WYATT : I note that
the opposition told us at the time that there is no way the federal Liberal
government would allow us to reallocate the Roe 8 money to other projects that
the Minister for Transport is now busily spending on other projects—that
happened. Despite that, we are somewhat disappointed with the cash flow via
some of the projects announced in last night's budget. Indeed, it is a budget
that assumes the current government will be re-elected two more times before it
gets to deliver some of the infrastructure money to Western Australia and that
suggests to me that this budget may not really survive, regardless of the
election outcome.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition.
Mr B.S. WYATT : But I was
particularly chuffed, I can only say, when I heard the Leader of the Opposition
say that we are under no more fiscal stress in Western Australia.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr B.S. WYATT : I can only
assume that he was complimenting me and the government on the efforts that we
have gone to to ensure that the finances are back on track. I want to remind
people that the Leader of the Opposition was the man responsible for the fiscal
stress that our state is under and the man responsible for the record debt and
deficits that we inherited when we came into government, and, you know what?
The job is not done. There is this kneejerk reaction that goes to the core of
the Leader of the Opposition's DNA that as soon as a $5 note is waved
under his nose, he wants to spend $10.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition.
Mr B.S. WYATT : I know exactly
what is going on there.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I warned you
four times; I thought you would learn. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr B.S. WYATT : He does not
learn well, because as soon as that $5 note is waved, he wants to spend it
twice. I assure all members of Parliament and the people of Western Australia
that the efforts of budget repair continue. I am surprised to see a commonwealth
budget, to be honest, that is contradictory in its economic assumptions and its
assumptions around revenue. I dare say the federal government may be
disappointed again with some of the revenue that it is assuming across the
forward estimates.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, it was quiet yesterday.
Mr B.S. WYATT : I dare say the
federal government will be very disappointed, regardless of the outcome of the
election. While I have to sometimes react and point out the usually incorrect
commentary from the Leader of the Opposition, I want to highlight one point:
the work around fiscal repair continues. I say to the Leader of the Opposition
that the one thing that he should know is that he is living proof that it is
much easier to predict a surplus than it is to deliver one.
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