❓ Treasurer Ripper addresses the WA parliament regarding the GST dispute with the Commonwealth, highlighting NSW legal advice supporting WA's position and criticising the Federal Treasurer's actions.
AnsweredQoN 146Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the Treasurer inform the house of any recent developments in the dispute between the state and the commonwealth over tax? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
There have been two developments of note in this dispute. First, the New South Wales government this week commissioned legal advice on the goods and services tax agreement. It wanted to know whether it had fulfilled its obligations under that agreement. The legal advice confirmed everything that we have been saying for more than a month. Bret Walker, SC, a commercial law specialist, confirmed that the New South Wales government had done everything that it was expected to do. The New South Wales Treasurer said of Mr Walker’s advice - He suggests it’s absurd that a promised review of the need for the retention of certain taxes would ever be regarded as a promise that all the taxes in question would be abolished. That is a pretty significant statement. Of course, if it applies to New South Wales, it applies even more so to Western Australia, because Western Australia has done more than New South Wales. We are scrapping all three taxes that were listed for abolition under the agreement. The final one, bank account debits tax, will go on 1 July as scheduled. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: There have been two developments of note in this dispute. First, the New South Wales government this week commissioned legal advice on the goods and services tax agreement. It wanted to know whether it had fulfilled its obligations under that agreement. The legal advice confirmed everything that we have been saying for more than a month. Bret Walker, SC, a commercial law specialist, confirmed that the New South Wales government had done everything that it was expected to do. The New South Wales Treasurer said of Mr Walker’s advice - He suggests it’s absurd that a promised review of the need for the retention of certain taxes would ever be regarded as a promise that all the taxes in question would be abolished. That is a pretty significant statement. Of course, if it applies to New South Wales, it applies even more so to Western Australia, because Western Australia has done more than New South Wales. We are scrapping all three taxes that were listed for abolition under the agreement. The final one, bank account debits tax, will go on 1 July as scheduled. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
There have been two developments of note in this dispute. First, the New South Wales government this week commissioned legal advice on the goods and services tax agreement. It wanted to know whether it had fulfilled its obligations under that agreement. The legal advice confirmed everything that we have been saying for more than a month. Bret Walker, SC, a commercial law specialist, confirmed that the New South Wales government had done everything that it was expected to do. The New South Wales Treasurer said of Mr Walker’s advice - He suggests it’s absurd that a promised review of the need for the retention of certain taxes would ever be regarded as a promise that all the taxes in question would be abolished. That is a pretty significant statement. Of course, if it applies to New South Wales, it applies even more so to Western Australia, because Western Australia has done more than New South Wales. We are scrapping all three taxes that were listed for abolition under the agreement. The final one, bank account debits tax, will go on 1 July as scheduled. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: There have been two developments of note in this dispute. First, the New South Wales government this week commissioned legal advice on the goods and services tax agreement. It wanted to know whether it had fulfilled its obligations under that agreement. The legal advice confirmed everything that we have been saying for more than a month. Bret Walker, SC, a commercial law specialist, confirmed that the New South Wales government had done everything that it was expected to do. The New South Wales Treasurer said of Mr Walker’s advice - He suggests it’s absurd that a promised review of the need for the retention of certain taxes would ever be regarded as a promise that all the taxes in question would be abolished. That is a pretty significant statement. Of course, if it applies to New South Wales, it applies even more so to Western Australia, because Western Australia has done more than New South Wales. We are scrapping all three taxes that were listed for abolition under the agreement. The final one, bank account debits tax, will go on 1 July as scheduled. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
There have been two developments of note in this dispute. First, the New South Wales government this week commissioned legal advice on the goods and services tax agreement. It wanted to know whether it had fulfilled its obligations under that agreement. The legal advice confirmed everything that we have been saying for more than a month. Bret Walker, SC, a commercial law specialist, confirmed that the New South Wales government had done everything that it was expected to do. The New South Wales Treasurer said of Mr Walker’s advice - He suggests it’s absurd that a promised review of the need for the retention of certain taxes would ever be regarded as a promise that all the taxes in question would be abolished. That is a pretty significant statement. Of course, if it applies to New South Wales, it applies even more so to Western Australia, because Western Australia has done more than New South Wales. We are scrapping all three taxes that were listed for abolition under the agreement. The final one, bank account debits tax, will go on 1 July as scheduled. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good that we have a new and youthful opposition leader. It is good to see the vigour and dynamism that he brings to the parliamentary debate. Age-old and neglected - Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr M.J. Birney : Are the figures coming out today? They are not! The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
The SPEAKER : Order! Leader of the Opposition Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Age-old and neglected questions in the policy debate have been raised at long last by the Leader of the Opposition; for example, that long-neglected question, “Is the Pope a Catholic?” At last that question has been raised by the member who now leads the opposition with youthful dynamism! The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
The government has scrapped not only all the taxes listed for abolition under the agreement but also another three taxes that were listed for review only. It has also abolished two taxes that were outside the agreement. On top of that, the state government implemented $1.5 billion of tax cuts in the last year alone. That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
That brings me to the second development that has occurred this week. I wrote to the federal Treasurer yesterday and outlined for him yet again the ongoing commitment of the state government to tax reform in Western Australia, but pointed out that this was in accordance with our priorities, not his. I pointed out to Mr Costello that the GST arrangements were always intended to give the states a robust and growing tax base. The advocates of the GST told us that it would be available to pay for growth in essential services and infrastructure. That is what we are using it for. That is how we have funded, in part, $889 million extra for the health budget each year since we were elected. I pointed out that the commonwealth has already robbed us of our competition policy payments, using the GST as an excuse. I should not have had to point those things out to the federal Treasurer because he was there when the Prime Minister made the deal with the states. The fact that he may not have agreed with the Prime Minister’s deal at that time, or that he wishes for his own reasons to disown the Prime Minister’s deal now, should not be allowed to disadvantage the people of Western Australia. He should play out his rivalry with the Prime Minister elsewhere, and not at the expense of states such as Western Australia. We will not allow Western Australia to be used as a pawn by Peter Costello to help to establish his leadership credentials. His misinterpretation of the GST agreement is about as reliable as an insurance quote from Rodney Adler.
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