❓ Opposition Leader Barnett questions Premier Gallop on alleged broken pre-election tax commitments, citing tax increases and a revenue windfall. Gallop deflects, citing budget release tomorrow and defends spending on essential services, blaming previous government's financial practices.
AnsweredQoN 213Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to his explicit pre-election commitment to not increase taxes and charges, which the Government has now broken three years in a row by increasing taxes by an average of $400 million every year on businesses and families in this State. (1) Can the Premier confirm reports today of tax relief of around $133 million in the 2004-05 budget, which is far less than the total tax increases under his Government? (2) Given that Western Australia is expected to receive a revenue windfall of an additional $231 million in commonwealth grants in 2004-05, will the Premier admit that his so-called tax cuts are just a cynical attempt to buy votes in a pre-election year? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
(1) Can the Premier confirm reports today of tax relief of around $133 million in the 2004-05 budget, which is far less than the total tax increases under his Government? (2) Given that Western Australia is expected to receive a revenue windfall of an additional $231 million in commonwealth grants in 2004-05, will the Premier admit that his so-called tax cuts are just a cynical attempt to buy votes in a pre-election year? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
(2) Given that Western Australia is expected to receive a revenue windfall of an additional $231 million in commonwealth grants in 2004-05, will the Premier admit that his so-called tax cuts are just a cynical attempt to buy votes in a pre-election year? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
(1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
(1) Can the Premier confirm reports today of tax relief of around $133 million in the 2004-05 budget, which is far less than the total tax increases under his Government? (2) Given that Western Australia is expected to receive a revenue windfall of an additional $231 million in commonwealth grants in 2004-05, will the Premier admit that his so-called tax cuts are just a cynical attempt to buy votes in a pre-election year? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
(2) Given that Western Australia is expected to receive a revenue windfall of an additional $231 million in commonwealth grants in 2004-05, will the Premier admit that his so-called tax cuts are just a cynical attempt to buy votes in a pre-election year? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
(1)-(2) In relation to this year’s budget, I urge all members of the House to wait until tomorrow when the Treasurer - Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
Mr C.J. Barnett: We don’t need to. I have already read about it. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, the people of Western Australia are interested in one thing: they are interested in what is in the budget and how it affects them. Tomorrow they will see a budget that is financially responsible and socially progressive, and that makes sure the infrastructure is being provided for economic development in Western Australia. In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
In relation to taxes and charges levied during the first three budgets of this Government, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that in the election campaign in 2001 the Labor Party made it very clear that it was going to put extra money into health, education and police services. A plan was put forward to fund that. We know what has happened with the Commonwealth Government in those three years and we know what happened following the first budget we brought down and the concealment from the people of Western Australia of certain commitments made in the budget - cynical concealment of the budget practices of the Liberal Party and the current Leader of the Opposition. We had to address that issue. We were open and accountable to the people about that, because we wanted to get the extra 1 000 nurses in the health system, the extra 500 teachers and the extra 145 police officers who have currently been added to the system. We will be adding to each of those areas in the budget that will be presented tomorrow. I will debate the Leader of the Opposition any day, any time on taxes and charges, and debate the priorities in this budget; the Australian Labor Party will come out well in front.
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