❓ Opposition questions the Premier about the lack of tax relief for homeowners and motorists despite recent tax cuts. The Premier deflects, highlighting the government's responsible financial management and contrasting it with the previous Liberal government's record.
AnsweredQoN 680Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to his announcement today of some tax relief for taxpayers who have been burdened with tax increases of more than $1 billion since the Labor Party came to power. (1) What relief is there for families who already own a home, but who are still confronted by significantly increased rates of stamp duty on compulsory third party insurance, general home insurance, including contents insurance, and motor vehicle insurance policies, imposed by this Government? (2) What relief is there for motorists from the Government’s increased stamp duty on motor vehicle licence transfers, which now gives Western Australia the highest stamp duty rate in Australia for vehicles valued at more than $25 000? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
(1) What relief is there for families who already own a home, but who are still confronted by significantly increased rates of stamp duty on compulsory third party insurance, general home insurance, including contents insurance, and motor vehicle insurance policies, imposed by this Government? (2) What relief is there for motorists from the Government’s increased stamp duty on motor vehicle licence transfers, which now gives Western Australia the highest stamp duty rate in Australia for vehicles valued at more than $25 000? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
(2) What relief is there for motorists from the Government’s increased stamp duty on motor vehicle licence transfers, which now gives Western Australia the highest stamp duty rate in Australia for vehicles valued at more than $25 000? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
(1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget.
The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
(1) What relief is there for families who already own a home, but who are still confronted by significantly increased rates of stamp duty on compulsory third party insurance, general home insurance, including contents insurance, and motor vehicle insurance policies, imposed by this Government? (2) What relief is there for motorists from the Government’s increased stamp duty on motor vehicle licence transfers, which now gives Western Australia the highest stamp duty rate in Australia for vehicles valued at more than $25 000? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
(2) What relief is there for motorists from the Government’s increased stamp duty on motor vehicle licence transfers, which now gives Western Australia the highest stamp duty rate in Australia for vehicles valued at more than $25 000? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
(1)-(2) Is it not remarkable that when someone does not want to talk about a particular subject, he raises another subject? The last thing the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about is the $1 billion worth of tax cuts going into the Western Australian economy to sustain economic growth and employment creation. It is quite extraordinary that that is the last thing in the world the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about. He wants to talk about what the Government is not doing, rather than what it is doing. There is a difference between the Government and the Liberal Party. When the Government takes action on taxation and expenditure, it does so within a framework of responsible financial management. I will illustrate that point. Members of the Opposition are running around town talking about these tax cuts and saying how much better it was when they were in government. Let us go back to 2001. That year is not a benchmark from which to assess the tax cuts that I have announced today. In 2001, when the Labor Party came to government, firstly, the budget was in deficit. In fact, the previous Government had produced deficits in five out of its eight budgets. Secondly, there was negative growth in the economy and, thirdly, growth in health costs was running at between eight and 10 per cent, none of which was incorporated within the forward estimates left to us by the previous Government. The Under Treasurer told us that the AAA credit rating for Western Australia was at risk because of the poor financial management of the previous Government. We had to fix up that budget situation. We fixed it up, and now we see sustained economic growth in Western Australia. The revenue growth is also coming through as a result of that, and now the Government has the capacity to make these tax cuts. Earlier this year the Government virtually abolished stamp duty for first homebuyers, and today we have extended that. From today, 74 per cent of first homebuyers will not be paying stamp duty. There has been another across-the-board stamp duty cut. How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
How does the Liberal Party dare talk about households? When the Liberal Party was in government, household charges increased by $246 per annum, or 11.5 per cent in real terms. That is what happened under the previous Government. Under the present Government, household charges have been reduced by $86 each year, because they have been set below the rate of inflation. On the subject of motorists, does the Leader of the Opposition want to be reminded of the 50 per cent increase in motor vehicle licence fees in 1997? That is how much they went up. The Liberal Party has no case to make on this issue. It managed the finances of this State badly, it increased household charges and taxes, and it ran deficit budgets. We have fixed up the budget.
The SPEAKER: Order! If the Premier’s answer gets to the point at which members on my left do not agree with it, they start yelling. That is not the way in which we operate in this House. The Premier should be able to answer the question. Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: You turned the economy around! What a joke! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The facts and figures reveal that pretty clearly. We have fixed up the budget and turned the economy around and the capacity is now there to deliver serious tax cuts. Who can remember a time in the history of Western Australia when the Government was able to announce $1 billion worth of tax cuts to drive economic growth and create employment for the people of Western Australia? I do not think the Leader of the Opposition likes good news. I think it upsets and annoys him. How narrow and irritating is the Leader of the Opposition on these matters? We have turned around the economy, we have turned around the budget, and I am very pleased to say that the Government can now return $1 billion to the people of Western Australia to sustain the powerhouse economy of Australia.
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