❓ Dr. Honey questions the Premier on cost-of-living increases and utilising the state surplus to alleviate financial pressures on families, particularly regarding fuel and groceries. The Premier defends his government's financial management and existing support measures, highlighting federal responsibility for fuel excise.
AnsweredQoN 143Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET — COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES
143. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Right now, families are making a choice between putting fuel in their cars and
buying groceries. When will the Premier step up to the plate and deliver the
social dividend of his eye-watering surplus during this global energy crisis?
143. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Right now, families are making a choice between putting fuel in their cars and
buying groceries. When will the Premier step up to the plate and deliver the
social dividend of his eye-watering surplus during this global energy crisis?
AnswerView source ↗
I just answered the member's
question about the things that we have done compared with the last time the
Liberal and National Parties were in office, and the fact that we have been the
most economically responsible government in Australia in a long time. In the
lead-up to the state budget, we will be able to consider these matters. I just
told the member that we provided free RATs
to people. We provided grants for electricity. We kept electricity and water charges down at historically low levels—certainly compared with the
last Liberal–National government. We have done all those things, and
just a couple of months ago, we brought in the two-zone fare cap across the
state. We kept the Country Age Pension Fuel
Card and extended it to various volunteer organisations. We have put in place
all those sorts of things since we have been in office because we
actually manage the finances properly. But we are very sympathetic to families.
We understand that there is a significant issue out there. It is not of our
making. As the member knows, petrol excise is not a state government matter—we
do not impose it.
Dr D.J. Honey : But that's
fixed.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of
the Liberal Party does not understand anything really. He does not understand,
and certainly his performance yesterday shows that he does not understand much
at all about proper behaviour. But in any
event, fuel excise is not something that we control. I have not campaigned on
that, unlike the South Australian Premier, the Tasmania Premier and the
like. I realise it is a difficult issue for the commonwealth government to deal with. I urge all governments nationally to
take account of these issues and certainly it is something that we are considering as we go forward.
question about the things that we have done compared with the last time the
Liberal and National Parties were in office, and the fact that we have been the
most economically responsible government in Australia in a long time. In the
lead-up to the state budget, we will be able to consider these matters. I just
told the member that we provided free RATs
to people. We provided grants for electricity. We kept electricity and water charges down at historically low levels—certainly compared with the
last Liberal–National government. We have done all those things, and
just a couple of months ago, we brought in the two-zone fare cap across the
state. We kept the Country Age Pension Fuel
Card and extended it to various volunteer organisations. We have put in place
all those sorts of things since we have been in office because we
actually manage the finances properly. But we are very sympathetic to families.
We understand that there is a significant issue out there. It is not of our
making. As the member knows, petrol excise is not a state government matter—we
do not impose it.
Dr D.J. Honey : But that's
fixed.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of
the Liberal Party does not understand anything really. He does not understand,
and certainly his performance yesterday shows that he does not understand much
at all about proper behaviour. But in any
event, fuel excise is not something that we control. I have not campaigned on
that, unlike the South Australian Premier, the Tasmania Premier and the
like. I realise it is a difficult issue for the commonwealth government to deal with. I urge all governments nationally to
take account of these issues and certainly it is something that we are considering as we go forward.
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