❓ Premier Gallop criticises the Prime Minister's national water fund proposal, alleging it's funded by the states' own money and a breach of prior agreements. He reports that other states and territories share his concerns and have jointly condemned the Prime Minister's actions.
AnsweredQoN 552Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the Premier provide the House with an update on the States and Territories’ response to the Prime Minister’s water announcement this week? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
Members of the House would be well aware of the response I gave to the Prime Minister’s announcement that he was going to establish a national water fund. When we looked into the detail and fine print of his proposal, we realised there was no new money and that the money would be funded from the States themselves. We are all aware of the national competition process that has been occurring for some years throughout Australia. In Western Australia’s case, as a result of the reforms that have gone through this Parliament, and as a result of the benefits that have flowed through to the Commonwealth from those reforms, we have been appropriately reimbursed significant amounts of money. From 2006, the Commonwealth will take at least $74 million from Western Australia, money that is due to us as a result of the reforms. Of course, we expect more money due to the reform program that we are continuing to put through the Parliament of Western Australia. This was an outrageous act of federal theft. The Commonwealth Government robbed the States and then said that it would give the money back as part of the national water fund. I am pleased to report to the House today that leaders from all the States and Territories have joined to condemn the Prime Minister’s action in this respect. I quote from the joint letter that has been sent to the Prime Minister - Your policy is a breach of the undertaking you personally gave to all Premiers and Chief Ministers across the table at the COAG meeting in June. Further on it states - It is also a breach of your written undertaking to Premier Geoff Gallop of 15 October 2003 to consult the states and territories on the issue of competition payments beyond 2005-06. It is clear that all the States and Territories are well aware of what the Prime Minister has done. We are well aware of the fact that he has broken an agreement that he gave at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, and an agreement that was referred to in a letter that he sent to me last year. All the leaders of the States and Territories went on to say - The policy you have outlined is not a reasonable basis on which the NWI - That is, the National Water Initiative - can operate. You have effectively repudiated your commitment to the NWI and we take your actions as a termination of the NWI. There we have it. The other States and the Territories have joined Western Australia in making it clear to the Commonwealth that we find the behaviour of the Prime Minister on this matter unacceptable. His behaviour was unacceptable earlier this year when he did not incorporate the needs of the State of Western Australia in the National Water Initiative, and his actions this week in announcing his national water fund are unacceptable in view of what they mean for the governance of our federation. How does the Prime Minister respond to this? He throws some personal abuse my way. I say to the Prime Minister that he can feel free to throw that personal abuse, and I will continue on my path of defending and promoting the interests of the State of Western Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: Members of the House would be well aware of the response I gave to the Prime Minister’s announcement that he was going to establish a national water fund. When we looked into the detail and fine print of his proposal, we realised there was no new money and that the money would be funded from the States themselves. We are all aware of the national competition process that has been occurring for some years throughout Australia. In Western Australia’s case, as a result of the reforms that have gone through this Parliament, and as a result of the benefits that have flowed through to the Commonwealth from those reforms, we have been appropriately reimbursed significant amounts of money. From 2006, the Commonwealth will take at least $74 million from Western Australia, money that is due to us as a result of the reforms. Of course, we expect more money due to the reform program that we are continuing to put through the Parliament of Western Australia. This was an outrageous act of federal theft. The Commonwealth Government robbed the States and then said that it would give the money back as part of the national water fund. I am pleased to report to the House today that leaders from all the States and Territories have joined to condemn the Prime Minister’s action in this respect. I quote from the joint letter that has been sent to the Prime Minister - Your policy is a breach of the undertaking you personally gave to all Premiers and Chief Ministers across the table at the COAG meeting in June. Further on it states - It is also a breach of your written undertaking to Premier Geoff Gallop of 15 October 2003 to consult the states and territories on the issue of competition payments beyond 2005-06. It is clear that all the States and Territories are well aware of what the Prime Minister has done. We are well aware of the fact that he has broken an agreement that he gave at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, and an agreement that was referred to in a letter that he sent to me last year. All the leaders of the States and Territories went on to say - The policy you have outlined is not a reasonable basis on which the NWI - That is, the National Water Initiative - can operate. You have effectively repudiated your commitment to the NWI and we take your actions as a termination of the NWI. There we have it. The other States and the Territories have joined Western Australia in making it clear to the Commonwealth that we find the behaviour of the Prime Minister on this matter unacceptable. His behaviour was unacceptable earlier this year when he did not incorporate the needs of the State of Western Australia in the National Water Initiative, and his actions this week in announcing his national water fund are unacceptable in view of what they mean for the governance of our federation. How does the Prime Minister respond to this? He throws some personal abuse my way. I say to the Prime Minister that he can feel free to throw that personal abuse, and I will continue on my path of defending and promoting the interests of the State of Western Australia.
Members of the House would be well aware of the response I gave to the Prime Minister’s announcement that he was going to establish a national water fund. When we looked into the detail and fine print of his proposal, we realised there was no new money and that the money would be funded from the States themselves. We are all aware of the national competition process that has been occurring for some years throughout Australia. In Western Australia’s case, as a result of the reforms that have gone through this Parliament, and as a result of the benefits that have flowed through to the Commonwealth from those reforms, we have been appropriately reimbursed significant amounts of money. From 2006, the Commonwealth will take at least $74 million from Western Australia, money that is due to us as a result of the reforms. Of course, we expect more money due to the reform program that we are continuing to put through the Parliament of Western Australia. This was an outrageous act of federal theft. The Commonwealth Government robbed the States and then said that it would give the money back as part of the national water fund. I am pleased to report to the House today that leaders from all the States and Territories have joined to condemn the Prime Minister’s action in this respect. I quote from the joint letter that has been sent to the Prime Minister - Your policy is a breach of the undertaking you personally gave to all Premiers and Chief Ministers across the table at the COAG meeting in June. Further on it states - It is also a breach of your written undertaking to Premier Geoff Gallop of 15 October 2003 to consult the states and territories on the issue of competition payments beyond 2005-06. It is clear that all the States and Territories are well aware of what the Prime Minister has done. We are well aware of the fact that he has broken an agreement that he gave at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, and an agreement that was referred to in a letter that he sent to me last year. All the leaders of the States and Territories went on to say - The policy you have outlined is not a reasonable basis on which the NWI - That is, the National Water Initiative - can operate. You have effectively repudiated your commitment to the NWI and we take your actions as a termination of the NWI. There we have it. The other States and the Territories have joined Western Australia in making it clear to the Commonwealth that we find the behaviour of the Prime Minister on this matter unacceptable. His behaviour was unacceptable earlier this year when he did not incorporate the needs of the State of Western Australia in the National Water Initiative, and his actions this week in announcing his national water fund are unacceptable in view of what they mean for the governance of our federation. How does the Prime Minister respond to this? He throws some personal abuse my way. I say to the Prime Minister that he can feel free to throw that personal abuse, and I will continue on my path of defending and promoting the interests of the State of Western Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: Members of the House would be well aware of the response I gave to the Prime Minister’s announcement that he was going to establish a national water fund. When we looked into the detail and fine print of his proposal, we realised there was no new money and that the money would be funded from the States themselves. We are all aware of the national competition process that has been occurring for some years throughout Australia. In Western Australia’s case, as a result of the reforms that have gone through this Parliament, and as a result of the benefits that have flowed through to the Commonwealth from those reforms, we have been appropriately reimbursed significant amounts of money. From 2006, the Commonwealth will take at least $74 million from Western Australia, money that is due to us as a result of the reforms. Of course, we expect more money due to the reform program that we are continuing to put through the Parliament of Western Australia. This was an outrageous act of federal theft. The Commonwealth Government robbed the States and then said that it would give the money back as part of the national water fund. I am pleased to report to the House today that leaders from all the States and Territories have joined to condemn the Prime Minister’s action in this respect. I quote from the joint letter that has been sent to the Prime Minister - Your policy is a breach of the undertaking you personally gave to all Premiers and Chief Ministers across the table at the COAG meeting in June. Further on it states - It is also a breach of your written undertaking to Premier Geoff Gallop of 15 October 2003 to consult the states and territories on the issue of competition payments beyond 2005-06. It is clear that all the States and Territories are well aware of what the Prime Minister has done. We are well aware of the fact that he has broken an agreement that he gave at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, and an agreement that was referred to in a letter that he sent to me last year. All the leaders of the States and Territories went on to say - The policy you have outlined is not a reasonable basis on which the NWI - That is, the National Water Initiative - can operate. You have effectively repudiated your commitment to the NWI and we take your actions as a termination of the NWI. There we have it. The other States and the Territories have joined Western Australia in making it clear to the Commonwealth that we find the behaviour of the Prime Minister on this matter unacceptable. His behaviour was unacceptable earlier this year when he did not incorporate the needs of the State of Western Australia in the National Water Initiative, and his actions this week in announcing his national water fund are unacceptable in view of what they mean for the governance of our federation. How does the Prime Minister respond to this? He throws some personal abuse my way. I say to the Prime Minister that he can feel free to throw that personal abuse, and I will continue on my path of defending and promoting the interests of the State of Western Australia.
Members of the House would be well aware of the response I gave to the Prime Minister’s announcement that he was going to establish a national water fund. When we looked into the detail and fine print of his proposal, we realised there was no new money and that the money would be funded from the States themselves. We are all aware of the national competition process that has been occurring for some years throughout Australia. In Western Australia’s case, as a result of the reforms that have gone through this Parliament, and as a result of the benefits that have flowed through to the Commonwealth from those reforms, we have been appropriately reimbursed significant amounts of money. From 2006, the Commonwealth will take at least $74 million from Western Australia, money that is due to us as a result of the reforms. Of course, we expect more money due to the reform program that we are continuing to put through the Parliament of Western Australia. This was an outrageous act of federal theft. The Commonwealth Government robbed the States and then said that it would give the money back as part of the national water fund. I am pleased to report to the House today that leaders from all the States and Territories have joined to condemn the Prime Minister’s action in this respect. I quote from the joint letter that has been sent to the Prime Minister - Your policy is a breach of the undertaking you personally gave to all Premiers and Chief Ministers across the table at the COAG meeting in June. Further on it states - It is also a breach of your written undertaking to Premier Geoff Gallop of 15 October 2003 to consult the states and territories on the issue of competition payments beyond 2005-06. It is clear that all the States and Territories are well aware of what the Prime Minister has done. We are well aware of the fact that he has broken an agreement that he gave at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, and an agreement that was referred to in a letter that he sent to me last year. All the leaders of the States and Territories went on to say - The policy you have outlined is not a reasonable basis on which the NWI - That is, the National Water Initiative - can operate. You have effectively repudiated your commitment to the NWI and we take your actions as a termination of the NWI. There we have it. The other States and the Territories have joined Western Australia in making it clear to the Commonwealth that we find the behaviour of the Prime Minister on this matter unacceptable. His behaviour was unacceptable earlier this year when he did not incorporate the needs of the State of Western Australia in the National Water Initiative, and his actions this week in announcing his national water fund are unacceptable in view of what they mean for the governance of our federation. How does the Prime Minister respond to this? He throws some personal abuse my way. I say to the Prime Minister that he can feel free to throw that personal abuse, and I will continue on my path of defending and promoting the interests of the State of Western Australia.
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