❓ Dr. Nahan questions the Premier on the delayed implementation of a promised parliamentary budget office, accusing him of being resistant to fulfilling his own policies. The Premier defends his position, stating that past election commitments don't necessarily apply and clarifies the Treasurer only committed to examining the idea.
AnsweredQoN 913Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE
913. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Why
does the Premier not just be honest and cop it sweet? The Treasurer promised a parliamentary
budget office.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Dr M.D. NAHAN : He promised
it; read The West Australian ! Why does the Premier have to be
dragged kicking and screaming by the opposition, and now his own upper house
colleagues, to implement his own policies?
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, that was too long. You must get to the point with a supplementary.
You have the opportunity when you do your first question.
Dr M.D. Nahan : Come on!
The SPEAKER : I beg your
pardon?
Dr M.D. Nahan : What was too
long?
The SPEAKER : First of all, I call
you to order for the first time. I said that you should get to the point when
you have a supplementary question, instead of making a statement. That is what
I said.
913. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Why
does the Premier not just be honest and cop it sweet? The Treasurer promised a parliamentary
budget office.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Dr M.D. NAHAN : He promised
it; read The West Australian ! Why does the Premier have to be
dragged kicking and screaming by the opposition, and now his own upper house
colleagues, to implement his own policies?
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, that was too long. You must get to the point with a supplementary.
You have the opportunity when you do your first question.
Dr M.D. Nahan : Come on!
The SPEAKER : I beg your
pardon?
Dr M.D. Nahan : What was too
long?
The SPEAKER : First of all, I call
you to order for the first time. I said that you should get to the point when
you have a supplementary question, instead of making a statement. That is what
I said.
AnswerView source ↗
I explained why commitments made a few
elections prior do not actually apply in the current term.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I gave the
Leader of the Opposition what I thought were some pretty good historical
examples. If his argument holds, Australia would go back to war in Vietnam,
because that was a Liberal promise back then. He cannot say that commitments
made a few elections past are the commitments that hold at the following
election.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I want to make
it absolutely clear: the Treasurer did not commit to the establishment of a parliamentary
budget office. What we said was that if we were elected, it was something we
would examine. I am happy that the upper house committee has indicated that
there will be an examination of this matter. That is what will happen. That is
what we will do. If the government decides to implement a parliamentary budget
office, we will advise the Leader of the Opposition in due course.
elections prior do not actually apply in the current term.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I gave the
Leader of the Opposition what I thought were some pretty good historical
examples. If his argument holds, Australia would go back to war in Vietnam,
because that was a Liberal promise back then. He cannot say that commitments
made a few elections past are the commitments that hold at the following
election.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I want to make
it absolutely clear: the Treasurer did not commit to the establishment of a parliamentary
budget office. What we said was that if we were elected, it was something we
would examine. I am happy that the upper house committee has indicated that
there will be an examination of this matter. That is what will happen. That is
what we will do. If the government decides to implement a parliamentary budget
office, we will advise the Leader of the Opposition in due course.
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