❓ Mr. Love questions the Treasurer on the future funding of the regional airfare cap beyond 2026, given the lack of budget allocation. The Treasurer responds by highlighting the annual budgeting process and defends the government's commitment to the scheme.
AnsweredQoN 273Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Transport—Regional airfare zone cap
273. Mr Shane Love to
the Treasurer:
I have a
supplementary question. How does the Treasurer plan to keep the regional
airfare cap in place beyond 2026 given there is no budget estimate allocation
for it?
273. Mr Shane Love to
the Treasurer:
I have a
supplementary question. How does the Treasurer plan to keep the regional
airfare cap in place beyond 2026 given there is no budget estimate allocation
for it?
AnswerView source ↗
I think members
opposite do not quite get this. We set a budget and then we have another budget
and another budget after that. It is called annual budgeting. And there is a midyear
review. I do not know whether members opposite get that. It is like we set this
budget and they think there is nothing else for four years. Next year, I am not
going to present a budget! I will say, "Just look at last year. That is
it. That is done!" It is called an annual budget.
Mr Lachlan Hunter: What about the AvonLink ?
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the National Party!
Ms Rita Saffioti: I
will explain the AvonLink in a minute if
the Speaker would like me to.
The Speaker: I would rather you did not.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: There was absolutely no money in the
budget for the AvonLink . The opposition had
actually already cut it, but it asked to keep running it just for a little bit
longer until the election. But it had already cut the money from the budget for
the AvonLink . That AvonLink money was not there in 2016–17.
It had already cut it. There is a whole idea—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: National Party members, Leader of the
National Party and member for Central Wheatbelt, please let the Treasurer
complete her response.
Ms Rita Saffioti: There is this whole idea that we
present a budget in 2025–26 and I then take a holiday for the next four
years and say that it is all there so do not worry about next year. I will just
get up and say, "Ditto."
You do not do that.
You do not just present a budget and say, "Ditto" from the year
before. Government is about constantly responding to challenges and making sure
that we deliver the services and infrastructure for the state. I tell members
this—
Mr Shane Love interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I tell members this—
The Speaker: Leader of the National Party! Treasurer,
just wait, please. Leader of the National Party, please stop your
interjections.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I tell members this: we are so proud
of the airfare cap scheme. Do members know what they say around the state? They
say they cannot believe we introduced this scheme and that it is the best thing
for regional Western Australians. Never until today did I hear from anyone that
it was the Leader of the National Party's idea—never. We are
fundamentally proud of it. It is a Labor initiative and it will be there for
many years to come.
opposite do not quite get this. We set a budget and then we have another budget
and another budget after that. It is called annual budgeting. And there is a midyear
review. I do not know whether members opposite get that. It is like we set this
budget and they think there is nothing else for four years. Next year, I am not
going to present a budget! I will say, "Just look at last year. That is
it. That is done!" It is called an annual budget.
Mr Lachlan Hunter: What about the AvonLink ?
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the National Party!
Ms Rita Saffioti: I
will explain the AvonLink in a minute if
the Speaker would like me to.
The Speaker: I would rather you did not.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: There was absolutely no money in the
budget for the AvonLink . The opposition had
actually already cut it, but it asked to keep running it just for a little bit
longer until the election. But it had already cut the money from the budget for
the AvonLink . That AvonLink money was not there in 2016–17.
It had already cut it. There is a whole idea—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: National Party members, Leader of the
National Party and member for Central Wheatbelt, please let the Treasurer
complete her response.
Ms Rita Saffioti: There is this whole idea that we
present a budget in 2025–26 and I then take a holiday for the next four
years and say that it is all there so do not worry about next year. I will just
get up and say, "Ditto."
You do not do that.
You do not just present a budget and say, "Ditto" from the year
before. Government is about constantly responding to challenges and making sure
that we deliver the services and infrastructure for the state. I tell members
this—
Mr Shane Love interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I tell members this—
The Speaker: Leader of the National Party! Treasurer,
just wait, please. Leader of the National Party, please stop your
interjections.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I tell members this: we are so proud
of the airfare cap scheme. Do members know what they say around the state? They
say they cannot believe we introduced this scheme and that it is the best thing
for regional Western Australians. Never until today did I hear from anyone that
it was the Leader of the National Party's idea—never. We are
fundamentally proud of it. It is a Labor initiative and it will be there for
many years to come.
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