❓ The Treasurer confirms significant expenditure restraint and $750 million in savings over four years, while increasing investment in key public services. He criticises the previous government's financial management.
AnsweredQoN 668Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the forthcoming budget and ask the Treasurer whether he can confirm speculation about $750 million worth of cuts to the public sector. Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
Of course, I will outline the full details of the budget tomorrow, but I can confirm that there will be significant expenditure restraint. That is because work on this budget started the day I announced the last budget, when I said that the Government would engage in a functional review. The review has identified around $750 million in savings over the next four years. There will be people who will object to the cuts, but I ask those people to consider this: this Government will be employing more teachers, more nurses, more police, more child protection workers, more WorkSafe inspectors and more environmental protection officers. If we are to address those needs and other community priorities, then we have to review spending across the board. We owe that to taxpayers. We have to constantly ask: are these programs necessary; are we getting value for money; and is there a more efficient way of doing things? That is the least that the community expects of a Government in its budget process. Of course the budget tomorrow will contain significant increases in spending on the community priorities of health, education, law and order, community development, and the environment. These increases will be delivered while we maintain our financial management targets. The budget will be balanced and will be of AAA quality. As I said yesterday, state debt, or borrowings, to finance schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, bridges, ports and electricity and water infrastructure will be within previously published limits. As in previous years, the budget will be accompanied by an advertising campaign urging people to view the budget information material so that they can see for themselves how we are spending their money. The campaign will cost around $170 000. That is significantly less than the $200 000 plus spent by the previous Government on its budget advertising. Of course it is not in the ballpark of the $21 million that John Howard is spending on advertising in an attempt to justify his destruction of Medicare. As was the case in previous years, the budget will also be available on the Internet. I urge all members to encourage their constituents to take an interest in the budget and to examine the budget information. If people take an interest, they will see the extent to which the Commonwealth is punishing Western Australia, and they will see how the Gallop Labor Government is investing heavily in the communities’ priorities. They will also be able to judge the Gallop Government against the record of the former coalition Government. The record of the former coalition Government was $4.8 billion in asset sales; average annual spending growth of 5.6 per cent; average annual revenue growth of 6.6 per cent; five deficits out of eight budgets; and around $500 million of unfunded programs left for the Gallop Government to fix up. It would not be a proper budget process if I did not remind members of the Barnett budget blow-out - the $500 million worth of unfunded commitments left to us by the previous Government. The Opposition is at it again. It has $1.6 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community, after just two years in opposition. If it keeps going at this rate, it will have more than $3 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community before we even go into the next election campaign.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: Of course, I will outline the full details of the budget tomorrow, but I can confirm that there will be significant expenditure restraint. That is because work on this budget started the day I announced the last budget, when I said that the Government would engage in a functional review. The review has identified around $750 million in savings over the next four years. There will be people who will object to the cuts, but I ask those people to consider this: this Government will be employing more teachers, more nurses, more police, more child protection workers, more WorkSafe inspectors and more environmental protection officers. If we are to address those needs and other community priorities, then we have to review spending across the board. We owe that to taxpayers. We have to constantly ask: are these programs necessary; are we getting value for money; and is there a more efficient way of doing things? That is the least that the community expects of a Government in its budget process. Of course the budget tomorrow will contain significant increases in spending on the community priorities of health, education, law and order, community development, and the environment. These increases will be delivered while we maintain our financial management targets. The budget will be balanced and will be of AAA quality. As I said yesterday, state debt, or borrowings, to finance schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, bridges, ports and electricity and water infrastructure will be within previously published limits. As in previous years, the budget will be accompanied by an advertising campaign urging people to view the budget information material so that they can see for themselves how we are spending their money. The campaign will cost around $170 000. That is significantly less than the $200 000 plus spent by the previous Government on its budget advertising. Of course it is not in the ballpark of the $21 million that John Howard is spending on advertising in an attempt to justify his destruction of Medicare. As was the case in previous years, the budget will also be available on the Internet. I urge all members to encourage their constituents to take an interest in the budget and to examine the budget information. If people take an interest, they will see the extent to which the Commonwealth is punishing Western Australia, and they will see how the Gallop Labor Government is investing heavily in the communities’ priorities. They will also be able to judge the Gallop Government against the record of the former coalition Government. The record of the former coalition Government was $4.8 billion in asset sales; average annual spending growth of 5.6 per cent; average annual revenue growth of 6.6 per cent; five deficits out of eight budgets; and around $500 million of unfunded programs left for the Gallop Government to fix up. It would not be a proper budget process if I did not remind members of the Barnett budget blow-out - the $500 million worth of unfunded commitments left to us by the previous Government. The Opposition is at it again. It has $1.6 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community, after just two years in opposition. If it keeps going at this rate, it will have more than $3 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community before we even go into the next election campaign.
Of course, I will outline the full details of the budget tomorrow, but I can confirm that there will be significant expenditure restraint. That is because work on this budget started the day I announced the last budget, when I said that the Government would engage in a functional review. The review has identified around $750 million in savings over the next four years. There will be people who will object to the cuts, but I ask those people to consider this: this Government will be employing more teachers, more nurses, more police, more child protection workers, more WorkSafe inspectors and more environmental protection officers. If we are to address those needs and other community priorities, then we have to review spending across the board. We owe that to taxpayers. We have to constantly ask: are these programs necessary; are we getting value for money; and is there a more efficient way of doing things? That is the least that the community expects of a Government in its budget process. Of course the budget tomorrow will contain significant increases in spending on the community priorities of health, education, law and order, community development, and the environment. These increases will be delivered while we maintain our financial management targets. The budget will be balanced and will be of AAA quality. As I said yesterday, state debt, or borrowings, to finance schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, bridges, ports and electricity and water infrastructure will be within previously published limits. As in previous years, the budget will be accompanied by an advertising campaign urging people to view the budget information material so that they can see for themselves how we are spending their money. The campaign will cost around $170 000. That is significantly less than the $200 000 plus spent by the previous Government on its budget advertising. Of course it is not in the ballpark of the $21 million that John Howard is spending on advertising in an attempt to justify his destruction of Medicare. As was the case in previous years, the budget will also be available on the Internet. I urge all members to encourage their constituents to take an interest in the budget and to examine the budget information. If people take an interest, they will see the extent to which the Commonwealth is punishing Western Australia, and they will see how the Gallop Labor Government is investing heavily in the communities’ priorities. They will also be able to judge the Gallop Government against the record of the former coalition Government. The record of the former coalition Government was $4.8 billion in asset sales; average annual spending growth of 5.6 per cent; average annual revenue growth of 6.6 per cent; five deficits out of eight budgets; and around $500 million of unfunded programs left for the Gallop Government to fix up. It would not be a proper budget process if I did not remind members of the Barnett budget blow-out - the $500 million worth of unfunded commitments left to us by the previous Government. The Opposition is at it again. It has $1.6 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community, after just two years in opposition. If it keeps going at this rate, it will have more than $3 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community before we even go into the next election campaign.
As in previous years, the budget will be accompanied by an advertising campaign urging people to view the budget information material so that they can see for themselves how we are spending their money. The campaign will cost around $170 000. That is significantly less than the $200 000 plus spent by the previous Government on its budget advertising. Of course it is not in the ballpark of the $21 million that John Howard is spending on advertising in an attempt to justify his destruction of Medicare. As was the case in previous years, the budget will also be available on the Internet. I urge all members to encourage their constituents to take an interest in the budget and to examine the budget information. If people take an interest, they will see the extent to which the Commonwealth is punishing Western Australia, and they will see how the Gallop Labor Government is investing heavily in the communities’ priorities. They will also be able to judge the Gallop Government against the record of the former coalition Government. The record of the former coalition Government was $4.8 billion in asset sales; average annual spending growth of 5.6 per cent; average annual revenue growth of 6.6 per cent; five deficits out of eight budgets; and around $500 million of unfunded programs left for the Gallop Government to fix up. It would not be a proper budget process if I did not remind members of the Barnett budget blow-out - the $500 million worth of unfunded commitments left to us by the previous Government. The Opposition is at it again. It has $1.6 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community, after just two years in opposition. If it keeps going at this rate, it will have more than $3 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community before we even go into the next election campaign.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: Of course, I will outline the full details of the budget tomorrow, but I can confirm that there will be significant expenditure restraint. That is because work on this budget started the day I announced the last budget, when I said that the Government would engage in a functional review. The review has identified around $750 million in savings over the next four years. There will be people who will object to the cuts, but I ask those people to consider this: this Government will be employing more teachers, more nurses, more police, more child protection workers, more WorkSafe inspectors and more environmental protection officers. If we are to address those needs and other community priorities, then we have to review spending across the board. We owe that to taxpayers. We have to constantly ask: are these programs necessary; are we getting value for money; and is there a more efficient way of doing things? That is the least that the community expects of a Government in its budget process. Of course the budget tomorrow will contain significant increases in spending on the community priorities of health, education, law and order, community development, and the environment. These increases will be delivered while we maintain our financial management targets. The budget will be balanced and will be of AAA quality. As I said yesterday, state debt, or borrowings, to finance schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, bridges, ports and electricity and water infrastructure will be within previously published limits. As in previous years, the budget will be accompanied by an advertising campaign urging people to view the budget information material so that they can see for themselves how we are spending their money. The campaign will cost around $170 000. That is significantly less than the $200 000 plus spent by the previous Government on its budget advertising. Of course it is not in the ballpark of the $21 million that John Howard is spending on advertising in an attempt to justify his destruction of Medicare. As was the case in previous years, the budget will also be available on the Internet. I urge all members to encourage their constituents to take an interest in the budget and to examine the budget information. If people take an interest, they will see the extent to which the Commonwealth is punishing Western Australia, and they will see how the Gallop Labor Government is investing heavily in the communities’ priorities. They will also be able to judge the Gallop Government against the record of the former coalition Government. The record of the former coalition Government was $4.8 billion in asset sales; average annual spending growth of 5.6 per cent; average annual revenue growth of 6.6 per cent; five deficits out of eight budgets; and around $500 million of unfunded programs left for the Gallop Government to fix up. It would not be a proper budget process if I did not remind members of the Barnett budget blow-out - the $500 million worth of unfunded commitments left to us by the previous Government. The Opposition is at it again. It has $1.6 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community, after just two years in opposition. If it keeps going at this rate, it will have more than $3 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community before we even go into the next election campaign.
Of course, I will outline the full details of the budget tomorrow, but I can confirm that there will be significant expenditure restraint. That is because work on this budget started the day I announced the last budget, when I said that the Government would engage in a functional review. The review has identified around $750 million in savings over the next four years. There will be people who will object to the cuts, but I ask those people to consider this: this Government will be employing more teachers, more nurses, more police, more child protection workers, more WorkSafe inspectors and more environmental protection officers. If we are to address those needs and other community priorities, then we have to review spending across the board. We owe that to taxpayers. We have to constantly ask: are these programs necessary; are we getting value for money; and is there a more efficient way of doing things? That is the least that the community expects of a Government in its budget process. Of course the budget tomorrow will contain significant increases in spending on the community priorities of health, education, law and order, community development, and the environment. These increases will be delivered while we maintain our financial management targets. The budget will be balanced and will be of AAA quality. As I said yesterday, state debt, or borrowings, to finance schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, bridges, ports and electricity and water infrastructure will be within previously published limits. As in previous years, the budget will be accompanied by an advertising campaign urging people to view the budget information material so that they can see for themselves how we are spending their money. The campaign will cost around $170 000. That is significantly less than the $200 000 plus spent by the previous Government on its budget advertising. Of course it is not in the ballpark of the $21 million that John Howard is spending on advertising in an attempt to justify his destruction of Medicare. As was the case in previous years, the budget will also be available on the Internet. I urge all members to encourage their constituents to take an interest in the budget and to examine the budget information. If people take an interest, they will see the extent to which the Commonwealth is punishing Western Australia, and they will see how the Gallop Labor Government is investing heavily in the communities’ priorities. They will also be able to judge the Gallop Government against the record of the former coalition Government. The record of the former coalition Government was $4.8 billion in asset sales; average annual spending growth of 5.6 per cent; average annual revenue growth of 6.6 per cent; five deficits out of eight budgets; and around $500 million of unfunded programs left for the Gallop Government to fix up. It would not be a proper budget process if I did not remind members of the Barnett budget blow-out - the $500 million worth of unfunded commitments left to us by the previous Government. The Opposition is at it again. It has $1.6 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community, after just two years in opposition. If it keeps going at this rate, it will have more than $3 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community before we even go into the next election campaign.
As in previous years, the budget will be accompanied by an advertising campaign urging people to view the budget information material so that they can see for themselves how we are spending their money. The campaign will cost around $170 000. That is significantly less than the $200 000 plus spent by the previous Government on its budget advertising. Of course it is not in the ballpark of the $21 million that John Howard is spending on advertising in an attempt to justify his destruction of Medicare. As was the case in previous years, the budget will also be available on the Internet. I urge all members to encourage their constituents to take an interest in the budget and to examine the budget information. If people take an interest, they will see the extent to which the Commonwealth is punishing Western Australia, and they will see how the Gallop Labor Government is investing heavily in the communities’ priorities. They will also be able to judge the Gallop Government against the record of the former coalition Government. The record of the former coalition Government was $4.8 billion in asset sales; average annual spending growth of 5.6 per cent; average annual revenue growth of 6.6 per cent; five deficits out of eight budgets; and around $500 million of unfunded programs left for the Gallop Government to fix up. It would not be a proper budget process if I did not remind members of the Barnett budget blow-out - the $500 million worth of unfunded commitments left to us by the previous Government. The Opposition is at it again. It has $1.6 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community, after just two years in opposition. If it keeps going at this rate, it will have more than $3 billion of unfunded promises out there in the community before we even go into the next election campaign.
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