❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the Premier on the Labor Party's tax policies, both federally and in WA. The Premier deflects by highlighting past land tax increases under the Liberal-National government.
AnsweredQoN 469Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAX CUTS —
FEDERAL LABOR POLICY
469. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
As a supplementary question, why is
the Labor Party hell-bent on taking money out of the pockets of Western Australians
by withholding tax cuts in the federal sphere and jacking up household fees and
prices by $850 in Western Australia?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
FEDERAL LABOR POLICY
469. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
As a supplementary question, why is
the Labor Party hell-bent on taking money out of the pockets of Western Australians
by withholding tax cuts in the federal sphere and jacking up household fees and
prices by $850 in Western Australia?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
AnswerView source ↗
I am aware of some tax increases,
and they are the three increases in land tax that were made when the Liberals
and Nationals were in office. Do members know whom that hit?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
asked a question; listen to the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do members
know who that hit? That hit small business people across Western Australia.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They are the
tax increases that I am aware of. They hurt small businesses across Western Australia.
Why was the Liberal Party so difficult towards small businesses in our state?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why is the
member for Riverton not sitting in his seat?
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am aware of
some commentary about the Liberal Party's increase in land tax. The
member for Bateman had this to say —
Mr D.C. Nalder : When?
Mr M. McGOWAN : It was on 17 May
2016.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : What year
are we in now—2019? Have you got anything current?
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : These are the
tax increases we are dealing with. The member for Bateman said —
There has been quite an adverse
impact on various constituents at various levels and, yes, I do have concerns
about it �
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, I call you to order for
the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : On 14 March
2017, Joe Francis said —
We let down our base. We walked away
from them. We increased taxes � That hurt our core base—small to
medium-sized businesses, people who have mortgaged their homes � We let them
down.
Joe Francis was very reliable after
he left office!
One of the Liberal Party's
favourite sons Phil Edman said on 18 May 2017 —
I also tried incredibly hard to stop
the increase in land tax and to ensure —
Mr W.R. Marmion : Oh, yeah!
Mr M. McGOWAN : This is what
Phil said; he is a member of the Liberal Party.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : He went
to Rockingham, didn't he?
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Apparently, that is
true; he lives in Rockingham. That is right. So what is the member's
point?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Phil Edman
said —
I also tried incredibly hard to stop
the increase in land tax and to ensure the long-term viability of the property
market � It has had negative impacts on people's ability to purchase
and keep property �
When the Liberal Party was in
office, it put up land tax three times on small businesses in Western Australia.
That is its record. When it put up water and power prices, it put them up by 90
per cent. In some years, it put up prices by more than 20 per cent in one year.
At the same time, it gave us the worst debt on record. One group we will not be
lectured by is the Liberal and National Parties in WA.
and they are the three increases in land tax that were made when the Liberals
and Nationals were in office. Do members know whom that hit?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
asked a question; listen to the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do members
know who that hit? That hit small business people across Western Australia.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They are the
tax increases that I am aware of. They hurt small businesses across Western Australia.
Why was the Liberal Party so difficult towards small businesses in our state?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why is the
member for Riverton not sitting in his seat?
The SPEAKER : Member for
Riverton, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am aware of
some commentary about the Liberal Party's increase in land tax. The
member for Bateman had this to say —
Mr D.C. Nalder : When?
Mr M. McGOWAN : It was on 17 May
2016.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : What year
are we in now—2019? Have you got anything current?
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : These are the
tax increases we are dealing with. The member for Bateman said —
There has been quite an adverse
impact on various constituents at various levels and, yes, I do have concerns
about it �
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, I call you to order for
the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : On 14 March
2017, Joe Francis said —
We let down our base. We walked away
from them. We increased taxes � That hurt our core base—small to
medium-sized businesses, people who have mortgaged their homes � We let them
down.
Joe Francis was very reliable after
he left office!
One of the Liberal Party's
favourite sons Phil Edman said on 18 May 2017 —
I also tried incredibly hard to stop
the increase in land tax and to ensure —
Mr W.R. Marmion : Oh, yeah!
Mr M. McGOWAN : This is what
Phil said; he is a member of the Liberal Party.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : He went
to Rockingham, didn't he?
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Apparently, that is
true; he lives in Rockingham. That is right. So what is the member's
point?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Phil Edman
said —
I also tried incredibly hard to stop
the increase in land tax and to ensure the long-term viability of the property
market � It has had negative impacts on people's ability to purchase
and keep property �
When the Liberal Party was in
office, it put up land tax three times on small businesses in Western Australia.
That is its record. When it put up water and power prices, it put them up by 90
per cent. In some years, it put up prices by more than 20 per cent in one year.
At the same time, it gave us the worst debt on record. One group we will not be
lectured by is the Liberal and National Parties in WA.
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