❓ Opposition questions the government's handling of the Road Trauma Trust Fund, suggesting a deliberate strategy to hide state debt. The Premier denies this, highlighting increased funding for road safety initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 322Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET 2011–12 — NET DEBT
Budget paper No 3 describes a so-called spending risk in the road trauma trust fund because there has been no decision by cabinet to spend these funds. (1) Was this a deliberate strategy to hide the true level of state debt in this year’s budget? (2) Will net debt increase by over $200 million if this money is spent? Mr C.J. BARNETT
Budget paper No 3 describes a so-called spending risk in the road trauma trust fund because there has been no decision by cabinet to spend these funds. (1) Was this a deliberate strategy to hide the true level of state debt in this year’s budget? (2) Will net debt increase by over $200 million if this money is spent? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
(1) Was this a deliberate strategy to hide the true level of state debt in this year’s budget? (2) Will net debt increase by over $200 million if this money is spent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
(2) Will net debt increase by over $200 million if this money is spent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
(1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
(1) Was this a deliberate strategy to hide the true level of state debt in this year’s budget? (2) Will net debt increase by over $200 million if this money is spent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
(2) Will net debt increase by over $200 million if this money is spent? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
(1)–(2) I know that it is towards the end of the week, but I actually do not understand the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You don’t understand the budget papers. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I find it most peculiar. I refer to the road trauma trust fund: it is significant that in this budget, this government, under the Minister for Road Safety, is allocating, through to July — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : From 1 July this year we will be allocating to the road trauma trust fund, from the current one-third, two-thirds of all red light and speed camera fines collected, and from July next year we will be allocating 100 per cent. The fund will report to the Minister for Road Safety, who will bring its recommendations to cabinet. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have thought that people would be pleased about that. I am. I think the people who have been lobbying for a long time—like the RAC and various academics and experts, Main Roads and others, and local country shires—will be delighted that, after years of promises, this government is actually going to put the fines collected into the road trauma trust fund. Is this some clever subversive plot to hide state debt? No; it is about road safety.
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