❓ The Minister denies supporting a specific proposal for returning royalties to regions, stating he only agreed to present the idea to the government on behalf of northern shires. He highlights the impact of Commonwealth Grants Commission policies on WA's royalty revenue and affirms commitment to the regional infrastructure fund.
AnsweredQoN 187Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
As a supplementary question, I again ask the minister whether this fund will replace the proposal supported by him to return royalties to the regions; and, if so, will he tell those people? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
The Leader of the Opposition’s question is based on a false premise: I have not made the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition claims I have. In fact, I said that, on behalf of the people who have raised this issue in the north, including the shires, I would put that proposal before government. I am sure the Leader of the Opposition shares my concern. Of the $490 million that is raised annually from petrol and gas royalty arrangements with the State, effectively only 10 per cent of those funds is available to the people of Western Australia because of the fiscal equalisation policies that are applied through the Commonwealth Grants Commission. It is a challenge for all Western Australians to find ways of getting a better deal for the Western Australian community. For regional Western Australians, the first part of that process will be the delivery of our election commitments on the regional infrastructure fund.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Leader of the Opposition’s question is based on a false premise: I have not made the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition claims I have. In fact, I said that, on behalf of the people who have raised this issue in the north, including the shires, I would put that proposal before government. I am sure the Leader of the Opposition shares my concern. Of the $490 million that is raised annually from petrol and gas royalty arrangements with the State, effectively only 10 per cent of those funds is available to the people of Western Australia because of the fiscal equalisation policies that are applied through the Commonwealth Grants Commission. It is a challenge for all Western Australians to find ways of getting a better deal for the Western Australian community. For regional Western Australians, the first part of that process will be the delivery of our election commitments on the regional infrastructure fund.
The Leader of the Opposition’s question is based on a false premise: I have not made the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition claims I have. In fact, I said that, on behalf of the people who have raised this issue in the north, including the shires, I would put that proposal before government. I am sure the Leader of the Opposition shares my concern. Of the $490 million that is raised annually from petrol and gas royalty arrangements with the State, effectively only 10 per cent of those funds is available to the people of Western Australia because of the fiscal equalisation policies that are applied through the Commonwealth Grants Commission. It is a challenge for all Western Australians to find ways of getting a better deal for the Western Australian community. For regional Western Australians, the first part of that process will be the delivery of our election commitments on the regional infrastructure fund.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Leader of the Opposition’s question is based on a false premise: I have not made the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition claims I have. In fact, I said that, on behalf of the people who have raised this issue in the north, including the shires, I would put that proposal before government. I am sure the Leader of the Opposition shares my concern. Of the $490 million that is raised annually from petrol and gas royalty arrangements with the State, effectively only 10 per cent of those funds is available to the people of Western Australia because of the fiscal equalisation policies that are applied through the Commonwealth Grants Commission. It is a challenge for all Western Australians to find ways of getting a better deal for the Western Australian community. For regional Western Australians, the first part of that process will be the delivery of our election commitments on the regional infrastructure fund.
The Leader of the Opposition’s question is based on a false premise: I have not made the suggestion that the Leader of the Opposition claims I have. In fact, I said that, on behalf of the people who have raised this issue in the north, including the shires, I would put that proposal before government. I am sure the Leader of the Opposition shares my concern. Of the $490 million that is raised annually from petrol and gas royalty arrangements with the State, effectively only 10 per cent of those funds is available to the people of Western Australia because of the fiscal equalisation policies that are applied through the Commonwealth Grants Commission. It is a challenge for all Western Australians to find ways of getting a better deal for the Western Australian community. For regional Western Australians, the first part of that process will be the delivery of our election commitments on the regional infrastructure fund.
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