❓ Treasurer Eric Ripper previews the upcoming state budget, highlighting economic success, infrastructure investment, tax cuts, and criticising the Commonwealth's tax policies. He emphasizes responsible financial management and prioritizes state interests.
AnsweredQoN 205Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET
What can Western Australians expect from the state budget to be handed down on 11 May? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER
What can Western Australians expect from the state budget to be handed down on 11 May? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
The budget is still a week away, but I can make some comments about some of the major themes. We will, of course, be building on the economic success that this state has enjoyed over the past five years. When we were elected to government, the size of our economy was $75 billion. It is now $100 billion. Just think about the difference between those two figures. We will be bringing new opportunities to Western Australians. We will be making responsible investments in the state’s future. What we will not be doing is engaging in adventurous and risky dreams like the canal proposition. We will be making significant investments in infrastructure. Already this government has made huge investments in infrastructure, and we will continue that program, because we want to facilitate businesses making their own investment decisions in this state, and they need that infrastructure. The government has promised to make sure that the household basket of fees and charges levied by the state stays well below the inflation rate. We will deliver on that promise. Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr T.R. Buswell : What does “well below the inflation rate” mean? Give us the parameters. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : The member will see on budget day. We will retain the state’s AAA credit rating that was put at risk in Richard Court’s second term of government. We have delivered five surplus budgets, and the 2006 budget will be no different. The budget season always brings calls for tax cuts. We have been cutting taxes for two years. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : We have had four rounds of tax cuts that members of the opposition have not noticed. We have already announced total tax relief for the next financial year of $690 million. Members of the opposition have not noticed that either. Western Australian businesses and households pay $3 967 per person per annum to the state government. Guess what businesses and households pay per person to the commonwealth government? They pay $10 876 per person per year. According to a very reputable newspaper - not The West Australian - Adelaide’s The Advertiser , the commonwealth government has introduced 183 new taxes since 1996, which is an average of 18 new taxes every year. It has taken $18.3 billion of those new taxes, according to the analysis in that very reputable newspaper, The Advertiser . For households, state taxes tend to be one-off irregular payments; by contrast, every worker in Western Australia pays income tax every fortnight. Clearly, when it comes to taxes, one can counteract - Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr T.R. Buswell : What is Kim Beazley’s policy on income tax? The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Vasse! Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr T.R. Buswell : I just asked a question. The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
The SPEAKER : I did not ask for the member’s comment. I call the member for Vasse to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : When it comes to taxes that can counteract higher petrol prices and interest rate increases, the commonwealth, not the state, can provide the most potent relief because it imposes the tax that impacts on every worker’s pay packet every fortnight. Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr P.D. Omodei : I thought you were subsidising the commonwealth government. Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : We are subsidising the rest of the country by $2 000 per Western Australian per annum. It is about time that members on the other side started to stand up for this state to help us do something about it, because that is money that should be spent in this state on infrastructure. The state government will again be making the budget available on the Internet. The web site for the state budget will be www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au. As before, we will be advertising some of the key features of the budget on television, at a cost of $175 000. The advertisements will encourage people to visit the web site or to phone for more information. Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I notice once again that the member for Vasse just cannot help himself; he must interject. I must tell the member for Vasse that we are open and accountable about this. Every year we tell people how much we will spend on budget advertising. That is not something that the coalition did. It is very interesting to compare the coalition’s expenditure on budget advertising with ours. Including that $175 000, we have spent $645 000 to advertise four budgets. The coalition in its last term spent $734 000, including $214 000 on a pamphlet, for the 1998-99 budget. This government has established a reputation for responsible economic management. The 2006 budget will confirm that reputation.
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