❓ Treasurer Ripper discusses WA's strong financial position, highlighting a surplus used for infrastructure and debt reduction. He criticises the opposition's spending proposals and perceived inconsistencies.
AnsweredQoN 371Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the Treasurer provide the house with a brief analysis of Western Australia’s strong financial position and the benefits that are therefore accruing to the state? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
It is important to stress at the outset of my remarks that the 2004-05 financial result or the surplus will not be known until September. However, because of the strength of our supercharged economy, it is likely to be bigger than the $631 million forecast by Treasury at the time I brought down the budget. In fact, the surplus for the first 11 months of last financial year exceeded $1 billion. That is good news for Western Australians, because - Mr M.J. Birney : You bungled it; you could have given $400 million in tax cuts. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: It is important to stress at the outset of my remarks that the 2004-05 financial result or the surplus will not be known until September. However, because of the strength of our supercharged economy, it is likely to be bigger than the $631 million forecast by Treasury at the time I brought down the budget. In fact, the surplus for the first 11 months of last financial year exceeded $1 billion. That is good news for Western Australians, because - Mr M.J. Birney : You bungled it; you could have given $400 million in tax cuts. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
It is important to stress at the outset of my remarks that the 2004-05 financial result or the surplus will not be known until September. However, because of the strength of our supercharged economy, it is likely to be bigger than the $631 million forecast by Treasury at the time I brought down the budget. In fact, the surplus for the first 11 months of last financial year exceeded $1 billion. That is good news for Western Australians, because - Mr M.J. Birney : You bungled it; you could have given $400 million in tax cuts. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr M.J. Birney : You bungled it; you could have given $400 million in tax cuts. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: It is important to stress at the outset of my remarks that the 2004-05 financial result or the surplus will not be known until September. However, because of the strength of our supercharged economy, it is likely to be bigger than the $631 million forecast by Treasury at the time I brought down the budget. In fact, the surplus for the first 11 months of last financial year exceeded $1 billion. That is good news for Western Australians, because - Mr M.J. Birney : You bungled it; you could have given $400 million in tax cuts. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
It is important to stress at the outset of my remarks that the 2004-05 financial result or the surplus will not be known until September. However, because of the strength of our supercharged economy, it is likely to be bigger than the $631 million forecast by Treasury at the time I brought down the budget. In fact, the surplus for the first 11 months of last financial year exceeded $1 billion. That is good news for Western Australians, because - Mr M.J. Birney : You bungled it; you could have given $400 million in tax cuts. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr M.J. Birney : You bungled it; you could have given $400 million in tax cuts. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time and I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : It is good news for Western Australians because the surplus is an important source of funding for our record $15.8 billion capital works program. We are using our strong economic position to provide infrastructure for the future - schools, hospitals, rail, ports, roads and electricity networks. We are building for the future using our strong financial position. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : As the Premier points out, we are also providing more than $700 million in water infrastructure. The Department of Treasury and Finance estimates that this program will employ 50 000 people and stimulate an additional $2 billion in economic activity over the next four years. Quite frankly, a bigger than expected surplus means that we can deliver this program with less reliance on debt than we had previously forecast. That means less debt for future generations and lower interest payments. Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr M.J. Birney : It was going to be the biggest blow-out in history. You’ve been saved. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I will come to the Leader of the Opposition shortly. A $1 billion surplus will save us $70 million a year in interest payments, which amount could employ 930 nurses or fund 18 secondary schools, including the cost of teachers. It is very interesting to listen to the bleatings of the Leader of the Opposition, because the opposition threatens to return us to the bad old days of deficit after deficit. When asked on the Howard Sattler radio program whether the government should fund a new sports stadium, the Leader of the Opposition said - . . . if we’re going to progress into the future we’ve got to have. . . a world-class oval, and I just don’t think forty-odd-thousand seats would cut it, quite frankly. Sattler then asked - . . . how much of the $1.1 billion do you reckon the Government should be tipping into producing a stadium that would hold maybe 65,000, 70,000 people? What was the Leader of the Opposition’s response? It was - Look, there are smarter people than me that would give you those figures, Howard . . . At least he has that right! The point is that the Leader of the Opposition wants to spend the surplus now, without giving any thought to our future or our future infrastructure needs. He is just like the member for Cottesloe was when he was Leader of the Opposition; he makes promises on the run. Clearly, he and his colleagues have not learnt the lessons of the last election. I will take one example of his promises, which he was rash enough to repeat during question time today by way of interjection, even though his figure was somewhat different. Two months ago he claimed that state debt was out of control. Now he wants to cut stamp duty by $500 million per annum. That would drive us into deficit in future years and add $2 billion to the state debt, which he claims is out of control. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : The Treasurer has obviously misrepresented me. I have never made such a claim about stamp duty. This is the way that government members try to misrepresent the opposition. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition speaks with a forked tongue, because he said by way of interjection earlier in question time that I should cut stamp duty by $400 million. He said that only five minutes ago, yet he hopped up with an abusive point of order and tried to deny that he ever made that promise. He has absolutely no credibility when he takes that sort of action. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues are engaged in the same old game - a promise for every person and no plan to pay for them. Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Dr G.I. Gallop interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I remember that. It was exactly what the member for Cottesloe did when he was Leader of the Opposition. There are smarter people than the Leader of the Opposition in this state; they are the people who re-elected the Gallop government. The Gallop government will invest in the future of Western Australia and in infrastructure while still controlling debt.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.