❓ Mr Aubrey asks about the Cook Labor government's financial management and its support for WA families. The Treasurer responds by highlighting job creation, surplus delivery, and criticising the opposition's financial record and preparedness for the budget.
AnsweredQoN 31Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State economy
31. Mr Stuart Aubrey to the Treasurer :
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's record of responsible financial management, making WA's
economy the strongest in the nation.
(1) Can the Treasurer outline to the house how
this government's sensible approach to managing the state's finances continues
to support Western Australian families?
(2) Can the Treasurer advise the house if she is
aware of anyone who does not support the Cook Labor government's fiscal
prudence?
31. Mr Stuart Aubrey to the Treasurer :
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's record of responsible financial management, making WA's
economy the strongest in the nation.
(1) Can the Treasurer outline to the house how
this government's sensible approach to managing the state's finances continues
to support Western Australian families?
(2) Can the Treasurer advise the house if she is
aware of anyone who does not support the Cook Labor government's fiscal
prudence?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for that
question. Over the past eight years, and through this next term, we will
continue our responsible and conservative financial management of the state. Members,
not only has it been about making sure we have got the finances right; it is
about making sure we have got the economy right. We have seen over 340,000 jobs
created in this state and we have seen an economy that has gone from strength
to strength. Surpluses have been delivered and debt is under control, and we
have the ability to deliver cost-of-living relief to families.
Yesterday, we saw an incredible
contribution from members on the other side. They seem to have forgotten the
history of financial management in this state. The Leader of the Opposition
stood up and said that the Barnett government lived within its means. I am not
sure what the Leader of the Opposition was doing at that time, but everyone in
this state knew about the economic and financial vandalism of the Barnett
government. Of course, we have seen them in opposition. Do you think the
Liberals learnt anything in those eight years of opposition? Let us look at
their recent election commitment costings process in March. Remember, they
refused to get their commitments costed by Treasury. Two days before the
election, they went to their old mate to get their commitments costed, and
between them they had made $10 billion worth of commitments. For a side that
pretends to care about spending, with $10 billion worth of commitments,
obviously it was not telling the truth if they were so concerned about
spending. Obviously, the Liberals were not genuine to the people of Western
Australia. Over eight years in opposition, they have learnt nothing.
Of course, the other thing that
we found out today is that the opposition still does not want to work hard.
When we announced the budget date will be 19 June, the shadow Treasurer said,
"We're not ready. We will not be ready to read a budget in nine weeks
time." We are out there working hard to deliver and make sure we get on
with the job to deliver a budget earlier than normal election year budgets. We
understand that. But, members, do we want to get on to deliver the commitments
we made to the people? Of course we do, and that is why we are bringing in the
budget on 19 June. I know nine weeks is not enough time for the shadow
Treasurer to prepare to read a budget. We will be out there working to deliver
it, but she has nine weeks.
As we
saw yesterday, the shadow Treasurer is not that genuine and we cannot really
believe anything the shadow Treasurer says. Even in the past 24 hours, she
has been absolutely caught out. On social media—we know she loves
social media because we saw her tweets yesterday—she said that the
Liberal Party was not allowed to deliver inaugural speeches because of the Treasurer's
advance authorisation. She went out on social media—it is here—and
said that the urgency means no inaugural speeches for new parliamentarians.
That was just last night or this morning. Again, going out with mistruths. She
said that the urgency meant that there would be no inaugural speeches for new
parliamentarians.
Ms Simone McGurk: That's not true. It's
available. You're not ready.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Well, she has corrected it. The
edited version has now been corrected, which is great. The edited version has
been corrected but honestly!
Point of order
Mr Shane Love: I remember your instructions before the
commencement of question time, Mr Speaker, about the need for answers to be
relevant and short, and this is neither relevant nor short.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, points of order will be heard in
silence. I answer this, not you.
Leader of the
Nationals WA, I will not uphold that point of order today. As I said in my
statement, I was going to enforce that approach as of the sitting next week.
But if members want to start today, it would be much appreciated. There is no
point of order.
Questions without
notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: It was an interesting comment there,
Mr. Speaker. I will take that on board, Mr Speaker. Maybe not today, though! Thank
you very much for your ruling. Sorry, Mr Speaker.
Again, the shadow
Treasurer was not being genuine. I do not think we can believe a word that the
shadow Treasurer says, and I do not think we will.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As with
yesterday, I refer to standing order 92 and the unfair reflections on the
shadow Treasurer. There is a bit of obsession creeping in here.
The Speaker: I will just take a little advice. Thank
you, member. I will not be upholding a point of order on that reflection, but,
Treasurer, you are getting very close to the boundary.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: Again, a record of incredible
management of the state's finances, a growing economy, supporting families for
cost of living and yet again, an opposition that has learnt nothing in its eight
years of opposition.
question. Over the past eight years, and through this next term, we will
continue our responsible and conservative financial management of the state. Members,
not only has it been about making sure we have got the finances right; it is
about making sure we have got the economy right. We have seen over 340,000 jobs
created in this state and we have seen an economy that has gone from strength
to strength. Surpluses have been delivered and debt is under control, and we
have the ability to deliver cost-of-living relief to families.
Yesterday, we saw an incredible
contribution from members on the other side. They seem to have forgotten the
history of financial management in this state. The Leader of the Opposition
stood up and said that the Barnett government lived within its means. I am not
sure what the Leader of the Opposition was doing at that time, but everyone in
this state knew about the economic and financial vandalism of the Barnett
government. Of course, we have seen them in opposition. Do you think the
Liberals learnt anything in those eight years of opposition? Let us look at
their recent election commitment costings process in March. Remember, they
refused to get their commitments costed by Treasury. Two days before the
election, they went to their old mate to get their commitments costed, and
between them they had made $10 billion worth of commitments. For a side that
pretends to care about spending, with $10 billion worth of commitments,
obviously it was not telling the truth if they were so concerned about
spending. Obviously, the Liberals were not genuine to the people of Western
Australia. Over eight years in opposition, they have learnt nothing.
Of course, the other thing that
we found out today is that the opposition still does not want to work hard.
When we announced the budget date will be 19 June, the shadow Treasurer said,
"We're not ready. We will not be ready to read a budget in nine weeks
time." We are out there working hard to deliver and make sure we get on
with the job to deliver a budget earlier than normal election year budgets. We
understand that. But, members, do we want to get on to deliver the commitments
we made to the people? Of course we do, and that is why we are bringing in the
budget on 19 June. I know nine weeks is not enough time for the shadow
Treasurer to prepare to read a budget. We will be out there working to deliver
it, but she has nine weeks.
As we
saw yesterday, the shadow Treasurer is not that genuine and we cannot really
believe anything the shadow Treasurer says. Even in the past 24 hours, she
has been absolutely caught out. On social media—we know she loves
social media because we saw her tweets yesterday—she said that the
Liberal Party was not allowed to deliver inaugural speeches because of the Treasurer's
advance authorisation. She went out on social media—it is here—and
said that the urgency means no inaugural speeches for new parliamentarians.
That was just last night or this morning. Again, going out with mistruths. She
said that the urgency meant that there would be no inaugural speeches for new
parliamentarians.
Ms Simone McGurk: That's not true. It's
available. You're not ready.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Well, she has corrected it. The
edited version has now been corrected, which is great. The edited version has
been corrected but honestly!
Point of order
Mr Shane Love: I remember your instructions before the
commencement of question time, Mr Speaker, about the need for answers to be
relevant and short, and this is neither relevant nor short.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, points of order will be heard in
silence. I answer this, not you.
Leader of the
Nationals WA, I will not uphold that point of order today. As I said in my
statement, I was going to enforce that approach as of the sitting next week.
But if members want to start today, it would be much appreciated. There is no
point of order.
Questions without
notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: It was an interesting comment there,
Mr. Speaker. I will take that on board, Mr Speaker. Maybe not today, though! Thank
you very much for your ruling. Sorry, Mr Speaker.
Again, the shadow
Treasurer was not being genuine. I do not think we can believe a word that the
shadow Treasurer says, and I do not think we will.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As with
yesterday, I refer to standing order 92 and the unfair reflections on the
shadow Treasurer. There is a bit of obsession creeping in here.
The Speaker: I will just take a little advice. Thank
you, member. I will not be upholding a point of order on that reflection, but,
Treasurer, you are getting very close to the boundary.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: Again, a record of incredible
management of the state's finances, a growing economy, supporting families for
cost of living and yet again, an opposition that has learnt nothing in its eight
years of opposition.
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