❓ Mr Barnett questions Premier Gallop on who he listened to when deciding to abolish the premium property tax. Dr Gallop's response deflects by referencing the previous government's actions and criticizes the opposition's reaction to the tax's removal.
AnsweredQoN 412Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PREMIUM PROPERTY TAX, ABOLITION
I refer the Premier to his media release dated 11 October 2001 announcing the backflip on the premium property tax because his was “a Government that listens”, and ask to whom did the Premier listen? Was it the 900 people initially affected by the tax; was it the 30 000 land owners that the Real Estate Institute of WA announced would eventually be hit by the tax; or was it his federal Labor colleagues in Western Australia who were desperate not to lose their jobs as a result of rising voter anger over this unfair tax on the family home? Dr GALLOP
I refer the Premier to his media release dated 11 October 2001 announcing the backflip on the premium property tax because his was “a Government that listens”, and ask to whom did the Premier listen? Was it the 900 people initially affected by the tax; was it the 30 000 land owners that the Real Estate Institute of WA announced would eventually be hit by the tax; or was it his federal Labor colleagues in Western Australia who were desperate not to lose their jobs as a result of rising voter anger over this unfair tax on the family home? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
I listened to the people whom the previous Government did not listen to when it built the belltower and when it privatised our public assets. They are the people to whom I listened. When this issue emerged, the opposition parties and other people in the community said that we should drop it. The Treasurer and I listened to the community about the issue, judged their concerns that it was a tax on the family home, raised issues about the assets and income mix of the people who were affected by the tax, and then said that we would move on. We have dropped it; we have moved on; where is the Opposition? It is extraordinary to find that we did what the Opposition said we should do and it is still complaining. What sort of an Opposition is that?
Dr GALLOP replied: I listened to the people whom the previous Government did not listen to when it built the belltower and when it privatised our public assets. They are the people to whom I listened. When this issue emerged, the opposition parties and other people in the community said that we should drop it. The Treasurer and I listened to the community about the issue, judged their concerns that it was a tax on the family home, raised issues about the assets and income mix of the people who were affected by the tax, and then said that we would move on. We have dropped it; we have moved on; where is the Opposition? It is extraordinary to find that we did what the Opposition said we should do and it is still complaining. What sort of an Opposition is that?
I listened to the people whom the previous Government did not listen to when it built the belltower and when it privatised our public assets. They are the people to whom I listened. When this issue emerged, the opposition parties and other people in the community said that we should drop it. The Treasurer and I listened to the community about the issue, judged their concerns that it was a tax on the family home, raised issues about the assets and income mix of the people who were affected by the tax, and then said that we would move on. We have dropped it; we have moved on; where is the Opposition? It is extraordinary to find that we did what the Opposition said we should do and it is still complaining. What sort of an Opposition is that?
Dr GALLOP replied: I listened to the people whom the previous Government did not listen to when it built the belltower and when it privatised our public assets. They are the people to whom I listened. When this issue emerged, the opposition parties and other people in the community said that we should drop it. The Treasurer and I listened to the community about the issue, judged their concerns that it was a tax on the family home, raised issues about the assets and income mix of the people who were affected by the tax, and then said that we would move on. We have dropped it; we have moved on; where is the Opposition? It is extraordinary to find that we did what the Opposition said we should do and it is still complaining. What sort of an Opposition is that?
I listened to the people whom the previous Government did not listen to when it built the belltower and when it privatised our public assets. They are the people to whom I listened. When this issue emerged, the opposition parties and other people in the community said that we should drop it. The Treasurer and I listened to the community about the issue, judged their concerns that it was a tax on the family home, raised issues about the assets and income mix of the people who were affected by the tax, and then said that we would move on. We have dropped it; we have moved on; where is the Opposition? It is extraordinary to find that we did what the Opposition said we should do and it is still complaining. What sort of an Opposition is that?
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