❓ Opposition Leader Barnett questions Premier Gallop about tax increases and proposed tax cuts, accusing the government of unfairly taking money from Western Australians. The Premier defends the tax cuts as the largest ever and highlights economic growth under his government.
AnsweredQoN 665Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I welcome the boys from Scotch College. I again remind the Premier of his promise prior to the last election that he would not increase taxes and charges - a promise he broke in 2001, 2002 and 2003 with tax increases totalling more than $1 billion. (1) Will the Premier admit that his proposed tax cuts today will simply return part of what has been unfairly taken from Western Australians through massive tax hikes in stamp duty, payroll tax, land tax and a wide range of other taxes during the past three years? (2) Will the Premier confirm - he needs to listen carefully to this - that in his first budget he increased the schedule payroll tax rate for larger employers from 5.56 per cent to six per cent and that he is now simply proposing to decrease it to a rate of 5.5 per cent? (3) Will the Premier also confirm that some 4 000 small businesses that were, prior to his Government, paying schedule payroll tax rates of 3.65 per cent to 4.6 per cent will still be worse off under his Government? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
(1) Will the Premier admit that his proposed tax cuts today will simply return part of what has been unfairly taken from Western Australians through massive tax hikes in stamp duty, payroll tax, land tax and a wide range of other taxes during the past three years? (2) Will the Premier confirm - he needs to listen carefully to this - that in his first budget he increased the schedule payroll tax rate for larger employers from 5.56 per cent to six per cent and that he is now simply proposing to decrease it to a rate of 5.5 per cent? (3) Will the Premier also confirm that some 4 000 small businesses that were, prior to his Government, paying schedule payroll tax rates of 3.65 per cent to 4.6 per cent will still be worse off under his Government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
(2) Will the Premier confirm - he needs to listen carefully to this - that in his first budget he increased the schedule payroll tax rate for larger employers from 5.56 per cent to six per cent and that he is now simply proposing to decrease it to a rate of 5.5 per cent? (3) Will the Premier also confirm that some 4 000 small businesses that were, prior to his Government, paying schedule payroll tax rates of 3.65 per cent to 4.6 per cent will still be worse off under his Government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
(3) Will the Premier also confirm that some 4 000 small businesses that were, prior to his Government, paying schedule payroll tax rates of 3.65 per cent to 4.6 per cent will still be worse off under his Government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
(1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
(1) Will the Premier admit that his proposed tax cuts today will simply return part of what has been unfairly taken from Western Australians through massive tax hikes in stamp duty, payroll tax, land tax and a wide range of other taxes during the past three years? (2) Will the Premier confirm - he needs to listen carefully to this - that in his first budget he increased the schedule payroll tax rate for larger employers from 5.56 per cent to six per cent and that he is now simply proposing to decrease it to a rate of 5.5 per cent? (3) Will the Premier also confirm that some 4 000 small businesses that were, prior to his Government, paying schedule payroll tax rates of 3.65 per cent to 4.6 per cent will still be worse off under his Government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
(2) Will the Premier confirm - he needs to listen carefully to this - that in his first budget he increased the schedule payroll tax rate for larger employers from 5.56 per cent to six per cent and that he is now simply proposing to decrease it to a rate of 5.5 per cent? (3) Will the Premier also confirm that some 4 000 small businesses that were, prior to his Government, paying schedule payroll tax rates of 3.65 per cent to 4.6 per cent will still be worse off under his Government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
(3) Will the Premier also confirm that some 4 000 small businesses that were, prior to his Government, paying schedule payroll tax rates of 3.65 per cent to 4.6 per cent will still be worse off under his Government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
(1)-(3) It is extraordinary, is it not? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: This is the biggest ever cut in payroll tax in Western Australia and it has been done by this Labor Government. Other Governments have talked about cutting payroll tax and the Liberals talked about abolishing payroll tax. We have cut it to the tune of $460 million, yet we hear whingeing by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Mr C.J. Barnett: It is the truth. There are the facts. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact is that this is a half a per cent cut in payroll tax, which will reinject $460 million into businesses in Western Australia. Let us compare the current system with the system that we inherited. We have a simplified system with one rate. We have a higher threshold. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: We also got rid of those punishing marginal rates that existed under the previous Government, which went up to 9.4 per cent. What incentive was that for businesses to engage extra workers? Every time those businesses increased the number of workers, the marginal rate went up. That was the previous system, and we got rid of it. We have lower thresholds, we have a simplified system with one rate and, of course, we have cut payroll tax and will put $460 million back into the community. There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
There is one big difference between businesses in Western Australia today and those businesses in 2001, and it is called economic growth. Members of the Opposition should drive through all the industrial estates in Western Australia today and look at the number of cars in the car park, the employment that has been generated and the economic growth that has occurred under our Government. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the National Party! Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I do not think the Leader of the Opposition is in any position to comment on these matters until he produces his financial plan - his view on taxation and expenditure put into a responsible framework. Under the previous Government, we had five budget deficits out of eight, privatisation of our assets and higher taxes. That is the comparison. Under this Government we are turning the corner because we have the capacity to do it. We are very proud of our record as the Government of Western Australia. We have the capacity to cut taxes and we are doing it in a massive way. No other Government has done to payroll tax what we have announced today. We expect that when we bring the legislation to the Parliament, it will pass through this Parliament as rapidly as it can to ensure that these measures flow through to businesses and that they can sustain the good economic growth that we have.
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