❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Water about a reported 14% cut to the Water Corporation's capital works program, raising concerns about water security, the environment, worker safety, and jobs. The Minister refuses to confirm or deny the budget details before its official release.
AnsweredQoN 401Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER CORPORATION — CAPITAL WORKS BUDGET
I refer to yesterday’s announcement by the Rudd government of the historic and visionary investment in Western Australian infrastructure that will change the face of our city by funding the Northbridge Link rail-sinking project and complete state Labor’s health reform agenda by building a new hospital at Midland and a new port at Oakajee. (1) How does the minister justify the 14 per cent, or half-a-billion-dollar cut, to the Water Corporation’s capital works program contained in this year’s budget? (2) How does the minister justify slashing the infill sewerage program, the dam wall and infrastructure maintenance and the Collie desalination diversion scheme—is the minister getting his instructions, or does he want to listen to the question? (3) Can the minister guarantee that this dramatic reduction in capital works expenditure—14 per cent, or half a billion dollars—will not jeopardise the state’s water security, our precious environment, worker safety or the jobs of ordinary Australians? Dr G.G. JACOBS
I refer to yesterday’s announcement by the Rudd government of the historic and visionary investment in Western Australian infrastructure that will change the face of our city by funding the Northbridge Link rail-sinking project and complete state Labor’s health reform agenda by building a new hospital at Midland and a new port at Oakajee. (1) How does the minister justify the 14 per cent, or half-a-billion-dollar cut, to the Water Corporation’s capital works program contained in this year’s budget? (2) How does the minister justify slashing the infill sewerage program, the dam wall and infrastructure maintenance and the Collie desalination diversion scheme—is the minister getting his instructions, or does he want to listen to the question? (3) Can the minister guarantee that this dramatic reduction in capital works expenditure—14 per cent, or half a billion dollars—will not jeopardise the state’s water security, our precious environment, worker safety or the jobs of ordinary Australians? Dr G.G. JACOBS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
(1) How does the minister justify the 14 per cent, or half-a-billion-dollar cut, to the Water Corporation’s capital works program contained in this year’s budget? (2) How does the minister justify slashing the infill sewerage program, the dam wall and infrastructure maintenance and the Collie desalination diversion scheme—is the minister getting his instructions, or does he want to listen to the question? (3) Can the minister guarantee that this dramatic reduction in capital works expenditure—14 per cent, or half a billion dollars—will not jeopardise the state’s water security, our precious environment, worker safety or the jobs of ordinary Australians? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
(2) How does the minister justify slashing the infill sewerage program, the dam wall and infrastructure maintenance and the Collie desalination diversion scheme—is the minister getting his instructions, or does he want to listen to the question? (3) Can the minister guarantee that this dramatic reduction in capital works expenditure—14 per cent, or half a billion dollars—will not jeopardise the state’s water security, our precious environment, worker safety or the jobs of ordinary Australians? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
(3) Can the minister guarantee that this dramatic reduction in capital works expenditure—14 per cent, or half a billion dollars—will not jeopardise the state’s water security, our precious environment, worker safety or the jobs of ordinary Australians? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
(1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
(1) How does the minister justify the 14 per cent, or half-a-billion-dollar cut, to the Water Corporation’s capital works program contained in this year’s budget? (2) How does the minister justify slashing the infill sewerage program, the dam wall and infrastructure maintenance and the Collie desalination diversion scheme—is the minister getting his instructions, or does he want to listen to the question? (3) Can the minister guarantee that this dramatic reduction in capital works expenditure—14 per cent, or half a billion dollars—will not jeopardise the state’s water security, our precious environment, worker safety or the jobs of ordinary Australians? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
(2) How does the minister justify slashing the infill sewerage program, the dam wall and infrastructure maintenance and the Collie desalination diversion scheme—is the minister getting his instructions, or does he want to listen to the question? (3) Can the minister guarantee that this dramatic reduction in capital works expenditure—14 per cent, or half a billion dollars—will not jeopardise the state’s water security, our precious environment, worker safety or the jobs of ordinary Australians? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
(3) Can the minister guarantee that this dramatic reduction in capital works expenditure—14 per cent, or half a billion dollars—will not jeopardise the state’s water security, our precious environment, worker safety or the jobs of ordinary Australians? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: (1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
(1)-(3) I am quite surprised that the Leader of the Opposition would address this question to me when he knows that I will neither validate nor verify anything that is in the budget. The Treasurer has often reminded the Leader of the Opposition of this countdown, and I will now remind him again—one more sleep. Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
Mr M. McGowan : You’re a comic genius! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is not a comic strip. We are trying to do this seriously and responsibly for the people of Western Australia. This government will be responsible in its management of water, it will be responsible to the people of Western Australia and it will deliver a responsible budget. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to address those questions to me after the release of the budget, and not before.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.