❓ The Treasurer addresses concerns about potential increases in household fees and charges, promising to mitigate the impact on WA families while criticizing the previous government's handling of the issue, particularly regarding electricity reform and manipulation of inflation rates.
AnsweredQoN 344Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSEHOLD FEES AND CHARGES
For eight consecutive years, the Labor government kept the increases in household fees and charges below the rate of inflation, and reduced household fees by 10.8 per cent in real terms. In light of the Treasurer’s public comments about the likely increases in household fees and charges — (1) Is the government committed to keeping the basket of household fees and charges below the reference rate of inflation that was applied to the household basket model employed in previous state budgets, or does the Treasurer intend to implement his previously-stated preference for the projected rate of revenue as set down in the midyear review? (2) If not, what is the government’s policy on containing the impact of increases in household fees and charges on Western Australian families? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
For eight consecutive years, the Labor government kept the increases in household fees and charges below the rate of inflation, and reduced household fees by 10.8 per cent in real terms. In light of the Treasurer’s public comments about the likely increases in household fees and charges — (1) Is the government committed to keeping the basket of household fees and charges below the reference rate of inflation that was applied to the household basket model employed in previous state budgets, or does the Treasurer intend to implement his previously-stated preference for the projected rate of revenue as set down in the midyear review? (2) If not, what is the government’s policy on containing the impact of increases in household fees and charges on Western Australian families? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
(1) Is the government committed to keeping the basket of household fees and charges below the reference rate of inflation that was applied to the household basket model employed in previous state budgets, or does the Treasurer intend to implement his previously-stated preference for the projected rate of revenue as set down in the midyear review? (2) If not, what is the government’s policy on containing the impact of increases in household fees and charges on Western Australian families? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
(2) If not, what is the government’s policy on containing the impact of increases in household fees and charges on Western Australian families? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
(1) Is the government committed to keeping the basket of household fees and charges below the reference rate of inflation that was applied to the household basket model employed in previous state budgets, or does the Treasurer intend to implement his previously-stated preference for the projected rate of revenue as set down in the midyear review? (2) If not, what is the government’s policy on containing the impact of increases in household fees and charges on Western Australian families? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
(2) If not, what is the government’s policy on containing the impact of increases in household fees and charges on Western Australian families? Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Victoria Park for the question. We are committed to ensuring that the impacts of the budget process and the impacts of the global financial crisis on the households of Western Australia, as transmitted through household fees and charges, are kept as low as possible. That is what we intend to do. Those details will be provided to the people of Western Australia next week when we hand down the budget. Yes, the former Labor government had a policy of keeping that basket of goods at under—what did the member call it?—the reference rate of inflation. The former Labor government also had a policy of changing the reference rate of inflation when that rate did not suit it. That was one of the former Treasurer’s little smoke-and-mirrors games. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That is untrue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I remember that the definition of “reference rate” shifted a couple of times. We are not going to do that. We will detail household fees and charges to the people of Western Australia next week. Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr P. Papalia : You do not have a clue! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I have an absolute clue. The member should wait until the budget is handed down, and he will be illuminated, as will the people of Western Australia. There will be impacts on household fees and charges—no more so, I hasten to add, than the increase in the price of electricity, which is now to be levied onto the people of Western Australia because of the former government’s botched handling of its supposed electricity reform. We will fix up the former government’s problems. We will fix up the issues that the former government left us with, and we will do so in a way that protects, as best we can, the households of Western Australia.
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