❓ Ms. Davies asks the Premier whether WA taxpayers will face higher debt in 2025 than today. The Premier avoids a direct 'yes' or 'no' answer, highlighting debt reduction achieved by his government and criticising the previous government's financial management.
AnsweredQoN 300Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NET DEBT — 2022–23
STATE BUDGET
300. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Thank you, Premier. Premier, yes or no—will WA taxpayers be saddled
with higher debt in 2025 than they are today?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order! The
Premier. Only the Premier, thank you.
STATE BUDGET
300. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Thank you, Premier. Premier, yes or no—will WA taxpayers be saddled
with higher debt in 2025 than they are today?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order! The
Premier. Only the Premier, thank you.
AnswerView source ↗
We paid off a third of the debt we
inherited from the Liberals and Nationals. It is down $14 billion on where it
was under their forward estimates. The way the forward estimates were
constructed had it going to $44 billion, but knowing the way the Liberals and
Nationals governed, it would have been significantly higher than that.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do members
opposite remember the Treasurers?
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on. I will
run through them for you: Buswell, Barnett, Porter, Barnett, Buswell, Barnett,
Nahan. That is seven. That was the order of Treasurers. Troy Buswell was
Treasurer twice.
We paid off $14 billion. We have
reduced state debt by a third, and we are the only state government that has
done so. Our intention is to continue on that pathway, but I will not put
overly optimistic iron ore prices and revenue forecasts in the forward
estimates that would set this state up for failure.
inherited from the Liberals and Nationals. It is down $14 billion on where it
was under their forward estimates. The way the forward estimates were
constructed had it going to $44 billion, but knowing the way the Liberals and
Nationals governed, it would have been significantly higher than that.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do members
opposite remember the Treasurers?
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on. I will
run through them for you: Buswell, Barnett, Porter, Barnett, Buswell, Barnett,
Nahan. That is seven. That was the order of Treasurers. Troy Buswell was
Treasurer twice.
We paid off $14 billion. We have
reduced state debt by a third, and we are the only state government that has
done so. Our intention is to continue on that pathway, but I will not put
overly optimistic iron ore prices and revenue forecasts in the forward
estimates that would set this state up for failure.
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