❓ A parliamentary question from Hon Martin Aldridge referencing the Treasurer's past concerns about state debt, using the metaphor of a 'debt monster'. The Treasurer's response defends the current government's debt management.
AnsweredQoN 558Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
''DEBT MONSTER''
558. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's
keen interest in the ''debt monster'' in the lead-up to the 2017
state election noting total public sector net debt was $32 billion at 30 June
2017, and the Treasurer's first budget forecast for total public sector
net debt to reach $41 billion in 2027–28.
(1) Has the Treasurer considered the return of the ''debt
monster'' in light of skyrocketing net debt under her leadership ?
(2) Does the Treasurer currently
have in her possession the ''debt monster'' or know of its
whereabouts?
(3) Was the ''debt monster''
funded by resources appropriated to the then Labor Leader of the Opposition?
(4) Does the
Treasurer stand by her comments as shadow Minister for Finance that
skyrocketing debt will consume the state's cash for generations?
558. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's
keen interest in the ''debt monster'' in the lead-up to the 2017
state election noting total public sector net debt was $32 billion at 30 June
2017, and the Treasurer's first budget forecast for total public sector
net debt to reach $41 billion in 2027–28.
(1) Has the Treasurer considered the return of the ''debt
monster'' in light of skyrocketing net debt under her leadership ?
(2) Does the Treasurer currently
have in her possession the ''debt monster'' or know of its
whereabouts?
(3) Was the ''debt monster''
funded by resources appropriated to the then Labor Leader of the Opposition?
(4) Does the
Treasurer stand by her comments as shadow Minister for Finance that
skyrocketing debt will consume the state's cash for generations?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following
answer is provided on behalf of the Treasurer .
(1)–(4) Under
the Liberals and Nationals, net debt rose by almost $29 billion, from $5.6 billion
to $34.3 billion. Under Labor, net debt has fallen from $34.3 billion to a forecast
$28.6 billion this financial year. This is more than $15 billion less than what
was projected by the Liberals and Nationals, and $5.7 billion less than what
Labor inherited. The honourable member will be happy to know that the ''debt
monster'' is well and truly asleep. It will only wake up if the Liberals
and Nationals, who let it roam freely and grow wildly, are elected to
government!
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following
answer is provided on behalf of the Treasurer .
(1)–(4) Under
the Liberals and Nationals, net debt rose by almost $29 billion, from $5.6 billion
to $34.3 billion. Under Labor, net debt has fallen from $34.3 billion to a forecast
$28.6 billion this financial year. This is more than $15 billion less than what
was projected by the Liberals and Nationals, and $5.7 billion less than what
Labor inherited. The honourable member will be happy to know that the ''debt
monster'' is well and truly asleep. It will only wake up if the Liberals
and Nationals, who let it roam freely and grow wildly, are elected to
government!
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.