❓ Opposition asks the Treasurer to use the state's surplus to alleviate cost of living pressures by freezing or reducing government fees and charges. The Treasurer deflects, highlighting the government's strong financial management and accusing the opposition of constant criticism.
AnsweredQoN 153Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COST OF LIVING — FEES AND CHARGES
153. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question.
The Treasurer has a $5.8 billion surplus. Why can he not take this opportunity
to provide certainty to families that they will not be hit with increased
government charges in the budget?
153. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question.
The Treasurer has a $5.8 billion surplus. Why can he not take this opportunity
to provide certainty to families that they will not be hit with increased
government charges in the budget?
AnswerView source ↗
Obviously, in the lead-up to the
budget, the government will make announcements, as indeed it will on budget day. The Prime Minister was asked this question
the other week. I saw him on the television. David Speirs or someone was
asking him about these issues, and he said exactly that—that in the
lead-up to the budget, the government will make announcements in relation to
these sorts of things. But the member has identified something, and that is
that this government is the best financial manager in Australia. I will provide
the member with some evidence of that shortly. Because of our management of the
finances, we are the only government in Australia reducing debt and the only
government in Australia in surplus. We have some capacity that other
governments around Australia do not have, which is a sign of five years of
strong management of our finances. I know that the Liberals and Nationals condemn us for that as well. They condemn us for
providing relief to households and they condemn us for providing the
strongest financial management in Australia. It is hard to know what they stand
for, apart from criticising the government. That appears to be it. It does not
matter what the issue is; members opposite pick a side, whatever the issue, to
criticise. That is what they do! There is no consistency, no policy and no
belief. There is no analysis of the issues. They just find whatever the
government does and criticise—that is it. If members opposite are not
aware that people see through them, I think they have another think coming.
budget, the government will make announcements, as indeed it will on budget day. The Prime Minister was asked this question
the other week. I saw him on the television. David Speirs or someone was
asking him about these issues, and he said exactly that—that in the
lead-up to the budget, the government will make announcements in relation to
these sorts of things. But the member has identified something, and that is
that this government is the best financial manager in Australia. I will provide
the member with some evidence of that shortly. Because of our management of the
finances, we are the only government in Australia reducing debt and the only
government in Australia in surplus. We have some capacity that other
governments around Australia do not have, which is a sign of five years of
strong management of our finances. I know that the Liberals and Nationals condemn us for that as well. They condemn us for
providing relief to households and they condemn us for providing the
strongest financial management in Australia. It is hard to know what they stand
for, apart from criticising the government. That appears to be it. It does not
matter what the issue is; members opposite pick a side, whatever the issue, to
criticise. That is what they do! There is no consistency, no policy and no
belief. There is no analysis of the issues. They just find whatever the
government does and criticise—that is it. If members opposite are not
aware that people see through them, I think they have another think coming.
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