❓ Mr. Buswell questions the Treasurer about budget surpluses, agency staffing, and wages growth. The Treasurer deflects, highlighting increased spending on key services and accusing Mr. Buswell of hypocrisy.
AnsweredQoN 312Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET ESTIMATES - GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
Yesterday the Treasurer declared that the larger than estimated surplus was due to agencies having underspent as a result of difficulties in recruiting staff. Given that, firstly, the figures released in the Treasurer’s May budget anticipated that salaries would grow by seven per cent this year, yet figures for the year to April show that salaries are actually growing by 9.7 per cent, well above the estimate; and, secondly, that in the year ended 30 March 2007 an extra 3 981 full-time equivalents were employed, 768 more than the preceding 12 months, I ask - (1) Which specific agencies have failed to attract staff and how many FTEs does this shortfall currently relate to? (2) Is it not the case that wages growth this year is ahead of budget forecasts and will exceed the Treasurer’s budgeted wages target? Mr E.S. RIPPER
Yesterday the Treasurer declared that the larger than estimated surplus was due to agencies having underspent as a result of difficulties in recruiting staff. Given that, firstly, the figures released in the Treasurer’s May budget anticipated that salaries would grow by seven per cent this year, yet figures for the year to April show that salaries are actually growing by 9.7 per cent, well above the estimate; and, secondly, that in the year ended 30 March 2007 an extra 3 981 full-time equivalents were employed, 768 more than the preceding 12 months, I ask - (1) Which specific agencies have failed to attract staff and how many FTEs does this shortfall currently relate to? (2) Is it not the case that wages growth this year is ahead of budget forecasts and will exceed the Treasurer’s budgeted wages target? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
(1) Which specific agencies have failed to attract staff and how many FTEs does this shortfall currently relate to? (2) Is it not the case that wages growth this year is ahead of budget forecasts and will exceed the Treasurer’s budgeted wages target? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
(2) Is it not the case that wages growth this year is ahead of budget forecasts and will exceed the Treasurer’s budgeted wages target? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
(1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
(1) Which specific agencies have failed to attract staff and how many FTEs does this shortfall currently relate to? (2) Is it not the case that wages growth this year is ahead of budget forecasts and will exceed the Treasurer’s budgeted wages target? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
(2) Is it not the case that wages growth this year is ahead of budget forecasts and will exceed the Treasurer’s budgeted wages target? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
(1)-(2) That is the sort of question one would expect from the “less with less” man. He does not believe we should be improving services at a time of economic prosperity. I make no apology for allocating additional money for services. The government was elected on a promise to provide priority for health, education and law and order. We also give priority to disability services, child protection and environmental protection. That is part of the dividend from economic prosperity that we deliver to the community. That is why we have 15 per cent more per capita spending than the mainland states’ average on education; seven per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average on health and community services; and 18.6 per cent more than the mainland states’ per capita average for expenditure on law and order. So, I make no apology for the fact that the government was elected to give services in those areas priority. I also make no apology for delivering from the economic prosperity the community is now experiencing a dividend in the form of service improvements. I said yesterday that the 10 May estimates for the out-turn for the 2006-07 budget were on track so far as the revenue estimates were concerned. To the end of April, 83 per cent of the financial year has passed, and to the end of April, 83.4 per cent of revenue estimated in the 2006-07 budget brought down on 10 May had been achieved. I regard that as evidence that the revenue estimates are on track. We cannot say what is going to happen in the last two months of the year. It may be there will be more revenue than expected in the last two months of the year; that is possible. That would be a good thing for the people of Western Australia and a further reflection of the strength of the economy, and it would enable the government to invest more in the future through the infrastructure program or through debt reduction. If there is a bigger surplus at the end of the financial year, that is unambiguously good news for the people of Western Australia. It is a sign of a strong economy and of strong finances and it gives us more capacity to invest in the future. I said yesterday that on current trends on revenue - Mr T. Buswell : You didn’t say that yesterday. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Yes, I did. The member did not listen, or perhaps he was not at my press conference. I said yesterday that we may get a bigger surplus than expected at the end of the financial year, but on current trends that would be a result of potential underspending in government agencies, because some agencies are having difficulties in recruiting staff to meet their budget targets. I was just speculating about what the possible future might be. A surplus is unambiguously good news. I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
I just want to point out that I have broken a rule that I established for myself yesterday. I did say I would not take any further interjections from the member for Vasse until he had apologised to the member for Bassendean. There is further evidence of the need for the member’s apology because today’s The West Australian contains this report - Mr Buswell said he shared Mr Whitely’s concern that the Government had paid out a substantial amount of money when the bullying allegations were found to be false. The member for Vasse now concedes that the allegation he made against the member for Bassendean was false. Why does he not get to his feet and apologise? Any decent person would do that. Any leader with any claims to true leadership would discipline his deputy, but the Leader of the Opposition is too weak to maintain standards on the other side. So there are two failures over there - the man who can never meet the test that is put before him to stand up and be a statesman, and the leader who can never discipline him and can never uphold standards on his side. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr M.P. Whitely : Either apologise or retract what you said in The West Australian . The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
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