❓ The Treasurer avoids directly answering whether he supports Peter Costello's view on state infrastructure spending, instead attacking the Liberal party's fiscal policies and internal divisions, accusing them of reckless spending promises.
AnsweredQoN 557Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE INFRASTRUCTURE - FEDERAL TREASURER’S VIEW
Does the Treasurer support Peter Costello’s view that state governments spend too much on infrastructure? Mr E.S. RIPPER
Does the Treasurer support Peter Costello’s view that state governments spend too much on infrastructure? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
I advise the house that there will be a conference of losers in Sydney next week. Yes, failed state Liberals from around the country will gather together for a private soul-searching session in Sydney. What grand ideas will they consider for winning state elections? It looks as though they will consider Peter Costello’s advice to slash spending on infrastructure. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I advise the house that there will be a conference of losers in Sydney next week. Yes, failed state Liberals from around the country will gather together for a private soul-searching session in Sydney. What grand ideas will they consider for winning state elections? It looks as though they will consider Peter Costello’s advice to slash spending on infrastructure. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
I advise the house that there will be a conference of losers in Sydney next week. Yes, failed state Liberals from around the country will gather together for a private soul-searching session in Sydney. What grand ideas will they consider for winning state elections? It looks as though they will consider Peter Costello’s advice to slash spending on infrastructure. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I advise the house that there will be a conference of losers in Sydney next week. Yes, failed state Liberals from around the country will gather together for a private soul-searching session in Sydney. What grand ideas will they consider for winning state elections? It looks as though they will consider Peter Costello’s advice to slash spending on infrastructure. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
I advise the house that there will be a conference of losers in Sydney next week. Yes, failed state Liberals from around the country will gather together for a private soul-searching session in Sydney. What grand ideas will they consider for winning state elections? It looks as though they will consider Peter Costello’s advice to slash spending on infrastructure. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands to order. Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : Do members from the northern suburbs agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Does the member for Geraldton agree with Peter Costello’s approach? Of course no-one on this side would support that sort of approach. This government is investing $18.1 billion over four years in schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, water infrastructure and the electricity network. Peter Costello would have us spend less on roads, the electricity network, water infrastructure and ports. That is his view of the world. Perhaps he has been taking advice from the member for Vasse on his new less-with-less philosophy. However, I do not think the member for Vasse has been advising Mr Costello. I think the member for Vasse has been more worried about the reckless promises being made by some of his Liberal colleagues, and another one has been reported in today’s The West Australian . Hon Peter Collier, MLC, has called for teachers to get a 20 per cent pay rise. According to some early advice from Treasury, that would cost $250 million a year, or about $1 billion over the forward estimates. Did the member for Vasse sign off on that announcement? Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Mr T. Buswell interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I do not think the member for Vasse signed off on that policy. I think Hon Peter Collier signed off for him, just as he did with those Liberal Party membership forms that he handled some years ago. Mr Collier is not the only one who is involved in this game. The member for Dawesville wants to give nurses a 21 per cent pay rise, and the Leader of the Opposition plans to give police a pay rise of very close to 20 per cent. I do not think the member for Vasse will have any choice but to support Mr Costello’s view, because if the Liberal Party were to get into power, all the money would have been spent on these reckless promises from his colleagues and there would be nothing left over for the infrastructure program that this state desperately needs.
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