❓ Opposition leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett on the increase in state net debt. Barnett defends the debt increase by citing major infrastructure projects and asserting the state's capacity to manage the debt.
AnsweredQoN 732Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE
FINANCES — NET DEBT
732. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. How is increasing state net
debt last financial year by $2.6 billion a good result?
FINANCES — NET DEBT
732. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. How is increasing state net
debt last financial year by $2.6 billion a good result?
AnswerView source ↗
As I have just said, the budget last year predicted a high
level of debt and we have come in at $1.25 billion less debt.
Mr M. McGowan : It
increased $3 billion in one year. Who are you kidding?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am trying to answer the member's question, if he would just be
courteous for a moment.
The debt is $1.25 billion. I think that is a good result. Why
is there debt? It is because of Perth Children's Hospital, Fiona
Stanley Hospital, the Midland hospital, the Butler rail station, new schools
and Pilbara Cities. This government is building the state of Western Australia
into the future, and will continue to do so despite the nitpicking, negative,
small-minded thinking from those opposite. We can handle debt in the low
$20-billion range, and we can handle it with ease.
level of debt and we have come in at $1.25 billion less debt.
Mr M. McGowan : It
increased $3 billion in one year. Who are you kidding?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am trying to answer the member's question, if he would just be
courteous for a moment.
The debt is $1.25 billion. I think that is a good result. Why
is there debt? It is because of Perth Children's Hospital, Fiona
Stanley Hospital, the Midland hospital, the Butler rail station, new schools
and Pilbara Cities. This government is building the state of Western Australia
into the future, and will continue to do so despite the nitpicking, negative,
small-minded thinking from those opposite. We can handle debt in the low
$20-billion range, and we can handle it with ease.
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