❓ Treasurer Ripper avoids directly answering the question about future economic threats, instead criticising the previous government's financial management and attacking the Leader of the Opposition's uncosted promises as the biggest risk to WA's economy.
AnsweredQoN 642Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Western Australia’s economic and financial position. What are the greatest threats on the horizon? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
When this Government came to office, the State’s economy was getting smaller and business investment was non-existent. The former Under Treasurer had advised the previous Government that the State’s AAA credit rating was in jeopardy and that government spending was out of control. Our health system, education system and Police Service were all in financial crisis. The coalition had put up taxes in five out of eight budgets and yet it still delivered five deficits, with two more forecast in the forward estimates. Soon after the election we found out that the situation was actually worse because nearly $500 million of unfunded and underfunded commitments had been made by the previous Government. There was no budget provision for those. Quite frankly, we faced a mammoth task in turning the State around. Today, Western Australia’s economy is leading the nation. Debt is lower than when we came to office. The areas of health, education, disability services, community support, the environment and the Police Service have all been funded to record levels, and household fees and charges have fallen in real terms. The State’s AAA credit rating has been confirmed by both ratings agencies. I believe there is now a greater understanding of the need for financial discipline right across the public sector. Who poses the biggest risk to all this? The biggest risk to the State’s economy is the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promises for every person, but he has no plans to pay for those promises. In just three and a half years, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues have made nearly 400 promises. How many have they costed? Just 36. I will give a few examples of the Opposition’s costed and uncosted promises. On the list is a lap pool on Cottesloe Beach. I wonder who that is for. Also promised is the development of the Maitland industrial estate in the Pilbara, which is a $300 million-plus promise. Also on the list is compensation for farmers for land-clearing dams at a cost $100 million. Is that promise still operative, Leader of the Opposition? Dr G.I. Gallop: He said it is. Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: When this Government came to office, the State’s economy was getting smaller and business investment was non-existent. The former Under Treasurer had advised the previous Government that the State’s AAA credit rating was in jeopardy and that government spending was out of control. Our health system, education system and Police Service were all in financial crisis. The coalition had put up taxes in five out of eight budgets and yet it still delivered five deficits, with two more forecast in the forward estimates. Soon after the election we found out that the situation was actually worse because nearly $500 million of unfunded and underfunded commitments had been made by the previous Government. There was no budget provision for those. Quite frankly, we faced a mammoth task in turning the State around. Today, Western Australia’s economy is leading the nation. Debt is lower than when we came to office. The areas of health, education, disability services, community support, the environment and the Police Service have all been funded to record levels, and household fees and charges have fallen in real terms. The State’s AAA credit rating has been confirmed by both ratings agencies. I believe there is now a greater understanding of the need for financial discipline right across the public sector. Who poses the biggest risk to all this? The biggest risk to the State’s economy is the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promises for every person, but he has no plans to pay for those promises. In just three and a half years, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues have made nearly 400 promises. How many have they costed? Just 36. I will give a few examples of the Opposition’s costed and uncosted promises. On the list is a lap pool on Cottesloe Beach. I wonder who that is for. Also promised is the development of the Maitland industrial estate in the Pilbara, which is a $300 million-plus promise. Also on the list is compensation for farmers for land-clearing dams at a cost $100 million. Is that promise still operative, Leader of the Opposition? Dr G.I. Gallop: He said it is. Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
When this Government came to office, the State’s economy was getting smaller and business investment was non-existent. The former Under Treasurer had advised the previous Government that the State’s AAA credit rating was in jeopardy and that government spending was out of control. Our health system, education system and Police Service were all in financial crisis. The coalition had put up taxes in five out of eight budgets and yet it still delivered five deficits, with two more forecast in the forward estimates. Soon after the election we found out that the situation was actually worse because nearly $500 million of unfunded and underfunded commitments had been made by the previous Government. There was no budget provision for those. Quite frankly, we faced a mammoth task in turning the State around. Today, Western Australia’s economy is leading the nation. Debt is lower than when we came to office. The areas of health, education, disability services, community support, the environment and the Police Service have all been funded to record levels, and household fees and charges have fallen in real terms. The State’s AAA credit rating has been confirmed by both ratings agencies. I believe there is now a greater understanding of the need for financial discipline right across the public sector. Who poses the biggest risk to all this? The biggest risk to the State’s economy is the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promises for every person, but he has no plans to pay for those promises. In just three and a half years, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues have made nearly 400 promises. How many have they costed? Just 36. I will give a few examples of the Opposition’s costed and uncosted promises. On the list is a lap pool on Cottesloe Beach. I wonder who that is for. Also promised is the development of the Maitland industrial estate in the Pilbara, which is a $300 million-plus promise. Also on the list is compensation for farmers for land-clearing dams at a cost $100 million. Is that promise still operative, Leader of the Opposition? Dr G.I. Gallop: He said it is. Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
Dr G.I. Gallop: He said it is. Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: When this Government came to office, the State’s economy was getting smaller and business investment was non-existent. The former Under Treasurer had advised the previous Government that the State’s AAA credit rating was in jeopardy and that government spending was out of control. Our health system, education system and Police Service were all in financial crisis. The coalition had put up taxes in five out of eight budgets and yet it still delivered five deficits, with two more forecast in the forward estimates. Soon after the election we found out that the situation was actually worse because nearly $500 million of unfunded and underfunded commitments had been made by the previous Government. There was no budget provision for those. Quite frankly, we faced a mammoth task in turning the State around. Today, Western Australia’s economy is leading the nation. Debt is lower than when we came to office. The areas of health, education, disability services, community support, the environment and the Police Service have all been funded to record levels, and household fees and charges have fallen in real terms. The State’s AAA credit rating has been confirmed by both ratings agencies. I believe there is now a greater understanding of the need for financial discipline right across the public sector. Who poses the biggest risk to all this? The biggest risk to the State’s economy is the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promises for every person, but he has no plans to pay for those promises. In just three and a half years, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues have made nearly 400 promises. How many have they costed? Just 36. I will give a few examples of the Opposition’s costed and uncosted promises. On the list is a lap pool on Cottesloe Beach. I wonder who that is for. Also promised is the development of the Maitland industrial estate in the Pilbara, which is a $300 million-plus promise. Also on the list is compensation for farmers for land-clearing dams at a cost $100 million. Is that promise still operative, Leader of the Opposition? Dr G.I. Gallop: He said it is. Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
When this Government came to office, the State’s economy was getting smaller and business investment was non-existent. The former Under Treasurer had advised the previous Government that the State’s AAA credit rating was in jeopardy and that government spending was out of control. Our health system, education system and Police Service were all in financial crisis. The coalition had put up taxes in five out of eight budgets and yet it still delivered five deficits, with two more forecast in the forward estimates. Soon after the election we found out that the situation was actually worse because nearly $500 million of unfunded and underfunded commitments had been made by the previous Government. There was no budget provision for those. Quite frankly, we faced a mammoth task in turning the State around. Today, Western Australia’s economy is leading the nation. Debt is lower than when we came to office. The areas of health, education, disability services, community support, the environment and the Police Service have all been funded to record levels, and household fees and charges have fallen in real terms. The State’s AAA credit rating has been confirmed by both ratings agencies. I believe there is now a greater understanding of the need for financial discipline right across the public sector. Who poses the biggest risk to all this? The biggest risk to the State’s economy is the Leader of the Opposition. He has a promises for every person, but he has no plans to pay for those promises. In just three and a half years, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues have made nearly 400 promises. How many have they costed? Just 36. I will give a few examples of the Opposition’s costed and uncosted promises. On the list is a lap pool on Cottesloe Beach. I wonder who that is for. Also promised is the development of the Maitland industrial estate in the Pilbara, which is a $300 million-plus promise. Also on the list is compensation for farmers for land-clearing dams at a cost $100 million. Is that promise still operative, Leader of the Opposition? Dr G.I. Gallop: He said it is. Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
Dr G.I. Gallop: He said it is. Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: It is operative - that is interesting. Building the Fremantle bypass is an $80 million promise. The country town sewerage program is a $25 million promise. The promises to reduce land tax rates, restore land tax exemption for owner-occupied family homes owned by a company or a trust and reduce stamp duty rates are also not costed. There is no detail for these promises; nor is there a credible financial plan. That is simply not believable. The fact that the Opposition has failed to outline a financial plan shows that the Opposition, particularly its leader, has not learnt from past mistakes. The Leader of the Opposition is a threat to the State’s economy and finances. The State would have budget deficits if he were in charge. Further, if the Leader of the Opposition were in charge, he would sell power stations and increase household fees and charges - like the coalition did last time - which would be a real increase for householders. That is what the coalition did before, and that is what it will do again. He will sack public sector workers because that is the only way that this could all add up. I do not think that it could add up at all, but that is the only possible way that the Opposition’s promises might even begin to look like coming to some sort of sensible financial conclusion. The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
The Leader of the Opposition is a fiscal fraud. I want the Leader of the Opposition to outline his financial plan. It is time he put his official plan on the table. It is time he came clean with the public of Western Australia about his full list of promises. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to table his full list of promises. If he does not, I will.
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