❓ Dr. Stratton asks about the Cook Labor government's financial management and cost-of-living relief. The Treasurer responds by highlighting budget surpluses, debt reduction, cost-of-living initiatives, and job creation, while criticising the previous Liberal government's financial performance.
AnsweredQoN 307Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE FINANCES
307. Dr K. STRATTON to the Treasurer:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
successful and responsible management of Western Australia's finances.
(1) Can the
Treasurer outline to the house how this sensible approach to managing the state's
finances has allowed this Labor government to help Western Australians with the
cost of living?
(2) Can the
Treasurer advise the house if she is aware of any threats to Western Australia's
strong financial position?
307. Dr K. STRATTON to the Treasurer:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
successful and responsible management of Western Australia's finances.
(1) Can the
Treasurer outline to the house how this sensible approach to managing the state's
finances has allowed this Labor government to help Western Australians with the
cost of living?
(2) Can the
Treasurer advise the house if she is aware of any threats to Western Australia's
strong financial position?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. Of course, last week we delivered the eighth
Labor budget. It was a budget that kept on
the theme that we have introduced over the previous seven budgets—strong
financial management, growing the economy and creating jobs, and
delivering funding in our key services. Of course, cost-of-living relief is at
the heart of the budget. In relation to the state of the finances, this is the
sixth consecutive operating surplus, and surpluses are budgeted across the
forward estimates. Net debt is $15 billion lower than if the other side had
been in power, saving over $5 billion in interest payments. Of course,
cost-of-living relief is a central part. We are supporting families with
children at school with the family assistance payment and free public transport
to school. For those in regional WA who do not have access to the free orange
school bus, we are doubling the allowance for transport costs. We are
delivering cost-of-living relief with
another electricity credit payment of $400 to households across Western Australia, whereas the other side increased electricity prices above inflation, by 90 per
cent. We are continuing the Australian-first
capped airfare scheme for regional Western Australians, saving families
hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. We are also increasing the
pensioner travel card by $100. We have specific cost-of-living initiatives across WA, debt under control and operating
surpluses. There have been 300 000 jobs created since we came to
government. I came across a 2019 matter of public interest debate, thanks to
the member for Kalamunda, in which the Liberal Party asked how we were going to
deliver 150 000 jobs over the next five years. Well, we have created 300 000
jobs, members!
Government members : Hear, hear!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal
Party said that it would hold us to account for the jobs that we created. Well,
we have created 300 000 jobs. We can compare that with the opposition, which,
in government, increased fees and charges. Do members remember the boom that
was experienced during its term of government? Members opposite try to say that
there was no boom, but there was, and they wasted it. The former government
upgraded its iron ore forecast to $130 a tonne
and spent money that it did not have, again and again. Electricity prices went
up 90 per cent . TAFE fees went up 500 per cent, locking Western Australians
out of training.
We have a budget that delivers for Western
Australia, is right for the times and will deliver cost-of-living support and
extra funding for key services. We have a growing economy and growing funding
for our key services.
thank the member for the question. Of course, last week we delivered the eighth
Labor budget. It was a budget that kept on
the theme that we have introduced over the previous seven budgets—strong
financial management, growing the economy and creating jobs, and
delivering funding in our key services. Of course, cost-of-living relief is at
the heart of the budget. In relation to the state of the finances, this is the
sixth consecutive operating surplus, and surpluses are budgeted across the
forward estimates. Net debt is $15 billion lower than if the other side had
been in power, saving over $5 billion in interest payments. Of course,
cost-of-living relief is a central part. We are supporting families with
children at school with the family assistance payment and free public transport
to school. For those in regional WA who do not have access to the free orange
school bus, we are doubling the allowance for transport costs. We are
delivering cost-of-living relief with
another electricity credit payment of $400 to households across Western Australia, whereas the other side increased electricity prices above inflation, by 90 per
cent. We are continuing the Australian-first
capped airfare scheme for regional Western Australians, saving families
hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. We are also increasing the
pensioner travel card by $100. We have specific cost-of-living initiatives across WA, debt under control and operating
surpluses. There have been 300 000 jobs created since we came to
government. I came across a 2019 matter of public interest debate, thanks to
the member for Kalamunda, in which the Liberal Party asked how we were going to
deliver 150 000 jobs over the next five years. Well, we have created 300 000
jobs, members!
Government members : Hear, hear!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The Liberal
Party said that it would hold us to account for the jobs that we created. Well,
we have created 300 000 jobs. We can compare that with the opposition, which,
in government, increased fees and charges. Do members remember the boom that
was experienced during its term of government? Members opposite try to say that
there was no boom, but there was, and they wasted it. The former government
upgraded its iron ore forecast to $130 a tonne
and spent money that it did not have, again and again. Electricity prices went
up 90 per cent . TAFE fees went up 500 per cent, locking Western Australians
out of training.
We have a budget that delivers for Western
Australia, is right for the times and will deliver cost-of-living support and
extra funding for key services. We have a growing economy and growing funding
for our key services.
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