❓ Opposition asks the Premier to clarify conflicting statements regarding budget deficits. The Premier responds by emphasising the government's commitment to budget surpluses and differentiating between the annual budget and forward estimates.
AnsweredQoN 338Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET — FORWARD ESTIMATES, AND DEFICIT
I refer to the Premier’s comments in The West Australian on 28 April 2009 that — I’m not going to lead a government that goes into deficit, I can tell you that right now,” … Given the trends evident in his Government Mid-year Financial Projections Statement and later comments by his Treasurer regarding the inevitability of deficits in the forward estimates, will the Premier inform the house how we can best interpret his comments? Do they mean — (a) that he intends to be Premier for only a very short time; (b) that he does not accept the projections provided by the Department of Treasury and Finance; or (c) that he has completely lost confidence in his own Treasurer? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Premier’s comments in The West Australian on 28 April 2009 that — I’m not going to lead a government that goes into deficit, I can tell you that right now,” … Given the trends evident in his Government Mid-year Financial Projections Statement and later comments by his Treasurer regarding the inevitability of deficits in the forward estimates, will the Premier inform the house how we can best interpret his comments? Do they mean — (a) that he intends to be Premier for only a very short time; (b) that he does not accept the projections provided by the Department of Treasury and Finance; or (c) that he has completely lost confidence in his own Treasurer? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
The Liberal-National government is committed to delivering budget surpluses; that is it. Since forward estimates were introduced—I believe Richard Court was the Premier and Treasurer at the time—there has been an element of confusion about the difference between the budget and the forward estimates. Forward estimates are a projection prepared by Treasury on the basis of the current economic conditions, with perhaps some assumptions or guesses about the future. They are made without whatever change in circumstances might occur during those intervening years and whatever policy decisions might be made. They are a useful planning tool; they are a useful guide to the trend in state finances. However, there is only one budget, and that is the budget for the year approaching. This year the Treasurer will produce and table the results for the 2008 financial year, and he will present the budget for 2009-10. The papers will also include Treasury’s projections into the out years, but those forward projections are not budgets; they are not. The budget is a one-year exercise. As I have said, for as long as I am Premier and for as long as I am able, the Liberal-National government will deliver budget surpluses.
(b) that he does not accept the projections provided by the Department of Treasury and Finance; or (c) that he has completely lost confidence in his own Treasurer?
(c) that he has completely lost confidence in his own Treasurer?
The Liberal-National government is committed to delivering budget surpluses; that is it. Since forward estimates were introduced—I believe Richard Court was the Premier and Treasurer at the time—there has been an element of confusion about the difference between the budget and the forward estimates. Forward estimates are a projection prepared by Treasury on the basis of the current economic conditions, with perhaps some assumptions or guesses about the future. They are made without whatever change in circumstances might occur during those intervening years and whatever policy decisions might be made. They are a useful planning tool; they are a useful guide to the trend in state finances. However, there is only one budget, and that is the budget for the year approaching. This year the Treasurer will produce and table the results for the 2008 financial year, and he will present the budget for 2009-10. The papers will also include Treasury’s projections into the out years, but those forward projections are not budgets; they are not. The budget is a one-year exercise. As I have said, for as long as I am Premier and for as long as I am able, the Liberal-National government will deliver budget surpluses.
(b) that he does not accept the projections provided by the Department of Treasury and Finance; or (c) that he has completely lost confidence in his own Treasurer?
(c) that he has completely lost confidence in his own Treasurer?
The Liberal-National government is committed to delivering budget surpluses; that is it. Since forward estimates were introduced—I believe Richard Court was the Premier and Treasurer at the time—there has been an element of confusion about the difference between the budget and the forward estimates. Forward estimates are a projection prepared by Treasury on the basis of the current economic conditions, with perhaps some assumptions or guesses about the future. They are made without whatever change in circumstances might occur during those intervening years and whatever policy decisions might be made. They are a useful planning tool; they are a useful guide to the trend in state finances. However, there is only one budget, and that is the budget for the year approaching. This year the Treasurer will produce and table the results for the 2008 financial year, and he will present the budget for 2009-10. The papers will also include Treasury’s projections into the out years, but those forward projections are not budgets; they are not. The budget is a one-year exercise. As I have said, for as long as I am Premier and for as long as I am able, the Liberal-National government will deliver budget surpluses.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.