Mr. Rundle questions the Premier's commitment to the live export industry. The Premier deflects, criticising Rundle's questioning frequency and highlighting WA's GST contribution.

AnsweredQoN 256Legislative Assembly
Asked
9 May 2023
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

LIVE EXPORT
256. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that both the Premier and his Minister for Agriculture and Food claimed
to be supportive of this industry, when will the Premier stand up and be
counted?

AnswerView source ↗

We have been away from Parliament
now for five weeks and multiple issues have occurred over that period. The
member is asking me exactly the same question he asked me on multiple occasions
prior to the break—the second question from the state opposition. He is
asking me exactly the same questions he asked me before the break. He might
also note that, before the break, it took him three weeks to ask a single
question on this issue.
Mr P.J. Rundle : Well, what
are you doing?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Why will you not? You had three weeks
to ask me a question before the break and you could not even think of one. You
could not even come up with a question. There are all these issues you could
ask me about, and you did not ask me.
Since the member raised the issue of the GST, of course we
are going to stand up for Western Australia. That is why we are investing to
ensure that we continue to get our fair share. I might also add that our fair
share is, at this point, 70 � in the dollar, rising to 75� in the dollar next
year. That is significantly less than any other state in Australia is
receiving. The member might note that New South Wales is getting a dollar back
for every dollar it puts in, Victoria is getting 92� back for every dollar it
puts in, Queensland is getting at least $1.10 for every dollar it puts in, and
the Northern Territory is getting $5 for every dollar it puts in. Some of them,
and certainly some of the commentators, are
saying that Western Australia getting 70� for every dollar we put in is somehow
us ripping off the rest of Australia. How is that even possible? How is
it possible to argue that? It is generally promulgated by people who have never
been here and who do not have a clue about Western Australia and its
contribution to the nation.
We will continue to
contribute, we will continue to help carry the national economy, and we will
continue to subsidise the other states, but it would be nice if they had
a little gratitude.

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