❓ The Treasurer provides an update on WA's strong economic performance, citing growth figures, private sector contribution, and a reaffirmed Aaa credit rating. She then criticizes the Opposition for inconsistent spending commitments and for aligning with One Nation, which she claims would undermine economic confidence.
AnsweredQoN 309Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State economy
309. Mr Stuart Aubrey to
the Treasurer:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to remaining the strongest economy in the nation.
With the release of the Australian national accounts last week, can the Treasurer
update the house on the outcomes the WA economy is delivering and advise the house
if she is aware of any attempts to interrupt WA's economic success?
309. Mr Stuart Aubrey to
the Treasurer:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to remaining the strongest economy in the nation.
With the release of the Australian national accounts last week, can the Treasurer
update the house on the outcomes the WA economy is delivering and advise the house
if she is aware of any attempts to interrupt WA's economic success?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for that question. In the budget we presented just last month, we outlined a
very positive plan for this state—a very positive plan, the best set of books
in the nation, plus a growing economy. Members, the good news is that all the
economic data that has been released since the budget backs in that positive
plan. We saw our domestic economy grow by 3.2% to the March quarter. Over the
last five years, our state economy has grown by 27%. It is stronger than the
national growth of 21% and, as I just outlined, it is driven by the private
sector—93% of the economic growth is being driven by the private sector. That
is far bigger than in any other state. Of course, if we look at key indicators
like dwelling investment, business investment and consumption, again, we are
leading the pack across all that data.
As I said, dwelling
investment is up 9.2%. We have recently seen the rating agency Moody's commit to
again reconfirm WA's Aaa credit rating. That Aaa credit rating highlights WA's
prudent financial management, disciplined budgeting, sustained operating
surpluses, manageable debt and large globally competitive economic base. That
is what the rating agencies said about our state budget. What has been the
opposition commentary? The shadow Treasurer said we are spending too much, but
in the past three weeks the opposition has committed to spend $3 billion,
members. It is over $3 billion because we have not actually counted all of
the commitments made by the other side. It is at least $3 billion. The
opposition has committed to a 20% cut in stamp duty. It committed over a
billion dollars yesterday. We have not counted all the other commitments of the
other side.
Of course, Western
Australia is a global-facing state. We represent 44% of national exports and we
have a thriving business community. But do you know what shakes confidence? The
actions taken by the Leader of the Opposition in recent days, members. The
Leader of the Opposition is welcoming in One Nation, joining with One Nation
and wants to be a coalition with One Nation. That is what is happening. What
would undermine confidence in our economy, what would jeopardise jobs is—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition said he
would prefer a One Nation government to a Labor government. That is what he said.
Of course we know the Leader of the Opposition will go with anyone. He will go
anyone with anyone. First it was the Nationals WA. The National Party is not
that good anymore, so we will not worry about the National Party. Then it was
the Greens (WA). In his opposition to all development, he sided with the
Greens. Now, of course, it is with One Nation. He is arm in arm with One
Nation. I am sure the voters of Churchlands will be really interested to see
what he is doing with One Nation and hear that he believes a One Nation–led government
would be better for Australia than a Labor government. Of course, there is
Clive Palmer. He is the only person currently that the Leader of the
Opposition has not sided with, but I am sure that is next!
We have a Liberal
Party that cannot be consistent from one day to the next. Members opposite said
we are spending too much but then said they would spend $3 billion in just
the past three weeks. In relation to the federal budget, the shadow Treasurer
stood up and said it was a visionary budget. That is what the shadow Treasurer
said. She said it was a visionary budget. Again, she was contradicted by the
Leader of the Opposition. They are all over the place.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: The quote—this is what the shadow
Treasurer said—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Member for
Central Wheatbelt, that is not required.
Point of order
Mr David Michael: All question time, from the very
first question, the opposition, nearly all of them, has been very disorderly,
and I ask you to bring them to order.
Mr Basil Zempilas: What is the number?
Mr David Michael: We do not have to know a number. The
member might want to read the standing orders one day.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the House, thank
you.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt and Leader
of the Opposition, I am calling you both for the first time because points of
order do not get interrupted like that.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: No. You know the rules; you do not
interject on points of order until they are dealt with. Treasurer, carry on.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: Thank you. Given the shadow Treasurer's
interjection about what she said, let us go through what the shadow Treasurer
said in relation to the federal budget:
This will be a reforming budget dealing
with rising debt, intergenerational inequity and productivity. Regardless of
how effectively the Commonwealth may deliver on these issues, the intent is—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Rita Saffioti: She said "the intent is clear,
visionary and responsive to our nation's problems". That is what the
shadow Treasurer said about the federal budget. Again, the shadow Treasurer
wants me to abolish stamp duty and replace it with a land tax on every home.
Well, we are not doing that. We are not taxing every home. That might be the
policy of the Liberal Party.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Carry on, Treasurer.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It might be the policy of the
Liberal Party to tax every home. It is not our policy. Again, today, we see the
rabble that is the opposition. We see the Leader of the Opposition turning his
back on his National Party mates because he has a new mate in town: the leader
of One Nation. He is side by side with One Nation. He is giving up, three years
out from an election. He is giving up, saying that the Liberal Party is not good
enough to win by itself; it has got to side with One Nation. The Liberal Party
is not good enough to win the election by itself.
We have got a very
positive plan for this state: a growing economy and a great set of finances. There
is a rabble on the other side that says one thing to one community and one
thing to another. I am sure they will rock up to a multicultural event very
soon saying, "We love you", and then they will side with One Nation.
That is the duplicity of the Liberal Party.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! You can conclude your comments
please, Treasurer.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition thinks
that it is funny.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I am calling
you for the second time.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The shadow Treasurer called the
budget visionary.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Thank you, Treasurer.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The shadow Treasurer said it was
visionary. The opposition is a mockery of the old Liberal Party. It does not
reflect the Liberal Party in WA. It is a disgrace and its latest action is yet
another example of that.
for that question. In the budget we presented just last month, we outlined a
very positive plan for this state—a very positive plan, the best set of books
in the nation, plus a growing economy. Members, the good news is that all the
economic data that has been released since the budget backs in that positive
plan. We saw our domestic economy grow by 3.2% to the March quarter. Over the
last five years, our state economy has grown by 27%. It is stronger than the
national growth of 21% and, as I just outlined, it is driven by the private
sector—93% of the economic growth is being driven by the private sector. That
is far bigger than in any other state. Of course, if we look at key indicators
like dwelling investment, business investment and consumption, again, we are
leading the pack across all that data.
As I said, dwelling
investment is up 9.2%. We have recently seen the rating agency Moody's commit to
again reconfirm WA's Aaa credit rating. That Aaa credit rating highlights WA's
prudent financial management, disciplined budgeting, sustained operating
surpluses, manageable debt and large globally competitive economic base. That
is what the rating agencies said about our state budget. What has been the
opposition commentary? The shadow Treasurer said we are spending too much, but
in the past three weeks the opposition has committed to spend $3 billion,
members. It is over $3 billion because we have not actually counted all of
the commitments made by the other side. It is at least $3 billion. The
opposition has committed to a 20% cut in stamp duty. It committed over a
billion dollars yesterday. We have not counted all the other commitments of the
other side.
Of course, Western
Australia is a global-facing state. We represent 44% of national exports and we
have a thriving business community. But do you know what shakes confidence? The
actions taken by the Leader of the Opposition in recent days, members. The
Leader of the Opposition is welcoming in One Nation, joining with One Nation
and wants to be a coalition with One Nation. That is what is happening. What
would undermine confidence in our economy, what would jeopardise jobs is—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition said he
would prefer a One Nation government to a Labor government. That is what he said.
Of course we know the Leader of the Opposition will go with anyone. He will go
anyone with anyone. First it was the Nationals WA. The National Party is not
that good anymore, so we will not worry about the National Party. Then it was
the Greens (WA). In his opposition to all development, he sided with the
Greens. Now, of course, it is with One Nation. He is arm in arm with One
Nation. I am sure the voters of Churchlands will be really interested to see
what he is doing with One Nation and hear that he believes a One Nation–led government
would be better for Australia than a Labor government. Of course, there is
Clive Palmer. He is the only person currently that the Leader of the
Opposition has not sided with, but I am sure that is next!
We have a Liberal
Party that cannot be consistent from one day to the next. Members opposite said
we are spending too much but then said they would spend $3 billion in just
the past three weeks. In relation to the federal budget, the shadow Treasurer
stood up and said it was a visionary budget. That is what the shadow Treasurer
said. She said it was a visionary budget. Again, she was contradicted by the
Leader of the Opposition. They are all over the place.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: The quote—this is what the shadow
Treasurer said—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition! Member for
Central Wheatbelt, that is not required.
Point of order
Mr David Michael: All question time, from the very
first question, the opposition, nearly all of them, has been very disorderly,
and I ask you to bring them to order.
Mr Basil Zempilas: What is the number?
Mr David Michael: We do not have to know a number. The
member might want to read the standing orders one day.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the House, thank
you.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt and Leader
of the Opposition, I am calling you both for the first time because points of
order do not get interrupted like that.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: No. You know the rules; you do not
interject on points of order until they are dealt with. Treasurer, carry on.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: Thank you. Given the shadow Treasurer's
interjection about what she said, let us go through what the shadow Treasurer
said in relation to the federal budget:
This will be a reforming budget dealing
with rising debt, intergenerational inequity and productivity. Regardless of
how effectively the Commonwealth may deliver on these issues, the intent is—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Rita Saffioti: She said "the intent is clear,
visionary and responsive to our nation's problems". That is what the
shadow Treasurer said about the federal budget. Again, the shadow Treasurer
wants me to abolish stamp duty and replace it with a land tax on every home.
Well, we are not doing that. We are not taxing every home. That might be the
policy of the Liberal Party.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Carry on, Treasurer.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It might be the policy of the
Liberal Party to tax every home. It is not our policy. Again, today, we see the
rabble that is the opposition. We see the Leader of the Opposition turning his
back on his National Party mates because he has a new mate in town: the leader
of One Nation. He is side by side with One Nation. He is giving up, three years
out from an election. He is giving up, saying that the Liberal Party is not good
enough to win by itself; it has got to side with One Nation. The Liberal Party
is not good enough to win the election by itself.
We have got a very
positive plan for this state: a growing economy and a great set of finances. There
is a rabble on the other side that says one thing to one community and one
thing to another. I am sure they will rock up to a multicultural event very
soon saying, "We love you", and then they will side with One Nation.
That is the duplicity of the Liberal Party.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! You can conclude your comments
please, Treasurer.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition thinks
that it is funny.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I am calling
you for the second time.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The shadow Treasurer called the
budget visionary.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Thank you, Treasurer.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The shadow Treasurer said it was
visionary. The opposition is a mockery of the old Liberal Party. It does not
reflect the Liberal Party in WA. It is a disgrace and its latest action is yet
another example of that.
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