❓ Question regarding the revised net debt and operating surplus figures for 2010-11. The Treasurer provides figures and engages in heated debate with the Leader of the Opposition regarding debt projections and social media statements.
AnsweredQoN 619Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
state FINances — net debt and operating surplus
Before I ask my question of the Treasurer, I acknowledge in the gallery the students and staff of Katanning Primary School from the member for Wagin’s electorate. I refer the Treasurer to today’s release of the 2010–11 Annual Report on State Finances . Will he please inform the house of the revised actual net debt and operating surplus figures for 2010–11. Mr C.C. PORTER
Before I ask my question of the Treasurer, I acknowledge in the gallery the students and staff of Katanning Primary School from the member for Wagin’s electorate. I refer the Treasurer to today’s release of the 2010–11 Annual Report on State Finances . Will he please inform the house of the revised actual net debt and operating surplus figures for 2010–11. Mr C.C. PORTER
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you, Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
I refer the Treasurer to today’s release of the 2010–11 Annual Report on State Finances . Will he please inform the house of the revised actual net debt and operating surplus figures for 2010–11. Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Thank you, Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
I refer the Treasurer to today’s release of the 2010–11 Annual Report on State Finances . Will he please inform the house of the revised actual net debt and operating surplus figures for 2010–11. Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Thank you, Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Thank you, Mr Speaker — Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Debt over $12 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition’s description of net debt changes depending on which day it is and which social media site we are looking at. Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I just take your budget figures and I talk about what’s in your own budget. Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : No, the Leader of the Opposition does not do that; he is out there in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That your debt projection is $22.4 billion. Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : No. Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t own the projects. You can’t announce the projects for the future and disown the debt for the future. You want to own the projects and disown the debt! Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.J. Barnett : You’re $10 million away from the truth. Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : A lot closer than you’ll ever be. The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Premier and Leader of the Opposition, I suggest that if you want to have this discussion, there might be another place you might like to have it, not across the chamber at the moment while someone else has the call. Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the second time today and, Premier, you for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : What the Leader of the Opposition said by way of interjection was that he is not out there in the marketplace of ideas in the public telling people that debt is $23 billion, but that he is out there telling them it is projected to be $23 billion. But he is not; he is out there telling people that debt is $23 billion. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re out there talking about your projects for the future but you won’t own the debt projections associated with those projects. Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : Here is a message from the Leader of the Opposition sent out through social media on Twitter — … too much focus on Barnett’s pet projects and $23b State debt leads to core infrastructure missing out. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’ve only got 140 characters! Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : Ooh! Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You can’t fit the word “projected” in 140 characters. Give me a break! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition got the word “projects” there, but he could not get the word “projected”! He got the phrase “pet projects” but he could not say “projected $23 billion”. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s very hard to summarise these matters in 140 characters. Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : There is a view on Twitter that people do not have to be truthful! They just get on a mobile phone and put a message out there. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : I think we have had our moment, members! Let us move on to the next one. Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The Leader of the Opposition has many followers on Twitter. In fact I saw a picture of him on Twitter in STM — The Sunday Times magazine. It is surprising to note that if he still had that look he would get more followers! He looked like he was preaching from the mouth! The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The Annual Report on State Finances shows that the actual result of the surplus is $1.6 billion—that is about $820 million higher than was estimated in May this year. Unfortunately, only $145 million of that $820 million increase is made up by increased revenue; $675 million of that $820 million is made up by a decrease in expenses. Some of that is very good news for the taxpayers of Western Australia, because some of that decrease in expenses represents the lower wages bill I was speaking about earlier. For instance, $84 million of that $675 million is lower than expected wages bills across health and education and $25 million less in accommodation costs through the procurement strategy of government. Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : Some of the decrease in expenditure is somewhat ambivalent news, because expenditure that did not occur in 2010–11 will get caught up in 2011–12. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The decrease did mean that the snapshot at the end of the financial year showed extra cash in the consolidated account to the tune of about $170 million. As the Premier announced this morning, $70 million of that money will go into the special purposes account for the children’s hospital. That will now mean that that project is half paid for. That is a very good result for the taxpayers of Western Australia. The extra $100 million will go into what will be a new special purposes account as a down payment on the stadium. There is now, therefore, a very clear choice for the people of Western Australia. The choice is between the government’s clear, unequivocal commitment to the construction of a new stadium at Burswood Park and the opposition’s position to scrap the stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : To scrap the site! Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It has gone! The opposition is scrapping the stadium to pay for power poles. That is the opposition’s policy. That is a very disappointing policy, I imagine, for the people of Western Australia. Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Not a cent for this new museum; shame! The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Member for Perth, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Where is the stadium in the $12 billion debt? Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It is not built yet. Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : So it is not built yet! Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It takes more — Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s in the forward estimates. It’s airy-fairy; don’t believe it. It doesn’t exist! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.J. Barnett : People will get more than a poster under this government; they will get a stadium. Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : And the debt! Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Chuck him out, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : I might do that, member for Pilbara—perhaps not today, though. I am looking forward to seeing the graph, Treasurer! Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr C.C. PORTER : With the government, $100 million worth of the stadium will sit in an account ready for the construction of the stadium. With the opposition, the stadium is in the trash bin; that is where it is. On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
On this graph, we have the actual debt figure. At the time of the 2010–11 budget it was predicted to be about $15.4 billion; at the midyear review the prediction was $14 billion, and the actual debt, as things presently stand, is a very sustainable $12 billion. That is $12 billion—not $15 billion, not $14 billion, not $23 billion, as on Twitter, but $12 billion. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : I need my exercise! Members for West Swan, Midland and Cannington, it is great to have you on the list today, all formally called to order. Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Ms R. Saffioti : Great to be on the list! The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
Mr P.B. Watson : She is representing three! The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I know you are anxious to be on the list.
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