❓ Mr. Price questions the Premier on the differences in economic policy between the current Labor government and the previous Liberal-National government, particularly regarding small business, given recent economic growth after years of contraction. The Premier defends Labor's economic management and criticizes the previous government's handling of debt and taxes.
AnsweredQoN 764Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY
764. MR S.J. PRICE to the Premier:
I refer to the recent national
accounts figures that show that the Western Australian economy grew in 2017–18
for the first time since 2012–13. Given the prior years of economic
contraction, how has this Labor government's economic policy differed
from that of the previous Liberal–National government, especially when
it comes to small business?
764. MR S.J. PRICE to the Premier:
I refer to the recent national
accounts figures that show that the Western Australian economy grew in 2017–18
for the first time since 2012–13. Given the prior years of economic
contraction, how has this Labor government's economic policy differed
from that of the previous Liberal–National government, especially when
it comes to small business?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
It is true that this WA Labor government governs on behalf of all Western Australians
no matter where they live or their occupation. It is now clear that WA Labor is
the party of small business in Western Australia. I want to reiterate that
Lotterywest retailers, taxi plate owners, TAB agents, and people in shopping
centres who run small businesses and do not want 24-hour trading know that this
government is standing up for them. Because of the unprecedented stability and
the focus on the economy and state financial management under this government,
we have seen a massive increase in business confidence in Western Australia. We
have done two things. We have taken huge steps to diversify and strengthen the
economy and we have taken the difficult decisions to repair the state's
finances. The last government—the Liberal Party in office—performed
a remarkable feat. Not only did it drive up the state's debt and
deficit by extraordinarily unprecedented proportions, it also brought in three
rounds of land tax increases on small business owners, so much so, that I have The
West Australian here, and I will quote it to members: ''Blue Ribbon
Revolt: Liberal supporters up in arms over land tax''. There have been
three rounds of land tax increases. I had Liberal Party members coming up to me
complaining about the land tax increases that the former government brought in.
While the previous government was racking up state debt, it was also racking up
taxes on small businesses across Western Australia. Under the present
government, we have seen the economy go back into a growth phase, and we have
seen state final demand grow for the past two quarters. If we compare that with
the last two years when the Liberals and Nationals were in office, state final
demand contracted by 11 per cent in the previous government's term of
office.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : This constant
interjecting from my left—if I called you all to order no-one would be
here. Just listen to what the Premier is saying.
Mr M. McGOWAN : In other
words, when the Liberal Party was in office the state was in recession. Do
members know how much growth there was in the state's economy while the
Leader of the Opposition was the Treasurer of the state? Zero—there was
zero growth in the state's economy. Now we have the member for Victoria
Park as the Treasurer—he is looking a bit different today! With the
member for Victoria Park as state Treasurer we have seen business confidence at
a high, we have seen the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia
expressing confidence in the state's economy, and we have seen growth
in consumer confidence across Western Australia. In other words, we have seen
the state's economy, we have seen business investment and we have seen
consumer confidence grow once again because we have a competent government made
up of grown-ups who are prepared to make difficult decisions and support small
and medium–sized enterprises in Western Australia, unlike the Liberal
Party when it was in office.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
It is true that this WA Labor government governs on behalf of all Western Australians
no matter where they live or their occupation. It is now clear that WA Labor is
the party of small business in Western Australia. I want to reiterate that
Lotterywest retailers, taxi plate owners, TAB agents, and people in shopping
centres who run small businesses and do not want 24-hour trading know that this
government is standing up for them. Because of the unprecedented stability and
the focus on the economy and state financial management under this government,
we have seen a massive increase in business confidence in Western Australia. We
have done two things. We have taken huge steps to diversify and strengthen the
economy and we have taken the difficult decisions to repair the state's
finances. The last government—the Liberal Party in office—performed
a remarkable feat. Not only did it drive up the state's debt and
deficit by extraordinarily unprecedented proportions, it also brought in three
rounds of land tax increases on small business owners, so much so, that I have The
West Australian here, and I will quote it to members: ''Blue Ribbon
Revolt: Liberal supporters up in arms over land tax''. There have been
three rounds of land tax increases. I had Liberal Party members coming up to me
complaining about the land tax increases that the former government brought in.
While the previous government was racking up state debt, it was also racking up
taxes on small businesses across Western Australia. Under the present
government, we have seen the economy go back into a growth phase, and we have
seen state final demand grow for the past two quarters. If we compare that with
the last two years when the Liberals and Nationals were in office, state final
demand contracted by 11 per cent in the previous government's term of
office.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : This constant
interjecting from my left—if I called you all to order no-one would be
here. Just listen to what the Premier is saying.
Mr M. McGOWAN : In other
words, when the Liberal Party was in office the state was in recession. Do
members know how much growth there was in the state's economy while the
Leader of the Opposition was the Treasurer of the state? Zero—there was
zero growth in the state's economy. Now we have the member for Victoria
Park as the Treasurer—he is looking a bit different today! With the
member for Victoria Park as state Treasurer we have seen business confidence at
a high, we have seen the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia
expressing confidence in the state's economy, and we have seen growth
in consumer confidence across Western Australia. In other words, we have seen
the state's economy, we have seen business investment and we have seen
consumer confidence grow once again because we have a competent government made
up of grown-ups who are prepared to make difficult decisions and support small
and medium–sized enterprises in Western Australia, unlike the Liberal
Party when it was in office.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
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