❓ Shadow Treasurer Wyatt questions Treasurer Buswell about the loss of WA's AAA credit rating despite increased revenue, linking it to poor fiscal control and overseas travel. Buswell defends the government's infrastructure spending due to population growth and criticises the opposition's economic plan.
AnsweredQoN 532Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE
FINANCES — AAA CREDIT RATING
532. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
I refer to the massive increases in revenue since the
Treasurer came into office, including mining royalties that have increased by
246 per cent, payroll tax by 92 per cent, revenue from corporations by 51 per
cent and the total revenue of the state by 44 per cent.
(1) Is it not
true that the Treasurer has been in office at a time of prosperous economic
growth after inheriting the best set of books in the country?
(2) Is it not
true that, despite these massive increases in revenue, the Treasurer's
utter inability to implement fiscal controls has resulted in the loss of our
AAA credit rating?
(3) Does the
Treasurer accept that his decision to go overseas for two weeks before bedding
down his fiscal action plan has contributed to the loss of the AAA credit
rating?
FINANCES — AAA CREDIT RATING
532. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
I refer to the massive increases in revenue since the
Treasurer came into office, including mining royalties that have increased by
246 per cent, payroll tax by 92 per cent, revenue from corporations by 51 per
cent and the total revenue of the state by 44 per cent.
(1) Is it not
true that the Treasurer has been in office at a time of prosperous economic
growth after inheriting the best set of books in the country?
(2) Is it not
true that, despite these massive increases in revenue, the Treasurer's
utter inability to implement fiscal controls has resulted in the loss of our
AAA credit rating?
(3) Does the
Treasurer accept that his decision to go overseas for two weeks before bedding
down his fiscal action plan has contributed to the loss of the AAA credit
rating?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
The answers to those questions are yes, no and no.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : That is pretty
flippant of you.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
have not finished yet, member for Midland.
Before I move into the substantive answer, I acknowledge the
presence in the public gallery today of Mr Ted Kosicki, principal; Father Earle
Chamberlain, chaplain; and some of the year 12 student leaders from Georgiana
Molloy Anglican School in my electorate.
The answers to the member for Victoria Park's
questions are yes, no and no. The reasons are as follows. Yes, it is the case
that revenues have grown, but something else has happened in this state in the
past four to five years. Record levels of population growth, 1 500 people a
week —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Does the member for Warnbro not think that happened? He has his head in the
sand denying that as well.
About 1 500 people a week have moved into the state in the
last financial year, with projections of population growth still remaining
strong. There has been a massive increase in economic activity in the state
requiring significant investment by this state in the infrastructure that we
need to support our economy. A growing population needs growing state services
and better infrastructure, and that is what this state has been delivering.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Someone stood in this place yesterday and said that we had left no legacy.
Drive around the suburbs of the city and have a look at the new hospitals that
are emerging. Drive around nearly every regional town in this state and have a
look at the new hospitals that are emerging. Drive through the growth suburbs
on the edge of Perth and have a look at the new schools that are emerging.
Every single cent of that debt has gone into delivering infrastructure for the
people of this state—that is, infrastructure to service a growing
population and infrastructure to service a growing economy. What is the
opposition's alternate plan? It is nothing; absolutely nothing!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
The opposition has an economic plan that is a blank page.
The SPEAKER :
Please direct your answer through the Chair, Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
In relation to my recent visit to Europe and China to look at light rail
options —
Mr
D.J. Kelly : It's a disgrace!
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : Is it? That is a very interesting point, member for
Bassendean. I will find it between now and when the supplementary question is
asked, Mr Speaker. I read the commentary from Hon Ken Travers, that fount of knowledge in the upper house, and I
thought that he was saying how inappropriate it was.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : It proved to be.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I thought I would go back and have a look
at what ministers in the former government did just in the last year or two in
relation to travel.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : It is a very long list and took a while to
read through.
Point of Order
Mr B.S. WYATT : Perhaps the
Treasurer could confirm whether the former government lost the AAA credit
rating.
The SPEAKER : That is not a point
of order; sit down.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : Just before I conclude, it is interesting to reflect on some
of the travel habits of members opposite during that time. The member for
Girrawheen, between January 2007 and July 2008 —
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Mr Speaker,
no-one has asked a general question about travel. We have highlighted in a
question the fact that this —
Several members interjected.
Mr
F.A. Alban : We had more fun last night in Midland!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member for
Swan Hills, good on you! I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
It is a point of order. I want it to be heard in silence.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Treasurer is making his usual
personal attacks rather than directly answering the question that has been put
to him. He seems to have little dirt sheets on his table there that he picks up
and reads out whenever he is under pressure instead of answering the question.
The
SPEAKER : I am sorry, member for Midland, but that is not a point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
am merely making a point of comparison. The member for Cockburn in that period
had three overseas trips.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Those trips cost $126 000. The member for Girrawheen had five trips at a cost
of $103 000, three of which were to New Zealand to recruit foreign labour. I
did not realise the member for Girrawheen was going over and bringing them back
personally!
The answers to those questions are yes, no and no.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : That is pretty
flippant of you.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
have not finished yet, member for Midland.
Before I move into the substantive answer, I acknowledge the
presence in the public gallery today of Mr Ted Kosicki, principal; Father Earle
Chamberlain, chaplain; and some of the year 12 student leaders from Georgiana
Molloy Anglican School in my electorate.
The answers to the member for Victoria Park's
questions are yes, no and no. The reasons are as follows. Yes, it is the case
that revenues have grown, but something else has happened in this state in the
past four to five years. Record levels of population growth, 1 500 people a
week —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Does the member for Warnbro not think that happened? He has his head in the
sand denying that as well.
About 1 500 people a week have moved into the state in the
last financial year, with projections of population growth still remaining
strong. There has been a massive increase in economic activity in the state
requiring significant investment by this state in the infrastructure that we
need to support our economy. A growing population needs growing state services
and better infrastructure, and that is what this state has been delivering.
Several members interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Someone stood in this place yesterday and said that we had left no legacy.
Drive around the suburbs of the city and have a look at the new hospitals that
are emerging. Drive around nearly every regional town in this state and have a
look at the new hospitals that are emerging. Drive through the growth suburbs
on the edge of Perth and have a look at the new schools that are emerging.
Every single cent of that debt has gone into delivering infrastructure for the
people of this state—that is, infrastructure to service a growing
population and infrastructure to service a growing economy. What is the
opposition's alternate plan? It is nothing; absolutely nothing!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
The opposition has an economic plan that is a blank page.
The SPEAKER :
Please direct your answer through the Chair, Treasurer.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
In relation to my recent visit to Europe and China to look at light rail
options —
Mr
D.J. Kelly : It's a disgrace!
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : Is it? That is a very interesting point, member for
Bassendean. I will find it between now and when the supplementary question is
asked, Mr Speaker. I read the commentary from Hon Ken Travers, that fount of knowledge in the upper house, and I
thought that he was saying how inappropriate it was.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : It proved to be.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I thought I would go back and have a look
at what ministers in the former government did just in the last year or two in
relation to travel.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : It is a very long list and took a while to
read through.
Point of Order
Mr B.S. WYATT : Perhaps the
Treasurer could confirm whether the former government lost the AAA credit
rating.
The SPEAKER : That is not a point
of order; sit down.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
T.R. BUSWELL : Just before I conclude, it is interesting to reflect on some
of the travel habits of members opposite during that time. The member for
Girrawheen, between January 2007 and July 2008 —
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Mr Speaker,
no-one has asked a general question about travel. We have highlighted in a
question the fact that this —
Several members interjected.
Mr
F.A. Alban : We had more fun last night in Midland!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member for
Swan Hills, good on you! I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
It is a point of order. I want it to be heard in silence.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Treasurer is making his usual
personal attacks rather than directly answering the question that has been put
to him. He seems to have little dirt sheets on his table there that he picks up
and reads out whenever he is under pressure instead of answering the question.
The
SPEAKER : I am sorry, member for Midland, but that is not a point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I
am merely making a point of comparison. The member for Cockburn in that period
had three overseas trips.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL :
Those trips cost $126 000. The member for Girrawheen had five trips at a cost
of $103 000, three of which were to New Zealand to recruit foreign labour. I
did not realise the member for Girrawheen was going over and bringing them back
personally!
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