❓ Opposition Leader questions the Premier about increases in household charges and parking fees, arguing they disproportionately affect struggling families. The Premier defends the parking fee, highlighting the subsidised public transport system.
AnsweredQoN 404Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COST OF LIVING —FEES AND CHARGES
404. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's increases in household charges,
adding at least $235 to already struggling budgets; his new parking fee at
train stations, which will add another $460; and his comments on budget night—and
I quote—''the impact on families is fairly slight''.
(1) Does the Premier
maintain that these $695 increases are slight?
(2) Given that
thousands of people already struggle to afford housing in this state, how are
they expected to pay these increases that are designed to cover up the
government's financial incompetence?
404. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's increases in household charges,
adding at least $235 to already struggling budgets; his new parking fee at
train stations, which will add another $460; and his comments on budget night—and
I quote—''the impact on families is fairly slight''.
(1) Does the Premier
maintain that these $695 increases are slight?
(2) Given that
thousands of people already struggle to afford housing in this state, how are
they expected to pay these increases that are designed to cover up the
government's financial incompetence?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I cannot remember the numbers the Leader of the Opposition used. I think he
said $235 initially. Is that the figure?
Mr M. McGowan :
That was one of the figures, yes.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
And what was the second figure?
Mr M. McGowan : It
was $460 for parking—left out the cuts to rego.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do not think every household parks a car at a station.
Mr M. McGowan :
Many do.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The opposition has just assumed that every household in Western Australia parks
a car at a rail station and therefore would pay an extra $2. That is patently
untrue.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The whole assumption of the question is —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for West Swan did not ask the question. The whole assumption of that
—
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. I do not want any
running commentary on these questions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The household package relates to expenditure across the board. A proportion of
householders will have one or two cars, one of which will be parked at a rail
station. I do not know the exact figure, but I imagine the cost of maintaining
a car is in the order of $6 000 or $7 000 a year. If people have a car,
probably typically a second car, and they choose to park at a rail station, I
do not think $2 is excessive. Indeed, as the Minister for Transport pointed out
—
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Armadale!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The public transport system is heavily subsidised. About 30 per cent of the
cost of travelling on the train is met by patrons; the rest is met by taxpayers
at large. Only one-third is met by patrons. The cost of providing parking bays
is several thousands of dollars a bay. I do not think it is unreasonable for
people who choose to drive their private vehicle and park it at a station to
pay $2 a day.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you very much, member for Armadale; that was very interesting; I call you to
order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This government has provided hundreds of bays and is committed to providing
more bays on the northern line.
Mr P.B. Watson : It's
revenue raising!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Does the member reckon we are making money at $2 a day? I do not think so!
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do not think we are making a zack at $2 a day!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Butler!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Where is that new station we are building, transport minister?
Mr J.M. Francis :
Aubin Grove!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Yes, and on the northern line—Edgewater. When we build the car parks at
Edgewater, please come along and see the queue of cars rushing in and the people
willing to pay to have a covered car park right at the station. People are a
little more mature and a bit more sophisticated than members opposite are!
I cannot remember the numbers the Leader of the Opposition used. I think he
said $235 initially. Is that the figure?
Mr M. McGowan :
That was one of the figures, yes.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
And what was the second figure?
Mr M. McGowan : It
was $460 for parking—left out the cuts to rego.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do not think every household parks a car at a station.
Mr M. McGowan :
Many do.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The opposition has just assumed that every household in Western Australia parks
a car at a rail station and therefore would pay an extra $2. That is patently
untrue.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The whole assumption of the question is —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for West Swan did not ask the question. The whole assumption of that
—
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. I do not want any
running commentary on these questions.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The household package relates to expenditure across the board. A proportion of
householders will have one or two cars, one of which will be parked at a rail
station. I do not know the exact figure, but I imagine the cost of maintaining
a car is in the order of $6 000 or $7 000 a year. If people have a car,
probably typically a second car, and they choose to park at a rail station, I
do not think $2 is excessive. Indeed, as the Minister for Transport pointed out
—
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member
for Armadale!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The public transport system is heavily subsidised. About 30 per cent of the
cost of travelling on the train is met by patrons; the rest is met by taxpayers
at large. Only one-third is met by patrons. The cost of providing parking bays
is several thousands of dollars a bay. I do not think it is unreasonable for
people who choose to drive their private vehicle and park it at a station to
pay $2 a day.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you very much, member for Armadale; that was very interesting; I call you to
order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This government has provided hundreds of bays and is committed to providing
more bays on the northern line.
Mr P.B. Watson : It's
revenue raising!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Does the member reckon we are making money at $2 a day? I do not think so!
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do not think we are making a zack at $2 a day!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Butler!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Where is that new station we are building, transport minister?
Mr J.M. Francis :
Aubin Grove!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Yes, and on the northern line—Edgewater. When we build the car parks at
Edgewater, please come along and see the queue of cars rushing in and the people
willing to pay to have a covered car park right at the station. People are a
little more mature and a bit more sophisticated than members opposite are!
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