❓ A parliamentary question regarding the National Party's position on wage increases for Education Support Workers, capped at 2.5%, and whether this is fair compared to police and teachers' pay rises. The response defends the government's wage policy due to financial constraints.
AnsweredQoN 800Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EDUCATION SUPPORT WORKERS — WAGE OFFER
I would like to welcome the Dawson Park Primary School from the electorate of the member for Forrestfield, and the student parliamentarians from the West Balcatta Primary School, in the electorate of the member for Balcatta. (1) What is the National Party’s position on education support workers’ claim for a fair wage offer, which has been capped by the Treasurer at 2.5 per cent? (2) Does the Leader of the National Party believe that this is an acceptable offer, in light of the pay increases awarded to police and teachers? (3) Will the Leader of the National Party stand up for low-paid workers who play essential roles in schools and wider regional communities and who are unable to claim the sorts of allowances that teachers and police in regional communities are entitled to? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
I would like to welcome the Dawson Park Primary School from the electorate of the member for Forrestfield, and the student parliamentarians from the West Balcatta Primary School, in the electorate of the member for Balcatta. (1) What is the National Party’s position on education support workers’ claim for a fair wage offer, which has been capped by the Treasurer at 2.5 per cent? (2) Does the Leader of the National Party believe that this is an acceptable offer, in light of the pay increases awarded to police and teachers? (3) Will the Leader of the National Party stand up for low-paid workers who play essential roles in schools and wider regional communities and who are unable to claim the sorts of allowances that teachers and police in regional communities are entitled to? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
(1) What is the National Party’s position on education support workers’ claim for a fair wage offer, which has been capped by the Treasurer at 2.5 per cent? (2) Does the Leader of the National Party believe that this is an acceptable offer, in light of the pay increases awarded to police and teachers? (3) Will the Leader of the National Party stand up for low-paid workers who play essential roles in schools and wider regional communities and who are unable to claim the sorts of allowances that teachers and police in regional communities are entitled to? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
(2) Does the Leader of the National Party believe that this is an acceptable offer, in light of the pay increases awarded to police and teachers? (3) Will the Leader of the National Party stand up for low-paid workers who play essential roles in schools and wider regional communities and who are unable to claim the sorts of allowances that teachers and police in regional communities are entitled to? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
(3) Will the Leader of the National Party stand up for low-paid workers who play essential roles in schools and wider regional communities and who are unable to claim the sorts of allowances that teachers and police in regional communities are entitled to? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
(1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
(1) What is the National Party’s position on education support workers’ claim for a fair wage offer, which has been capped by the Treasurer at 2.5 per cent? (2) Does the Leader of the National Party believe that this is an acceptable offer, in light of the pay increases awarded to police and teachers? (3) Will the Leader of the National Party stand up for low-paid workers who play essential roles in schools and wider regional communities and who are unable to claim the sorts of allowances that teachers and police in regional communities are entitled to? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
(2) Does the Leader of the National Party believe that this is an acceptable offer, in light of the pay increases awarded to police and teachers? (3) Will the Leader of the National Party stand up for low-paid workers who play essential roles in schools and wider regional communities and who are unable to claim the sorts of allowances that teachers and police in regional communities are entitled to? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
(3) Will the Leader of the National Party stand up for low-paid workers who play essential roles in schools and wider regional communities and who are unable to claim the sorts of allowances that teachers and police in regional communities are entitled to? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
I thank the member for the question. Before I answer it, I will take the opportunity to offer my congratulations and recognise the contribution made by the former member for Willagee, Alan Carpenter, to the Parliament of Western Australia. Anyone who reaches the high office of Premier has made an enormous contribution to public life in Western Australia, and on behalf of my National Party colleagues, I recognise that contribution and wish the former member for Willagee and his family all the best for the future. His contribution is recognised. (1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
(1)-(3) I begin by recognising the role the Treasurer has played in the Western Australian wages policy. Members opposite do not acknowledge that we are in difficult financial times. The revenues of the state have not only plateaued but also dropped off quite substantially. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In managing the state’s finances to deliver a budget surplus and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating, some tough decisions have had to be made. Although that has not been easy, the Treasurer should be congratulated by all Western Australians for the leadership he has shown in the difficult environment in putting in place policy settings — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : — that allow the government of Western Australia to work within parameters that allow us — Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I do not think the member for Albany asked the question just for form; I think he wanted to hear an answer and you are definitely preventing him from hearing an answer. I formally call the member for Victoria Park for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It has been very important for the Treasurer to have those parameters for the government to operate within and he has done an enormous amount of work to produce them. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : I ask the minister to take his seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the second time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : That policy has enabled the Western Australian government to record a budget surplus—when all other states apart from Victoria have not been able to deliver a surplus—and to maintain the state’s AAA credit rating. Clearly, members opposite are planning on not having a budget surplus and not maintaining the AAA credit rating. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support running budget surpluses in Western Australia? Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr P.B. Watson : I would just like an answer to the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr P.B. Watson : I asked you the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : It is a simple question. Yes or no, does the member for Albany support a budget surplus? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Members, I am unable to hear the answer. Members might not like the answer. I am unable to hear it. I am sure that the Hansard reporter is struggling as well. I am going to give the minister an opportunity to answer this question. I want the minister to answer the question that the member has asked; no more preamble. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. The National Party, as part of government, supports the government’s public sector wages policy; it is as simple as that. We have to support the public sector wages policy to maintain the AAA credit rating and to maintain a budget surplus. The policy is simple. The consumer price index is running at 2.5 per cent in 2009-10; 2.5 per cent in 2010-11; three per cent in 2011-12; and three per cent in 2012-13. The wages price index is running at three per cent, 2.75 per cent, 3.25 per cent and four per cent. Those are therefore the parameters within which the Department of Commerce will negotiate. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS As I said, it is one thing to portray the opposition’s support for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s log of claims, which are for a 20 per cent wage increase over three years, new seniors’ classifications, some parity with the Department of Health staff and additional claims related to allowances, but does the member for Albany support those claims? Does the member for Albany support the LHMU’s log of claims? Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Under standing orders, it is not possible for a backbencher to be asked a question. The Leader of the National Party has been asked a question and he should simply answer it, rather than repetitively ask the opinion of the member for Albany. That is not the Leader of the National Party’s role. His role is to answer the question. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, the National Party does not support a 20 per cent pay rise over three years for the workers represented by the LHMU because, quite simply, that would blow the budget surplus and deliver to Western Australia a loss of its AAA credit rating. We will not do that. What we will do is, within the parameters of the government’s wages policy, recognise the very important contribution of those workers in what they do in regional Western Australia. We will continue to ensure that we can make them the best possible offer within the management of the state’s finances. That is the responsible thing to do. That is a recognition of the financial circumstances we are in. Once again, if the member for Albany wishes to have credibility in his support for the union’s claim for a 20 per cent pay rise, he must also support blowing the surplus and the AAA credit rating. Until he puts on the record his position on that, he actually has no credibility in the discussion. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government will work to deliver the best possible outcome to those workers. We recognise the important contribution that they make to the life of all regional Western Australians. Within the constraints of managing the state’s finances, we will give them the best offer that we can. Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time! You may have some interest in the question or the answer, but I suggest a better way is to ask the question yourself. I formally call you for the third time.
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