Opposition Leader McGowan questions the Finance Minister regarding the Premier's positive comments on the state's financial results, citing high debt levels, deficit, debt per capita, and the loss of the AAA credit rating. The Minister defends the Premier's remarks by highlighting a reduction in net debt compared to budget estimates.

AnsweredQoN 795Legislative Assembly
Asked
24 September 2015
Portfolio
Finance

QuestionView source ↗

STATE DEBT — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
795. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Finance:
As a supplementary question, does
the minister endorse the PremierXXX ###XXXs remarks
that these are the best results in a long time, as he claimed this morning, in
light of the fact that it is the worst debt, the worst deficit and the worst
debt per capita and the AAA credit rating has been lost?

AnswerView source ↗

At the budget estimates, it was
expected that the net debt —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
W.R. MARMION : Mr Speaker, I am answering the question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr
W.R. MARMION : I am explaining why it is a good result; that was the
question. We forecast that net debt would be $24.918 billion and, indeed, it
has come in at $23.374 billion—nearly a $2 billion reduction. That is
what the Premier was explaining.

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