❓ Mr Williams asks about state/federal collaboration and potential underperformance. The Treasurer highlights the Albanese government's visit, GST deal achievements, and criticises the opposition's understanding of GST issues.
AnsweredQoN 181Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State and federal relations
181. Mr Rhys Williams to the Treasurer:
I refer to the
ongoing positive relationship between the Cook Labor government and the
Albanese Labor government.
(1) Can the Treasurer outline to the house how the
state and federal governments are working together to deliver positive outcomes
to WA?
(2) Can the Treasurer advise the House whether she
is aware of anyone who is not up the task of delivering for WA?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
181. Mr Rhys Williams to the Treasurer:
I refer to the
ongoing positive relationship between the Cook Labor government and the
Albanese Labor government.
(1) Can the Treasurer outline to the house how the
state and federal governments are working together to deliver positive outcomes
to WA?
(2) Can the Treasurer advise the House whether she
is aware of anyone who is not up the task of delivering for WA?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Mandurah
for that question. Next week we have got federal cabinet in town. Already, just
a few weeks after winning a successful second term, the Albanese government is
coming to WA. We will continue that partnership, whether it is delivering on
health, on our infrastructure, on a number of key initiatives around the state
or working solidly to improve job opportunities in this state. There is no
better example of that cooperation and that understanding of WA than the GST
deal that stands up for WA. Remember, it was a state Labor government that
secured this GST deal. It was something that a lot of people talked about. Former
Premier Hon Colin Barnett talked about it, but it was our government that
secured this GST deal. We will be there fighting every day to make sure that we
can continue to have that deal to protect Western Australians. If we had not
done the work to secure that GST deal, we would be getting about 11% of the
population share of our GST currently. It is simply not good enough. We on this
side fight for WA. We on this side get to know about the issues and make sure that
we are across the detail, and, in particular when it comes to the GST, that we
know what is happening.
Last week, as I walked into
Parliament, I did a press conference. A journo from The West Australian said that the opposition's shadow
Treasurer had said that we should not have Michael Barnes out there fighting
for WA and that we should not leave it to a bureaucrat. I thought: "Where
has this come from? This seems to be poorly informed." I answered the
question. It came out of the blue. It was poorly informed. Surely anyone who is
across what is happening in Western Australia, anyone who understands the GST
fight and anyone who understands what is happening in Queensland and New South
Wales would understand that we are gearing up for the fight of our lives to
make sure that those other states do not erode our GST. It is all clear now
when we see some of the discussions in that WhatsApp group. The shadow
Treasurer, who does not seem to want to inform herself about the details—
Mr Reece Whitby: She's playacting over there.
Ms Rita Saffioti: She is playacting!
Several members interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Everyone is looking down.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Minister!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members
of the government! Leader of the Opposition! Enough, all of you!
Ms Rita Saffioti: I am glad they are paying attention
now. Let us talk about the GST deal and how we are gearing up and making sure that
we have the right people in place at both the political and bureaucrat level to
make sure that our GST deal stands. Last week, we saw the example of the amount
of detail and research done by the opposition: "I didn't know anything,
but I made a couple of comments and hope it's okay."
Mr Paul Papalia: How do you think it went?
Ms Rita Saffioti: "How do you think it went? I
had no idea what I was saying, but I thought I'd say something." Remember,
this was a person who was out there with a great budget: "It was a great
budget, Mark McGowan; I loved the budget." I do not think they even opened
it, but, anyway, as I said, we are out there, making sure that we are
protecting our GST and that WA continues to be the economic powerhouse of the
nation.
for that question. Next week we have got federal cabinet in town. Already, just
a few weeks after winning a successful second term, the Albanese government is
coming to WA. We will continue that partnership, whether it is delivering on
health, on our infrastructure, on a number of key initiatives around the state
or working solidly to improve job opportunities in this state. There is no
better example of that cooperation and that understanding of WA than the GST
deal that stands up for WA. Remember, it was a state Labor government that
secured this GST deal. It was something that a lot of people talked about. Former
Premier Hon Colin Barnett talked about it, but it was our government that
secured this GST deal. We will be there fighting every day to make sure that we
can continue to have that deal to protect Western Australians. If we had not
done the work to secure that GST deal, we would be getting about 11% of the
population share of our GST currently. It is simply not good enough. We on this
side fight for WA. We on this side get to know about the issues and make sure that
we are across the detail, and, in particular when it comes to the GST, that we
know what is happening.
Last week, as I walked into
Parliament, I did a press conference. A journo from The West Australian said that the opposition's shadow
Treasurer had said that we should not have Michael Barnes out there fighting
for WA and that we should not leave it to a bureaucrat. I thought: "Where
has this come from? This seems to be poorly informed." I answered the
question. It came out of the blue. It was poorly informed. Surely anyone who is
across what is happening in Western Australia, anyone who understands the GST
fight and anyone who understands what is happening in Queensland and New South
Wales would understand that we are gearing up for the fight of our lives to
make sure that those other states do not erode our GST. It is all clear now
when we see some of the discussions in that WhatsApp group. The shadow
Treasurer, who does not seem to want to inform herself about the details—
Mr Reece Whitby: She's playacting over there.
Ms Rita Saffioti: She is playacting!
Several members interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Everyone is looking down.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Minister!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members
of the government! Leader of the Opposition! Enough, all of you!
Ms Rita Saffioti: I am glad they are paying attention
now. Let us talk about the GST deal and how we are gearing up and making sure that
we have the right people in place at both the political and bureaucrat level to
make sure that our GST deal stands. Last week, we saw the example of the amount
of detail and research done by the opposition: "I didn't know anything,
but I made a couple of comments and hope it's okay."
Mr Paul Papalia: How do you think it went?
Ms Rita Saffioti: "How do you think it went? I
had no idea what I was saying, but I thought I'd say something." Remember,
this was a person who was out there with a great budget: "It was a great
budget, Mark McGowan; I loved the budget." I do not think they even opened
it, but, anyway, as I said, we are out there, making sure that we are
protecting our GST and that WA continues to be the economic powerhouse of the
nation.
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