❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding state debt, control measures, and electricity prices. The Treasurer's response is evasive, leading to interjections and highlighting disagreement over financial policy.
AnsweredQoN 237Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
state debt — control measures
Given the Treasurer and the government have presided over a massive blow-out in state debt at the same time as hiking up electricity costs by 46 per cent and increasing a range of other government changes, I ask — (1) In what year does the Treasurer expect state debt to peak? (2) Does the Treasurer ever expect state debt to decrease under this government; and, if so, when? (3) What measures has this government put in place to restrain government spending, and how much money has been saved as a result? Mr C.C. PORTER
Given the Treasurer and the government have presided over a massive blow-out in state debt at the same time as hiking up electricity costs by 46 per cent and increasing a range of other government changes, I ask — (1) In what year does the Treasurer expect state debt to peak? (2) Does the Treasurer ever expect state debt to decrease under this government; and, if so, when? (3) What measures has this government put in place to restrain government spending, and how much money has been saved as a result? Mr C.C. PORTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
(1) In what year does the Treasurer expect state debt to peak? (2) Does the Treasurer ever expect state debt to decrease under this government; and, if so, when? (3) What measures has this government put in place to restrain government spending, and how much money has been saved as a result? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
(2) Does the Treasurer ever expect state debt to decrease under this government; and, if so, when? (3) What measures has this government put in place to restrain government spending, and how much money has been saved as a result? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
(3) What measures has this government put in place to restrain government spending, and how much money has been saved as a result? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
(1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
(1) In what year does the Treasurer expect state debt to peak? (2) Does the Treasurer ever expect state debt to decrease under this government; and, if so, when? (3) What measures has this government put in place to restrain government spending, and how much money has been saved as a result? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
(2) Does the Treasurer ever expect state debt to decrease under this government; and, if so, when? (3) What measures has this government put in place to restrain government spending, and how much money has been saved as a result? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
(3) What measures has this government put in place to restrain government spending, and how much money has been saved as a result? Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
I thank the member for her question. (1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
(1)–(3) In fact, it is interesting that state debt as it presently stands is around the $11 billion mark. Another time when it was around the $11 billion mark was in Carmen Lawrence’s government, about 20 years ago. Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : But three years ago it was three and a half billion dollars! Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You inherited a level of $3.6 billion! Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I think history is important here because it shows what is a manageable level of debt and it shows debt in context. A debt of $11 billion, 20 years ago, if it were adjusted to today’s standards, would be a quite massive amount of debt. What we are dealing with right here and now is a level of debt which is very much manageable, and which will fund a massive infrastructure build in this jurisdiction. Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : A month ago you said it was precarious—now it is manageable! Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : What amazes me about the member for Midland’s question relates to electricity prices. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you going to answer my questions? Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I am. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You are just waffling so far. Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : With respect to electricity prices, members opposite currently complain about the level of debt and the fact that we have had to take a very difficult decision to increase electricity prices. I have pointed out to the member before that her party policy — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Don’t bother repeating yourself; just tell us what year state debt is going to peak. Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : That is an answer that I will give the member. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Is it ever going to go down; and, if so, when? Are you going to answer that? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, you have asked a question. I am hearing the Treasurer trying to answer it, but interjections do not help—neither from other people in this place on the government side or the opposition side. Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The answer I am going to give the member for Midland to the fourth part of her question has to be considered in context. Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : There were only three parts to the question! Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I saw a very important fourth part to the member’s question. The context that people have to consider is: what are the two choices? The opposition provides a policy proposal of fixing electricity prices, which would add $3.2 billion to state net debt. That is the policy of the Labor Party. That is your policy is it not, member for Midland? Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, it is not, and we’ve been through that before. You’ve been told before. We proposed a one-year freeze. We’ve been over that. The question today is when will state debt peak under you? Will it ever go down, and, if so, when? And you cannot answer it. Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I am getting to that. The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Treasurer, when you invite interjection, you get the circumstances we have at the moment. I do believe the member for Midland has asked a question. She is not necessarily being provided with the information that she seeks, but the opportunity in this place is for you to answer that question. Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : It was a great error to invite that interjection, Mr Speaker. But I will deal with it now that it has been invited and received. Members opposite say that their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Talk about state debt! You will say anything but answer the question! You’re hopeless on this issue. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I will formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : What members opposite are doing is going out to the public of Western Australia and saying one thing, and they are coming in here, where we know better, and they are saying another! Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : I am throwing you a lifeline! You cannot answer the question! When will state debt peak? What is your plan? The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland, the opportunity in this place is to ask a question. If you are not satisfied with the answer, the normal process is that I would give you a supplementary question. My normal process at the moment is that I will formally call you to order for the first time. Shouting and yelling is not going to get the Treasurer, necessarily, to answer the question. Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : I will read very briefly from a press release, “Make WA Labor your party for a better future”, from Ms Doust in the other place, who says that the energy minister, Mr Peter Collier — Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : There would be far fewer interjections if the Treasurer actually answered the question and complied with standing order 78, which is quite specific. The question is not about extraneous matters in the upper house. The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : I am sure that the Treasurer will be able to deal with it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.C. PORTER : This press release reads — Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Dr A.D. Buti : Don’t worry about that; answer the question! You do not know the answer to the question; that is why you will not answer it. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Armadale to order for the first time today. I will judge whether the house wants to continue question time, but at the moment I hear that the house does not want to continue with question time. Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : Opposition members doth protest too much, because this is something they clearly do not want to hear. Labor Party members come in here and say their policy is not to freeze electricity prices. This Labor Party press release states — … the Barnett Government must spare WA families from any future electricity price rises.” This was on the Labor Party website. It also says, “Donate now”! Therefore, people can donate money saved from this pretend policy to the Labor Party, which is good news. The point is that if we had a party in government that froze electricity prices and added $3.2 billion to net debt, net debt would never peak in this state. In the out years and in the future, we will see — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to the order for the second time today. Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
Mr C.C. PORTER : In the out years of the present budget and future budgets, we will see that debt will peak when the bill from the massive infrastructure investment that this government has engaged in starts to wind back. That is when debt will peak.
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