❓ Dr. Nahan (Liberal) questions Premier McGowan (Labor) about planned increases to household fees and charges, citing financial hardship faced by Western Australians. Premier McGowan deflects, accusing the previous Liberal government of fiscal mismanagement and excessive fee increases.
AnsweredQoN 926Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSEHOLD FEES AND
CHARGES
926. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I refer to a Channel Nine news story
last Thursday that reported that the National Debt Helpline figures for Western
Australia were ''worse here than anywhere else in the country''
and to yesterday's Anglicare report that found that 17 per cent of Western
Australians could not afford the basic necessities of food and shelter in the
last 12 months. Why is the Premier planning another mean-spirited $500 hike to
household fees and charges when Western Australian families cannot afford the
$700 he has already imposed on them?
CHARGES
926. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I refer to a Channel Nine news story
last Thursday that reported that the National Debt Helpline figures for Western
Australia were ''worse here than anywhere else in the country''
and to yesterday's Anglicare report that found that 17 per cent of Western
Australians could not afford the basic necessities of food and shelter in the
last 12 months. Why is the Premier planning another mean-spirited $500 hike to
household fees and charges when Western Australian families cannot afford the
$700 he has already imposed on them?
AnswerView source ↗
The truth of the matter is that it
will always be Labor that is more on the side of low-income people who work for
a living. That is one of the reasons I joined the Labor Party, because I am on
the side of those people who do it tough, who go through adversity in their
lives, who through no fault of their own need government support and those
people who work for a living. That is what Labor is all about. That is how our
party came into existence. It is a little bit rich for the former Treasurer of
the government that put up fees and charges by 25 per cent in its first year to
come in here and raise this issue. At the time of record revenue, it put up
fees and charges in its first year by 25 per cent, which is more than double
what Labor did in its first year—more than double!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I want
to hear the answer. The question has been asked and I want to hear the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The previous
government left us with $40 billion of debt that we have to struggle with
through its profligacy and its failure to manage the state's finances,
and the Leader of the Opposition has the gall to come in here and actually ask
that question.
will always be Labor that is more on the side of low-income people who work for
a living. That is one of the reasons I joined the Labor Party, because I am on
the side of those people who do it tough, who go through adversity in their
lives, who through no fault of their own need government support and those
people who work for a living. That is what Labor is all about. That is how our
party came into existence. It is a little bit rich for the former Treasurer of
the government that put up fees and charges by 25 per cent in its first year to
come in here and raise this issue. At the time of record revenue, it put up
fees and charges in its first year by 25 per cent, which is more than double
what Labor did in its first year—more than double!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I want
to hear the answer. The question has been asked and I want to hear the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The previous
government left us with $40 billion of debt that we have to struggle with
through its profligacy and its failure to manage the state's finances,
and the Leader of the Opposition has the gall to come in here and actually ask
that question.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.