❓ Debate on payroll tax and budget repair, with the Treasurer defending the government's fiscal strategy against accusations of increasing net debt despite implementing payroll tax. The Treasurer accuses the previous government of fiscal mismanagement.
AnsweredQoN 589Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PAYROLL TAX
589. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question. I take
it from the Treasurer's response that he is putting payroll tax in
place for budget repair, so why is he projecting a net debt increase over the
four-year forward estimates?
589. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question. I take
it from the Treasurer's response that he is putting payroll tax in
place for budget repair, so why is he projecting a net debt increase over the
four-year forward estimates?
AnswerView source ↗
All the former government's
forward estimates projected a net debt increase across the forward estimates.
This is the problem the previous government has given us.
Mr
D.T. Redman : You're saying it's budget repair but you're
not doing budget repair.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Okay, so the member defines budget repair as net debt
declining?
Mr
D.T. Redman : In your context, budget repair is building Metronet in Perth
against extra borrowings.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Does the member define budget repair as net debt declining?
Mr
D.T. Redman : Your building Metronet is your commitment and that's
having a substantial impact on the budget.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Does he define it that way?
Dr M.D. Nahan :
Yes.
Mr B.S. WYATT :
Yes, the Leader of the Opposition said; thank you. That means at no point
during the term of the former government did members opposite participate in
any budget repair. At no point did they undertake any budget repair, because at
no point during the term of the former government did net debt decrease—not
one point.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! Member for Carine!
Mr
B.S. WYATT : What I do know is that it went from $3 billion to $33 billion.
Let me give members a guarantee. It will not increase by enough —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member
for Carine, you wonder why I call you to order. Three times I mentioned your
name and you just kept talking. Next time, I will call you again.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Let me guarantee that there will not be a 1 000 per cent
increase in net debt under this government. Let me give members that guarantee.
It is interesting now that the Leader of the Opposition, by his own definition,
has said that budget repair occurs only when net debt declines. At no point did
you do budget repair, Mr Nahan. That is the reality. That is an awkward
position for you all!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
B.S. WYATT : I understand that but the reality is, because a credit rating
agency has said this and highlighted our commitment to budget repair and
restraining expense growth, the only problem that it has highlighted, and it
confirms, is that the greatest danger to the finances of Western Australia is
the Leader of the Opposition.
forward estimates projected a net debt increase across the forward estimates.
This is the problem the previous government has given us.
Mr
D.T. Redman : You're saying it's budget repair but you're
not doing budget repair.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Okay, so the member defines budget repair as net debt
declining?
Mr
D.T. Redman : In your context, budget repair is building Metronet in Perth
against extra borrowings.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Does the member define budget repair as net debt declining?
Mr
D.T. Redman : Your building Metronet is your commitment and that's
having a substantial impact on the budget.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Does he define it that way?
Dr M.D. Nahan :
Yes.
Mr B.S. WYATT :
Yes, the Leader of the Opposition said; thank you. That means at no point
during the term of the former government did members opposite participate in
any budget repair. At no point did they undertake any budget repair, because at
no point during the term of the former government did net debt decrease—not
one point.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! Member for Carine!
Mr
B.S. WYATT : What I do know is that it went from $3 billion to $33 billion.
Let me give members a guarantee. It will not increase by enough —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member
for Carine, you wonder why I call you to order. Three times I mentioned your
name and you just kept talking. Next time, I will call you again.
Mr
B.S. WYATT : Let me guarantee that there will not be a 1 000 per cent
increase in net debt under this government. Let me give members that guarantee.
It is interesting now that the Leader of the Opposition, by his own definition,
has said that budget repair occurs only when net debt declines. At no point did
you do budget repair, Mr Nahan. That is the reality. That is an awkward
position for you all!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
B.S. WYATT : I understand that but the reality is, because a credit rating
agency has said this and highlighted our commitment to budget repair and
restraining expense growth, the only problem that it has highlighted, and it
confirms, is that the greatest danger to the finances of Western Australia is
the Leader of the Opposition.
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