Opposition MP Wyatt questions the Premier about budget deficits and debt despite high revenue per capita. The Premier attributes the situation to reduced GST revenue and falling iron ore prices, highlighting infrastructure investments made during the 'China decade'.

AnsweredQoN 406Legislative Assembly
Asked
19 May 2015
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

STATE BUDGET — DEFICIT
406. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Considering that every single year that the Premier has been Premier, his
government has had the highest revenue per capita of all states in the nation,
why is he presiding over three deficits and an extraordinary blowout in debt?

AnswerView source ↗

I have just explained that. I explained
that the combination of 30 cents in the dollar for GST and a 60 per cent fall
in iron prices has put us in this unavoidable and unpleasant situation. Just
sit back and look at Perth. Look at the north and Pilbara Cities. Look at the
south west and the road projects. Look at our commitment to public transport,
to hospitals and to schools. We have not missed the opportunity to take
advantage of this China decade. We have not, Mr Speaker. By the attitude of
members opposite, if they had been in government, they would have missed this
historic decade.

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