❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett on whether any government spending decisions could have mitigated the current financial year's budget deficit. The Premier asserts that, given external factors, no spending decision could have avoided the deficit.
AnsweredQoN 279Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE FINANCES — BUDGET DEFICIT
279. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Is
the Premier seriously suggesting that there is no spending decision that he
could have made over the course of the last few years or in the last financial
year that would have impacted the level of deficit that we are going to
experience this financial year?
279. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Is
the Premier seriously suggesting that there is no spending decision that he
could have made over the course of the last few years or in the last financial
year that would have impacted the level of deficit that we are going to
experience this financial year?
AnswerView source ↗
Not for this financial year, no.
That is the misunderstanding.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Not for this year.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There is no conceivable way —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Given the impact on iron ore prices and GST, short of closing
down half the health system or the education system in this current year, there
is no way a deficit could be avoided by any government in any circumstance.
What I also said yesterday, if people want to make a criticism of this
government, yes, they could focus on the accumulated level of debt. I conceded
that to the media yesterday. That is the issue; not the deficit for this year.
Under no circumstance could a deficit for this current financial year be avoided.
That is the misunderstanding.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Not for this year.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There is no conceivable way —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Given the impact on iron ore prices and GST, short of closing
down half the health system or the education system in this current year, there
is no way a deficit could be avoided by any government in any circumstance.
What I also said yesterday, if people want to make a criticism of this
government, yes, they could focus on the accumulated level of debt. I conceded
that to the media yesterday. That is the issue; not the deficit for this year.
Under no circumstance could a deficit for this current financial year be avoided.
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