❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Treasurer about the 2014-15 budget forecasts for revenue, expenditure, and population growth. The Treasurer defends the forecasts, highlighting the need for expenditure reform.
AnsweredQoN 333Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE
BUDGET 2014–15 — FORECASTS
333. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's budget, which is predicated
on revenue growth of 2.6 per cent in 2014–15 and expenditure growth of
2.6 per cent in 2014–15.
(1) Does the
Treasurer stand by these forecasts and does he stand by the population
forecasts contained in the budget papers?
(2) If he does
not stand by the population forecast in the budget, how can he guarantee the
assumptions based on those population figures?
BUDGET 2014–15 — FORECASTS
333. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Treasurer's budget, which is predicated
on revenue growth of 2.6 per cent in 2014–15 and expenditure growth of
2.6 per cent in 2014–15.
(1) Does the
Treasurer stand by these forecasts and does he stand by the population
forecasts contained in the budget papers?
(2) If he does
not stand by the population forecast in the budget, how can he guarantee the
assumptions based on those population figures?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
The figures the member quoted are right. We forecast expenditure and revenue
growth of 2.6 per cent in the general government sector and the forecast for
population growth is 2.1 per cent, which is much less than it has been in
recent times. Yes, I stand by all three figures.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to
order for the first time.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The revenue figure of 2.6 per cent is very low. It is less than
the inflation rate and a bit more than the population growth rate. In real per
capita terms, both the expenditure and revenue are negative, so it is a very
tight budget in terms of expenditure and revenue. Without the revenue measures
announced in the budget we would have seen revenue growth of 1.5 per cent,
which is very low by any standards, whether it is population or past figures. I
might add that in the past we have seen growth at very high levels—5.9
per cent over the last five years. Indeed, the previous government experienced
growth in the vicinity of 10 per cent. This is much lower, and I stand by those
figures. The population growth is Treasury's estimate. I think it is a
conservative estimate, but let us wait and see. Yes, I stand by both figures.
Behind the expenditure growth is the largest reform of expenditure and delivery
in Western Australia in decades. That is the only way we will be able to maintain
expenditure growth at 2.6 per cent.
The figures the member quoted are right. We forecast expenditure and revenue
growth of 2.6 per cent in the general government sector and the forecast for
population growth is 2.1 per cent, which is much less than it has been in
recent times. Yes, I stand by all three figures.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to
order for the first time.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The revenue figure of 2.6 per cent is very low. It is less than
the inflation rate and a bit more than the population growth rate. In real per
capita terms, both the expenditure and revenue are negative, so it is a very
tight budget in terms of expenditure and revenue. Without the revenue measures
announced in the budget we would have seen revenue growth of 1.5 per cent,
which is very low by any standards, whether it is population or past figures. I
might add that in the past we have seen growth at very high levels—5.9
per cent over the last five years. Indeed, the previous government experienced
growth in the vicinity of 10 per cent. This is much lower, and I stand by those
figures. The population growth is Treasury's estimate. I think it is a
conservative estimate, but let us wait and see. Yes, I stand by both figures.
Behind the expenditure growth is the largest reform of expenditure and delivery
in Western Australia in decades. That is the only way we will be able to maintain
expenditure growth at 2.6 per cent.
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