❓ Opposition questions government spending amid inflation concerns. Premier deflects, challenging the opposition to specify spending cuts and accusing them of hypocrisy on housing.
AnsweredQoN 213Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Budget expenditure—Inflation
213. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Premier:
I have a
supplementary question.
Why will the
Premier's government not listen to industry groups and economists who warn that
we should be thinking really carefully about every dollar and slow down
government spending?
213. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Premier:
I have a
supplementary question.
Why will the
Premier's government not listen to industry groups and economists who warn that
we should be thinking really carefully about every dollar and slow down
government spending?
AnswerView source ↗
Now it is not just
the cost of living; it is spending everywhere. The question for members on the
other side is: If they want to cut spending, where will they cut it? What is
your proposal?
Several members
interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: What are you going to cut? What is it
that you are going to identify that you would deny Western Australians? Is it
health expenditure? Is it education? Is the opposition going to privatise the
health system like it did when it was in government? Is the opposition going to
continue to cut housing? Is that what opposition members would do if they were
on this side?
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: The shadow minister for housing
literally said that we should not be building houses and now she is saying that
we should be building houses.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The member for Cottesloe is a classic
case in point. One minute we are not building enough houses and the next minute
we are building too many. When it comes to delivery, the community and—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members of the opposition, you
are making it very difficult for the Premier to conclude his remarks.
Mr Roger Cook: When it comes to delivering on housing,
there is only one group in Western Australia that opposes housing and that is
the Leader of the Opposition and his Liberal mates. They oppose housing
projects in their community and everywhere in relation to planning reform, and
they oppose our spending to boost housing.
the cost of living; it is spending everywhere. The question for members on the
other side is: If they want to cut spending, where will they cut it? What is
your proposal?
Several members
interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: What are you going to cut? What is it
that you are going to identify that you would deny Western Australians? Is it
health expenditure? Is it education? Is the opposition going to privatise the
health system like it did when it was in government? Is the opposition going to
continue to cut housing? Is that what opposition members would do if they were
on this side?
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: The shadow minister for housing
literally said that we should not be building houses and now she is saying that
we should be building houses.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The member for Cottesloe is a classic
case in point. One minute we are not building enough houses and the next minute
we are building too many. When it comes to delivery, the community and—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members of the opposition, you
are making it very difficult for the Premier to conclude his remarks.
Mr Roger Cook: When it comes to delivering on housing,
there is only one group in Western Australia that opposes housing and that is
the Leader of the Opposition and his Liberal mates. They oppose housing
projects in their community and everywhere in relation to planning reform, and
they oppose our spending to boost housing.
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