❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Cook Labor government's cost-of-living relief measures in the recent budget. The Treasurer's response deflects by questioning the opposition's stance and policies.
AnsweredQoN 259Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Cost-of-living relief
259. Mrs Lisa Munday to
the Treasurer:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering meaningful cost-of-living relief
for Western Australians.
How has the Cook
Labor government put cost-of-living relief at the centre of the recent budget,
and is the Treasurer aware of anyone who opposes the Cook Labor government'
efforts to support Western Australians with the cost of living?
259. Mrs Lisa Munday to
the Treasurer:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering meaningful cost-of-living relief
for Western Australians.
How has the Cook
Labor government put cost-of-living relief at the centre of the recent budget,
and is the Treasurer aware of anyone who opposes the Cook Labor government'
efforts to support Western Australians with the cost of living?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for that question. Of course, there is a whole range of different
cost-of-living initiatives, and the Premier outlined many of them today, that
support households across the state, whether it be the student assistance
payment, which, remember, was a payment the opposition opposed and then came on
board, or the fuel payment, which I think it supports—or it does not support. I
am not sure. We will hear more, but I am still trying to get clarity on whether
or not the opposition supports. I think members opposite are saying it is
inflationary but it is not enough, so I am not quite getting where they are!
The Premier missed
out on the highlight of the shadow Treasurer's speech. The shadow Treasurer
said, "If only I could be more like an English baroness." I have a
bingo card of things I thought I would hear today. Saying that I should act
more like a baroness was not one I was expecting. The member for Southern River
went doorknocking on the weekend. Did anyone at the door mention a baroness to
him? "Look, we like the budget, but we think the Treasurer should have
listened more to the English baroness" is what the member for Southern
River heard at the door!
As I said, in
relation to the fuel payment, which I think members opposite are supporting—but
then they are not supporting, so I am not quite sure. We heard them say that
our targeted stamp duty cuts for first home buyers are inflationary—that is
what the shadow Treasurer just said—but we should have a 20% cut on stamp duty
across the board. The shadow Treasurer just said that a 20% targeted assistance
to first home buyers is inflationary, but the opposition's policy is a 20% cut
in stamp duty across the board. Shadow Treasurer, is that correct? Is that
correct, Leader of the Opposition?
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Shadow Treasurer, are you—the Leader
of the Opposition looks like he is listening. Are you listening?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Point of order
Mr Shane Love: I ask that you bring the Treasurer back
to answering the question she was asked rather than asking questions of the opposition.
We have the budget in reply this week and she will get all the answers.
The Speaker: Thank you. Leader of the National Party,
I shall not uphold that point of order. Treasurer, if you could continue with
your remarks.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: I think the opposition's policy is
to cut stamp duty 20% across the board. I think that is right. Is that what we
all took from that contribution?
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Okay, that is the opposition's
policy, obviously.
As I said, of course
we are making sure that we are not only targeting our cost of living on
housing. The shadow Treasurer thinks homes just appear and we should not be
spending any money on infrastructure or any of the roads or public transport,
and that they just pop up. The shadow Treasurer is arguing that we should not
be spending—the member is talking now. Does the member support 20%? Is that the
opposition's policy?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Is the opposition's policy 20%?
Mr Lachlan Hunter: Jim Chalmers—oh, good
morning.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The
shadow Treasurer stood up and lauded the federal budget. I do not know if the
member was there, but the shadow Treasurer's first couple paragraphs were on
how good the federal Treasurer is. That is what the shadow Treasurer said. The
shadow Treasurer stood up and basically started with saying we should be more
like the federal Treasurer. That is what the shadow Treasurer said. She stood
up and said how good the federal Treasurer was.
Again, it was an
interesting plot twist. I did not expect the shadow Treasurer to talk about a
baroness or to talk about how good the federal Treasurer is on his budget
tonight. I did not expect that.
As I said, there is
a whole range of initiatives and also targeted initiatives. The Minister for
Child Protection knows of our assistance to foster carers and grandcarers with
the establishment of the new Gold Card and our targeted support through the rent
relief program. Sorry; does the member support the 20% stamp duty cut?
An opposition member
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: If the member wants to talk, do they
support that position?
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Every question
time we return to the point that comments are directed through the Chair, and
that is ignored.
The Speaker: Yes. Thank you, member for Carine. Treasurer,
if you could make your concluding comments, please.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: Sure. Sorry—my throat. There is a
10% increase in key concessions for those most vulnerable, including an
increase in the energy assistance payment, the dependent child rebate and the
air conditioning allowance. As I said, this is a budget that delivers for WA: jobs,
health, housing, cost-of-living support. What we are doing is making sure that we
invest in the future of WA. We are investing in training and infrastructure to
make sure Western Australians can go forward with confidence and with the
confidence that we have an economic plan that will deliver for all Western
Australians.
for that question. Of course, there is a whole range of different
cost-of-living initiatives, and the Premier outlined many of them today, that
support households across the state, whether it be the student assistance
payment, which, remember, was a payment the opposition opposed and then came on
board, or the fuel payment, which I think it supports—or it does not support. I
am not sure. We will hear more, but I am still trying to get clarity on whether
or not the opposition supports. I think members opposite are saying it is
inflationary but it is not enough, so I am not quite getting where they are!
The Premier missed
out on the highlight of the shadow Treasurer's speech. The shadow Treasurer
said, "If only I could be more like an English baroness." I have a
bingo card of things I thought I would hear today. Saying that I should act
more like a baroness was not one I was expecting. The member for Southern River
went doorknocking on the weekend. Did anyone at the door mention a baroness to
him? "Look, we like the budget, but we think the Treasurer should have
listened more to the English baroness" is what the member for Southern
River heard at the door!
As I said, in
relation to the fuel payment, which I think members opposite are supporting—but
then they are not supporting, so I am not quite sure. We heard them say that
our targeted stamp duty cuts for first home buyers are inflationary—that is
what the shadow Treasurer just said—but we should have a 20% cut on stamp duty
across the board. The shadow Treasurer just said that a 20% targeted assistance
to first home buyers is inflationary, but the opposition's policy is a 20% cut
in stamp duty across the board. Shadow Treasurer, is that correct? Is that
correct, Leader of the Opposition?
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Shadow Treasurer, are you—the Leader
of the Opposition looks like he is listening. Are you listening?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Point of order
Mr Shane Love: I ask that you bring the Treasurer back
to answering the question she was asked rather than asking questions of the opposition.
We have the budget in reply this week and she will get all the answers.
The Speaker: Thank you. Leader of the National Party,
I shall not uphold that point of order. Treasurer, if you could continue with
your remarks.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: I think the opposition's policy is
to cut stamp duty 20% across the board. I think that is right. Is that what we
all took from that contribution?
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Okay, that is the opposition's
policy, obviously.
As I said, of course
we are making sure that we are not only targeting our cost of living on
housing. The shadow Treasurer thinks homes just appear and we should not be
spending any money on infrastructure or any of the roads or public transport,
and that they just pop up. The shadow Treasurer is arguing that we should not
be spending—the member is talking now. Does the member support 20%? Is that the
opposition's policy?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Is the opposition's policy 20%?
Mr Lachlan Hunter: Jim Chalmers—oh, good
morning.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The
shadow Treasurer stood up and lauded the federal budget. I do not know if the
member was there, but the shadow Treasurer's first couple paragraphs were on
how good the federal Treasurer is. That is what the shadow Treasurer said. The
shadow Treasurer stood up and basically started with saying we should be more
like the federal Treasurer. That is what the shadow Treasurer said. She stood
up and said how good the federal Treasurer was.
Again, it was an
interesting plot twist. I did not expect the shadow Treasurer to talk about a
baroness or to talk about how good the federal Treasurer is on his budget
tonight. I did not expect that.
As I said, there is
a whole range of initiatives and also targeted initiatives. The Minister for
Child Protection knows of our assistance to foster carers and grandcarers with
the establishment of the new Gold Card and our targeted support through the rent
relief program. Sorry; does the member support the 20% stamp duty cut?
An opposition member
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: If the member wants to talk, do they
support that position?
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Every question
time we return to the point that comments are directed through the Chair, and
that is ignored.
The Speaker: Yes. Thank you, member for Carine. Treasurer,
if you could make your concluding comments, please.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: Sure. Sorry—my throat. There is a
10% increase in key concessions for those most vulnerable, including an
increase in the energy assistance payment, the dependent child rebate and the
air conditioning allowance. As I said, this is a budget that delivers for WA: jobs,
health, housing, cost-of-living support. What we are doing is making sure that we
invest in the future of WA. We are investing in training and infrastructure to
make sure Western Australians can go forward with confidence and with the
confidence that we have an economic plan that will deliver for all Western
Australians.
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