State Budget 2007- 08: Decisions For Our Future - Perth central

10/05/07
Making decisions for the future was the driving priority of the State Government's 2007-08 State Budget, Treasurer Eric Ripper said today.
"Western Australia has an economy that is the envy of the nation and we are making sure that we can continue to meet the challenges and opportunities of growth now and over the coming years," Mr Ripper said.
"That is why we have decided to invest a record $5.8billion on critical capital works over the next financial year and spend record levels on health, education, law and order, transport and climate change."
The Treasurer said ensuring Western Australians had the skills and knowledge to drive the State's economic prosperity into the future was a key priority for the Carpenter Government.
He said that was why the Government was committed to investing in education and training, highlighted locally with:

• $250,000 for new printing technology at Central TAFE's Perth campus;
• $2.5million to complete work on Stage Two of the redevelopment of Central TAFE's Perth campus (total project cost $6.1million); and
• $10.575million to continue work on Stage Three of the redevelopment of Central TAFE's Perth campus (total project cost $31.942million).

Mr Ripper said the State Government's decision to commit a record spend of $4billion towards health in this year's Budget would ensure WA was on track to implement the Health Reform Committee's recommendations.
Locally, the Government would spend $279,000 to complete work on the extension of the North Perth Dental Clinic (total project cost $300,000).
The Treasurer said the 2007-08 Budget included $813.8million for the Western Australia Police - a 6.5 per cent increase on 2006-07 - which included:

• the recruitment of 90 extra police officers;
• an additional $17.7million to be spent on front line policing initiatives; and
• expanding operations of the Traffic Enforcement Group to major metropolitan arterial roads and regional roads to improve traffic safety.

Locally, the Government would spend $300,000 on the new Vincent Police Station, which would replace Leederville station.
Mr Ripper said that as part of the Government's $5.8billion capital works program, the Government would spend:

• $91million to start work on Perth Arena (total project cost $320million);
• $12million to construct the Perth Arena bus bridge (total project cost $14.455million);
• $12million towards the site acquisition phase of the new Perth Police Complex (total project cost $93million);
• $15.458million for planning, management and construction of the CBD Courts and Central Law Courts refurbishment (total project cost $69.092million); and
• $1.254million to complete the relocation of the Perth Fire Station (total project cost $9.5million).

The Treasurer said the 2007-08 Budget would invest heavily in targeting housing affordability, increased spending on child protection and ensuring the general State Government sector remained debt-free.
"The Carpenter Government's sound financial management means we have been able to offer households and businesses further tax relief, while at the same time keeping increases in household fees and charges below inflation," he said.
"Our decisions for the future will mean that over the next four years, we will be able to deliver tax relief worth an estimated $2.1billion."
Mr Ripper said the biggest winners would be first homebuyers, who would see a doubling of the stamp duty exemption thresholds for home and vacant land purchases from $250,000 to $500,000 and $150,000 to $300,000, respectively.
"This will mean that first homebuyers buying a $500,000 property will reap a saving of $20,700," he said.
"For the seventh consecutive year, there will be no increase in household electricity prices while the stamp duty rates on insurance will remain fixed.
"That means that in seven years, the Government has been able to reduce household fees and charges for a representative household by $413 or 10.8 per cent in real terms."
On top of freezing household electricity prices, $3.059billion would be spent over four years improving electricity infrastructure across the State, including the following improvements to the local electricity system:

• $900,000 to complete the installation of underground power in Highgate (total project cost $4.306million);
• $2.344million to replace cable on James and Milligan streets (total project cost $6.242million); and
• $2.936million to install a new transformer feeder cable to increase the capacity of the Joel Terrace substation (total project cost $10.294million).

The Government will also spend $11.253million to complete work on the Perth Main Sewer Rehabilitation (total project cost $25.533million).
Other key local works to be funded included:

• $333,000 to complete the upgrade of the Claisebrook bus and train depot (total project cost $5.98million);
• $6.984million to the East Perth Redevelopment Authority for the East Perth Redevelopment Works Program, including work on the East Perth power station and the Claisebrook Royal Street precinct; and
• $3.554million for the new Northbridge Redevelopment Program.

Treasurer's office - 9222 9365