Labor Party's unfunded election commitments to date revealed

November 19, 1996

Deputy Liberal Leader Colin Barnett has revealed that the Labor Party's unfunded election commitments to date are $667.2 million.

Mr Barnett said the figure took into account the $352 million available to each political party during the election campaign for commitments during the next four years, as outlined in the revised forward estimates released by State Treasury yesterday.

"The election commitment fundings are based on policy commitments made by the Labor Party prior to and during the election campaign so far," he said.

"The costings have been done by a team working for the Minister for Finance and the methodology is exactly the same as used in costing the Coalition's campaign promises.

"This methodology has been assessed by State Treasury which they believe is reasonable.

"Treasury states that based on the information provided to it, the costs attributed to Labor's proposals by the Minister for Finance are not excessive.

"These figures show that the Labor Party is still prepared to use a bankcard to pay for its political promises."

Mr Barnett said that if the Labor Party was genuinely committed to sound financial management and truly balancing the State's budget, then Dr Gallop must explain which programs Labor would cut, or which taxes they would increase to eliminate this black hole.

"The purpose of releasing the revised forward estimates yesterday was to impose discipline on both political parties in making election promise," he said.

"Should the Labor Party continue to make further election promises in the knowledge that they have a $667.2 million black hole, then they are treating the people of Western Australia with contempt."

The financial trifecta available to the ALP to fund their promises was now:

·       to reduce expenditure in other areas;

·       to increase taxes and charges to fund extra outlays; or -

·       to borrow more money and put the State further in debt.

"If the Labor Party dispute these figures, then they have a responsibility to immediately release their own overall costings of their election promises to date," Mr Barnett said.

"Each week I intend to update the people of WA on Labor's costings so that they will understand the magnitude of Labor's black hole by the end of the election campaign."

Media contact: Justine Whittome (09) 222 9699