Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
KARL STEFANOVIC: Well, just five months after coming into power off the back of a fierce election campaign fought largely on cost of living, the Albanese Government handed down its first Budget last night, painting a pretty grim picture of the economy. For a closer look at what impact the budget will have on Western Australia, I want to bring in Federal Member for Perth, Patrick Gorman in Canberra. Patrick, good morning to you. Thanks for your time this morning. It seems that mentions of Western Australia and Perth were scant in this budget. Can you break it down for us?
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: I was really pleased this Budget delivers on cost of living in the short term for people in Western Australia. Delivers on some of those big, long-term investments we need in the West. And I know West Australians want to see budget repair because after a trillion dollars of debt, yes, our hands are a little bit more tied than previous Governments, but there are big, good investments for the West in here. In my electorate alone, 6,800 people will benefit from cheaper childcare from the middle of next year. You’ve got big infrastructure investments like electric buses, investment in the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, the Tanami Road, big investments, and, of course, Metronet. And I remind all of your viewers that the first member of the Federal Parliament to back Metronet was Anthony Albanese. And all of that money is there in the budget.
STEFANOVIC: Here’s the thing, we know there’s tough times coming. Everyone’s been at pains to point that out, that it’s going to get really squeezed in the next couple of years. If you’re a Twiggy or a Gina Rinehart or big business in WA, you’re forward planning for that with budgets now. There didn’t seem to be anywhere near enough in there to satisfy those who believe the Budget should match the times.
GORMAN: Well, the times are that inflation is the driving pressure on the Budget and the driving pressure on household budgets. We recognise that and that’s why we’ve got a government that, in a large change from the previous government, is actually committed to trying to get real wages growing again. And we also want to make sure that we support those industries that create jobs for Western Australians and indeed the entire Australian economy. And that’s why you see a real push to invest in the next generation of energy by making sure we invest in Rewiring the Nation, making sure we accept that Australia’s economic future lies in a clean energy future, and also making sure that we invest in bringing manufacturing back onshore back to Australia. So, there are some of those long-term investments and in the short term, there is action on cost of living. You’ve got paid parental leave in there expanding it to 26 weeks. Great news for Mums and Dads. You’ve got medicines coming down from $42.50 down to $30. The biggest cut in the PBS in its 75 year history. And we’ve got things like investment in housing, recognising. We need to do more to invest in housing in this country.
STEFANOVIC: Here’s the thing. I mean, I reckon, I’m from Queensland, but I reckon WA more than punches above its weight in terms of what it’s doing to the national bottom line right now.
GORMAN: We do a bit.
STEFANOVIC: I think it deserves more in this budget.
GORMAN: I think this is a Budget that does deliver for Western Australia. And indeed, I mentioned before, Metronet, that big transformative investment. And what West Australians want is also to make sure they’ve got the skills, to grab those good high paying jobs for the future. That’s why we’ve got investments in TAFE, 180,000 TAFE places across Australia, and including an investment in TAFE in WA which we made during the election.
STEFANOVIC: Here I am thinking that I think WA deserves more and you’re saying, no, they don’t. I mean, what’s going on?
GORMAN: The GST deal is protected in this. Our investment education is protected. There’s some big investments in health, including the Bentley Hospital Surgicentre, which I know is something that will help cut our waiting lists in the west. So there’s a lot in there for WA and the number of WA families, and I speak to families all the time who know that one of the biggest costs on their budget is childcare. That’s in there, too.
STEFANOVIC: Okay.
GORMAN: And that’s going to make a huge difference.
STEFANOVIC: Great to talk to you and we’ll welcome you back on the show next week. Appreciate it.
GORMAN: Thanks, Karl.
