Labor calls for WA mini-budget

Shadow Treasurer Ben Wyatt has claimed the state government should produce a mini-budget to accurately reflect the State's true financial position.

Mr Wyatt said the 2009-2010 State Budget presented last month was no longer an accurate account of the State's financial position and the Government must use the Parliamentary winter recess to prepare an accurate statement of the State's finances.

"The Budget is misleading as it does not contain significant projects committed to by the Government including $339 million for Oakajee, $236 million for the Northbridge Link, $100 million for Esperance Port upgrades and $180 million for the Midland Hospital," Mr Wyatt said.

"These omissions mean that the spending forecasts contained in the Budget cannot be relied on to paint an accurate picture of the State's finances."

Labor estimates that there are more than $2billion in unfunded projects.

"The spending estimates are unreliable and, therefore, the debt forecasts are unreliable," Mr Wyatt said.

"Already the State Government will burden every Western Australian with $7850 of debt by 2013.

"With unfunded commitments already appearing to be in the billions of dollars the debt position is clearly worse than the Budget indicates."

Mr Wyatt said the State Budget deliberately misrepresents the position of the State's finances and is clearly in breach of the principles laid down in the Government Financial Responsibility Act 2000.

"A mini-Budget is required so the Parliament and the people of Western Australia can have confidence in the spending and debt estimates in the State's finances," he said.