Opposition hits out on Metronet spend

The Liberal Party WA has accused the state government of squandering the “largest fiscal boom in state history”, in response to Rita Saffioti’s first budget as treasurer released today.

Liberal leader Libby Mettam said the budget, which forecast a $3.2 billion surplus but also outlined further blowouts in the Metronet program and projected an increase of state debt over the forward estimates, was a sign of a tired government.

“This is the budget of a tired, incompetent government with its priorities all wrong,” she said.

“Rather than strategically investing in schools, hospitals, police or public transport, Roger Cook seems determined to waste WA’s economic boom on pet projects, with benefits the average Western Australian won’t feel.”

Further Metronet cost impacts weighed on this year’s projected surplus, with a further $2.7 billion allocated to the infrastructure program in the budget.

In a separate release attributed to opposition leader Shane Love and shadow treasurer Neil Thomson, the opposition alliance accused the state of prioritising its rail project over families.

“Treasurer Rita Saffioti has made it clear that the gargantuan Metronet project, now blown out by $12.6 billion, is more important to Labor than supporting WA families,” he claimed.

“Beyond and inflationary and non-means-tested electricity credit, we’ve seen nothing to alleviate the pressure which continues to mount for households.”

The budget included measures to subsidise households which school-aged children, as well as the $400 electricity credit for each household.

Energy assistance payments were included for eligible households and public transport was made free for students during the week.

The government estimates the budget will reduce the “basket of household fees and charges” by two per cent, or $124, for an everyday WA family.

But the budget also forecast a growth in debt, to almost $41 billion across the forward estimates despite an enviable surplus position build on conservative price forecasts for iron ore.

“How is it that a state going from strength to strength is getting further and further in debt? WA is on track to hit a record debt of $40.9 billion, despite record revenues,” shadow treasurer Neil Thomson said.

“I’d suggest to the treasurer there are many, many Western Australian families who do not feel like they are firing on all cylinders, in fact they feel like they are barely limping along.”

More budget coverage:

-          Surpluses to continue but debt increases

-          Critical minerals weigh, iron ore assumption hiked

-          Govt to spend $2.7bn on Metronet

-          Business investment hits a record

-          Record spend highlights next infrastructure wave

-          Duty threshold up to aid first home buyers

-          WA to secure more events with $77m

-          S&P praises strong budget outcome