An assessment on WA state budget also depicts failing of previous Labor government that increased government spending by average 10% per annum whilst in office and failed to leave the state with a buffer to withstand the current economic crisis. Hence State will go into a large deficit with falling revenue base from 2008-09 thru to 2011-12 with net debt rising to $16.7 billion, well over the 47 per cent debt to revenue benchmark.
Compare that to the $22b left by Howard/Costello to assist Australia withstand economic downturn and you decide how that stacks up!
