WA budgetscraps electricity credit amid rising state debt
The Western Australian government's latest budget has eliminated the $400 electricity credit for households, despite a surplus of $2.5 billion.
This decision coincides with projections of increasing state debt, whichis anticipated to reach $42 billion by the end of the decade.
The budget, the ninth under the current Labor government, outlines a revised direction for the state's economic priorities.
Treasurer Rita Saffioti aims to diversify the state's economy away fromits reliance on trade with China, focusing on bolstering local manufacturing.© 9News
The removal of the electricity credit is expected to increase financialpressure on many households.
Laura West, a retired school principal, stated that "it would be amassive kick in the guts"."Life is a real struggle just trying to be able to meet basic needsand wants," she said.
Treasurer Rita Saffioti aims to diversify the state's economy away fromits reliance on trade with China, focusing on bolstering localmanufacturing.
"This budget reinforces the walls of fortress WA," shesaid. Saffioti has demonstrated many times that she is a moron.
Aaron Morey from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA said "justlike Taylor Swift, the Government has entered a new era". WTF?"It's moving from the roads era to the industrialera," she said. WTF?
Asignificant portion of the budget is allocated to health and trying to addressthe ongoing housing crisis. Casey Pateman, an Ellenbrook mother struggling withhousing affordability, said "every time I've tried to get ahead and Ithink oh yeah everything's going well, something else comes up."
Despite previous commitments to reduce state debt, projectionsindicate a substantial increase. The current debt of $33.5 billion is forecastto rise to $42 billion by the end of the decade, partly attributed to populationgrowth in Perth.Theannual interest bill on the state's debt is $2 billion.
Rachel Siewert from the Western Australian Council of SocialService acknowledged some positive aspects of the budget.
"Havingcheaper transport fares will help people, having access to breakfast programswill help people, having access to a rent relief scheme will help people,"she said.
"Ourpoint is, we need that and more."
Saffiotisaid the budget was "implementing a plan that will shape our state fordecades to come".
Under Labor, despite having record iron ore income, their typical largesse on anything and everything to gain re-election, they have blown the budget and will continue to in the forseable future.
That's the Labor way, spend and tax with gay abandon!!!
