Patrick Gorman: WA faces crucial elections; choose wisely for our future

This year West Australians will vote three times. A festival of democracy in our own backyard.

In the next few months, we will vote in State and Federal elections. If that is not enough, there are also local government elections on October 18.

The secret is that not all politicians love elections. But I do.

Australian elections are at the heart of our egalitarian ideals. That anyone can make a contribution and that we all have a say in our future.

West Australians have some big decisions ahead of them.

In the summer heat and dust, there will be sweaty parliamentary aspirants everywhere. Knocking on doors, putting their face on bus stops and bothering us on YouTube.

And the Federal election is not just a choice for the nation, it is a choice for WA.

In 2022 we rejected the disrespectful way the Federal Liberals had treated WA.

This year we again have a choice. To build WA’s future with Labor or to go backwards under Peter Dutton.

Because the Federal election will have a massive impact on WA’s finances.

In the past few years, the Albanese Labor Government has provided substantial support for the WA State Budget. Funding to finish the Morley-Ellenbrook train line, ensuring the WA GST deal is locked in for the long term in the Budget and delivered $800 million to get our public schools properly funded.

And we funded energy bill relief for every WA household with $458 million for households across this State.

Without this, the State Budget would be at risk of falling into deficit and essential services we all benefit from would close.

That’s why it is important to look forward. What does happen to the WA State finances under a Dutton government?

Well, the first thing is that WA unemployment will go up. The Liberals have said they will cut 1700 public servants from WA.

That’s the equivalent job loss of closing two iron ore mines in WA. In other words, a massive blow to our economy.

My electorate of Perth will be particularly hard hit where ATO job losses in Northbridge and Medicare job losses in Perth will run into the hundreds. Just as the CBD has started to bloom.

The next thing that will happen under the Liberals is that TAFE fees will go through the roof.

They have opposed free TAFE and if they rip up the Skills Agreement with WA it means $267 million out of the pockets of apprentices and students.

Then there is the risk of the GST. The Commonwealth Grants Commission tells us clearly: “WA is estimated to receive $6.2 billion more GST in 2024–25 than it would have under the previous GST distribution arrangements.”

In other words – without WA’s fair share of the GST, the WA State Budget goes from a healthy surplus to a miserable deficit.

I know that Peter Dutton opposed the WA GST deal. I know this because Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison told us so.

Those two didn’t agree on much. But they did agree that Peter Dutton was a risk to WA’s fair share. And I don’t need to tell you that ripping $6.2 billion out of WA would have disastrous consequences.

So as you head to the ballot box a few times over the months ahead, remember that the Liberals spent three years opposing cheaper child care, pay rises for low-paid workers and Synergy bill relief.

And now they will come after the State Budget, risking deep deficits for the economy that powers the nation.

A Liberal Government led by a reckless and arrogant Peter Dutton poses a real risk for WA.

Patrick Gorman is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Member for Perth