Labor’s Broken Promises
No new taxes or increases in taxes
THE PROMISE: Mark McGowan pledged there would be “no new taxes on West Australians or increases in taxes on West Australians” during the 2017 WA election campaign.
STATUS: The McGowan Government have introduced a gambling tax, an Uber tax, increased royalty rates on gold (attempted to) and increased payroll tax.
No privatisation of major utilities
THE PROMISE: During the 2017 Election Campaign, Mark McGowan campaigned strongly against privatisation of major utilities. He stated, “Everyone knows that when you privatise State-owned utilities, power prices go up, and services go down.” The ACCC rejected the claim by Mr McGowan as being incorrect and misleading.
STATUS: Despite his rhetoric about privatisation, the McGowan Government have made a partial sale of Synergy to a foreign investor. The sale has been branded a “joint venture with a private sector investor”.
Mandatory minimum sentencing for meth dealers
THE PROMISE: Mark McGowan stated they would match the Barnett Government’s commitment to mandatory minimum sentencing of 1 year for meth dealers.
STATUS: The McGowan Government introduced legislation without provisions that effect the mandatory minimum sentencing. They blocked amendments put forward by the Opposition to fulfil the commitment of mandatory minimum sentencing.
Return the budget to surplus by 2019/20
THE PROMISE: Mark McGowan assured West Australian voters that a government he leads would be able to deliver a surplus by 2019-20.
STATUS: The 2017 Budget revealed that the McGowan Government would not be able to achieve this promise. The Budget Papers outlined a deficit of $1.1 billion in 2019/20.
Education Central
THE PROMISE: At the election, Mark McGowan pledged to build “Education Central” which was proposed to be “a purpose built facility in the new Perth City Link precinct to house the new Perth Academic College and Scitech.”
STATUS: After strong community backlash, the McGowan Government backed down from this proposal.
Wage increase of 1.5% for WA Police
THE PROMISE: Mark McGowan promised the continuation of the revised wages policy for public sector employees implemented by the Barnett Government in 2016. This was a cap of 1.5% per year applying to all industrial agreements expiring on or after June 1, 2016.
STATUS: A day after winning the State Election, Mark McGowan immediately broke this promise, removed the cap of 1.5% and instead replaced the wages policy with a $1,000 per year increase.
Western Power Jobs
THE PROMISE: During the 2017 WA election campaign, Mark McGowan pledged that they would employ 50 apprentices at Western Power per year.
STATUS: In a recent announcement by Western Power, it has been revealed that the State-owned electricity business will only engage 15 new apprentices in the 2017 intake compared to the 50 promised by the McGowan Government.
Unlikely
These are election commitments that are unlikely to be fulfilled due to the actions or inactions of the McGowan Government.
Paying down debt like a mortgage
THE PROMISE: Mark McGowan pledged that his Government would “repay debt slowly and carefully, like paying off a house”.
STATUS: At the election, the McGowan Government promised by 2019-20, debt would be $40.0 billion. Six months later, the McGowan Government’s first State Budget revealed debt had blown out to $43.8 billion for the same year.
Collie Biomass Power Plant and Solar Farm
THE PROMISE: Mark McGowan pledged $60 million for a solar farm and biomass power plant in Collie.
STATUS: The Warradarge Wind Farm and the expansion of the Greenough River Solar Farm will ensure that Synergy will achieve its requirements under the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target. Synergy already has an oversupply of electricity so without the renewable energy target it is unlikely that the McGowan Government will proceed with these expensive power stations.
No Funding
These are election commitments that have not been funded or are underfunded in the State Budget.
METRONET: Ellenbrook Line
THE PROMISE: Construction for the Metronet Morley-Ellenbrook line would commence in 2019.
STATUS: The 2017 Budget has no funding allocated to any construction in any year across the forward estimates.
Removal of four dangerous level crossings
THE PROMISE: Stage 1 of Metronet would include the removal of four dangerous level crossings along the Armadale, Midland and Fremantle rail lines.
STATUS: The 2017 Budget only has funding for the removal of the Denny Avenue level crossing.
WA’s first Medihotels
THE PROMISE: WA’s first Medihotel located next to Fiona Stanley and another two Medihotels located at Joondalup Health Campus and at Royal Perth.
STATUS: There is no funding whatsoever to the planning and/or construction of any Medihotel in the Budget.
Specialised Drug Treatment Centre – Kimberley
THE PROMISE: A specialised drug rehabilitation centre in the South-West.
STATUS: There is only $0.2 million allocated to what is presumably the Specialised Drug Treatment Centre in the Kimberley.
Specialised Drug Treatment Centre – South-West
THE PROMISE: A specialised drug rehabilitation centre in the South-West.
STATUS: Whilst there is funding for it in 2020-21, there is only $1.9 million allocated. The funding 4 years out indicates this promise is low on the agenda despite the calls for more rehab centres in the South-West cited in the Government’s own policy document.
Geraldton Hospital upgrades
THE PROMISE: $45 million to begin a staged redevelopment of Geraldton Hospital, starting with an upgrade to the Emergency Department and the provision of 18 new mental health beds. Mark McGowan also promised to establish an Urgent Care Clinic in Geraldton.
STATUS: There is no funding allocated to any redevelopment of the Geraldton Hospital in this year’s Budget.
Bunbury Hospital upgrade
THE PROMISE: A $20 million upgrade to Bunbury Hospital which would lead to 200 more beds. Mark McGowan also promised a new Step Up, Step Down mental health facility and an Urgent Care Clinic.
STATUS: There is no funding for any additional beds at Bunbury Hospital and for a new Step Up, Step Down mental health facility.
Osborne Park Hospital upgrades
THE PROMISE: Expansion of maternity services, increasing post-operative rehabilitation physiotherapy services at Osborne Park Hospital, and setting aside land for development of an aged care facility.
STATUS: There is no amount of funding allocated to Osborne Park Hospital.
Joondalup Hospital upgrades
THE PROMISE: An additional $167 million to expand the Joondalup Health Campus which would include a Medihotel, an expanded emergency department, a new Stroke Unit, additional beds, an Urgent Care Clinic and more parking
STATUS: There is no funding allocated specifically to Joondalup Health Campus and there is no funding for any Medihotel.
Royal Perth Hospital facilities
THE PROMISE: To build a Medihotel, Urgent Care Clinic, innovation hub and Mental Health Observation Area at Royal Perth Hospital.
STATUS: There is no funding allocated for any Medihotel and innovation hub at Royal Perth Hospital.
Fiona Stanley Family Birthing Centre
THE PROMISE: A new family birth centre will be built at Fiona Stanley Hospital with the aim of ensuring the southern suburbs have a greater range of birthing options.
STATUS: There is no amount of funding allocated to a new family birth centre at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Aboriginal Medihotel
THE PROMISE: Mark McGowan promised to deliver an “Aboriginal Medihotel”.
STATUS: There is no funding whatsoever for the planning and/or construction of any “Aboriginal Medihotel” in the Budget.
Collie Hospital Upgrade
THE PROMISE: An additional $12.2 million to complete the upgrade to Collie Hospital.
STATUS: There is no funding in the 2017 WA Budget for the Collie Hospital upgrade.