JOURNALIST:
Can you blame federal issues for the W.A. Labor victory on the weekend?
TREASURER:
The West Australian election is decided, as these things always are, by what people think of the incumbent Government, the issues that are at stake and what is on the minds of those particular voters. But one of the observations that you can make is that One Nation delivered Labor into Government, and nobody should be in any doubt about that. One Nation delivered Labor into Government and a vote for One Nation is a vote for a Labor Government and Western Australia illustrates it, and Mrs Hanson has made it clear that that is what she intends to do federally.
JOURNALIST:
There must be a real concern for the Government for the upcoming Federal election?
TREASURER:
Well, I think Kim Beazley has now decided that he can surf One Nation into office. That is what he intends to do, to surf One Nation into office and he has seen that happen in Western Australia, he no doubt hopes that it will happen federally as well. But if you ever wanted any conclusive proof, you saw it in Western Australia on the weekend, that supporting One Nation leads to a Labor Government and people who vote for One Nation should be under no misapprehension that that is what it leads to. That is what happened in Western Australia and Kim Beazley hopes that it will happen federally too.
JOURNALIST:
Is it Kim Beazleys fault? I mean its One Nation thats doing this not the Opposition Leader?
TREASURER:
Well, lets look at Queensland. In Queensland, Mr Beattie doesnt preference against One Nation. Mr Beattie is quite happy to try and do the same thing and there is the evidence. Geoff Gallop got into office on the back of One Nation and Kim Beazley hopes to do the same.
He doesnt put any of his own policies forward, just hopes to surf into office on a One Nation protest vote.
JOURNALIST:
Will you be making decisions on BAS today? The Prime Minister didnt rule out deciding whether there should be annual statements.
TREASURER:
We look at all these issues today but what we discuss in the Cabinet, as you know, is always between Cabinet members.
Thanks.