A clear majority of voters in marginal State Government electorates believe State Government revenue has increased, since Colin Barnett became Premier in 2008.

A Western Australian Opinion Polls (WAOP) poll of 400 voters in the marginal seats of Swan Hills, Riverton, Wanneroo and Mount Lawley in the fortnight leading up to last week’s State Budget, found 50.7 per cent of voters believed revenue had increased.  Only 9.8 per cent of respondents believed revenue had decreased, with 10.6 per cent indicating it had stayed about the same and 28.9 per cent unsure.

The results indicated public opinion is aligned with the reality of the Barnett Government’s revenue performance since it was elected.   In the Carpenter Government’s last year in office (2007/08), the State Government received a total of $19.3billion in revenue.  In 2012/13, the Barnett Government is expected to receive $25.5billion, an increase of 32 per cent.  After adjusting for inflation, Treasurer Christian Porter is currently presiding over a budget 14.7 per cent bigger, in real terms, than Eric Ripper presided over during his last full year as Treasurer.

Download our May 2012 edition of the Capital Report here.