WA Labor blasts 'dishonest budget'

WA Labor is claiming the government has released a dishonest budget that does not show the true effect of voluntary redundancies on departments.

West Australian health minister Kim Hames has denied the government hid cuts to departments in its budget.

Labor is claiming last week's state budget failed to disclose future cuts to departments that would flow on from the voluntary redundancy program, which aims to slash 1500 jobs by June 30.

So far, 420 health staff and 265 education workers have accepted redundancies.

Opposition finance spokeswoman Rita Saffioti said an honest budget would show $212 million in cuts from health, education and training over the next three years.

Ms Saffioti said the government would release the real figures in the mid-year economic review when it would be old news.

"This is a desperate government trying to hide the truth of a horrific and dishonest budget," she said.

Dr Hames told parliament on Thursday that no cuts were hidden in the budget.

"The state budget details an increase in funding for health," he said.

Treasurer Mike Nahan announced a $2.7 billion deficit - WA's first in 15 years - and a net debt projection of $32.7 billion by June 2016 in his second budget last week.

Labor says the budget is the "worst in WA's history".


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Source: AAP


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