Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to the Treasurer's last answer where he confirmed that he was told of the increase in royalties in the Western Australian budget the following day and I ask the Treasurer how he reconciles that statement with his statement two days later to the Australian people:

… Mr Barnett did not communicate that he was going to do this to us … what Mr Barnett has done here is just very strange. He didn't communicate with us about this move in this budget. He didn't get our tick. He didn't discuss it with us. And Mr Barnett I think is simply playing a political game.

Treasurer, do you still stand by your words?

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