Labor hands itself $1.6 billion blank cheque

Media Release | 19 March 2025

Sandra Brewer MLA
Shadow Treasurer; Shadow Minister for Housing; Women’s Interests

The Cook Labor Government’s secretive and unchecked spending has become a “blank
cheque for mismanagement” after legislation was introduced to double the limit of the
Treasurer’s Advance to $2.4 billion.

Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer said the legislation, being debated in Parliament this week,
has raised serious questions about the State Government’s transparency and financial
discipline.

“This Bill does nothing more than create a $1.6 billion blank cheque, with no clear explanation
of where the money is going,” Ms Brewer said.

The Mid-year Review, released in December, forecast only $801.8 million in spending from the
Advance, leaving around $400 million still available. Despite this, the Government is now
seeking a further $1.2 billion.

“This is now the seventh Treasurer’s Advance Authorisation Bill under WA Labor – clear proof
this mechanism is being abused year after year to cover chronic overspending,” Ms Brewer
said.

“The Treasurer’s Advance was designed for emergencies, not as a slush fund to clean up
Labor’s budgeting failures,” she said.

Ms Brewer said the Government had again failed to provide transparency on how the
additional funding would be spent.

“Yet again, there is no transparency – just concealment,” she said.

“While the Government points to pressures in health, energy and policing, these are not
unforeseen – they are the direct result of poor planning and delayed decisions.

“This isn’t unexpected spending, this is a bill for Labor’s incompetence.”

Ms Brewer said the Opposition will not oppose the Bill to ensure essential services continue,
but that did not remove the need for accountability.

“We will not stand in the way of keeping services running, but we will not stay silent while $1.6
billion is waved through without explanation,” she said.

“We will continue to hold this Government to account, not just for what it spends, but what it
delivers.”

Ms Brewer called on the Treasurer to use the upcoming Budget to restore fiscal discipline and
follow through on promised spending restraint.

ENDS