Budget 'does nothing to improve lives'

Kimberley MP Josie Farrer has told State Parliament the Barnett Government "should be ashamed" of its Budget, which she says does nothing to improve the lives of people living in the Kimberley.

In her speech to Parliament last Tuesday, she singled out families struggling to cope with rising costs and slammed GP co-payments by the Federal and State governments as a deterrent for low-income earners to see a doctor because they would not be able to afford basic consultations.

"Will people be able to pay for medical treatment using their basic card and, seeing as they can't pay for taxis with their basic cards, will the hospitals provide transportation as the Aboriginal medical clinics do?" she said.

Ms Farrer questioned whether the public health system would be able to manage with the influx of public demand.

"Let's remember that it is not uncommon for 20 people to be living in one house in my electorate," she said.

"This is not acceptable and residents in my electorate will feel the full force of this cruelty."

Referring to rising electricity costs, she said not all West Australians were lucky enough to live in Cottesloe where "they can open their window and have the Fremantle Doctor drift through their house".

She said it was predicted the average family would be $344 a year poorer after power price rises and water charges were also on the increase.

Ms Farrer also asked when serious funding would be available for youth justice programs and suicide awareness.

The public sector allowance to help offset the high cost of living in the North West will be cut for about 7000 workers from $2248 to $693 a fortnight over two years, something Ms Farrer feared would lead to a decrease of skilled workers remaining in the Kimberley.