LEGISLATIVE Councillors have slammed claims that rejecting wage freeze legislation is equivalent to blocking budget supply, saying that the argument is "absolute rubbish". Treasurer Peter Gutwein told a Budget Estimates Committee yesterday that his government's proposed "pay pause" was inextricably linked to its budget, and blocking the measure would effectively halt funding to key government services. Legislation underpinning the controversial wage freeze will be up to MLCs to accept or reject after sailing through the Liberal-dominated House of Assembly. "What we're hoping is that the upper house see the sense in ensuring we can put the budget on a pathway to surplus," Mr Gutwein said. A number of Legislative Councillors yesterday lashed out at Mr Gutwein, saying linking barring the wage freeze to blocking supply was a "desperate, baseless and unfair" threat. Yesterday's was the last in a string of warnings that the government has levelled at MLCs over Budget Estimates week in relation to the legislation. Upper house MPs were this week told rejecting the freeze would damage the state's credit rating, after earlier hearing there was no "Plan B" and 500 public sector jobs would be cut if the measure did not pass into law. The wage freeze, which is forecast to save about $180 million over four years, is a separate piece of legislation from the Liberals' budget bills. Apsley Independent MLC Tania Rattray said: "Blocking supply and potentially not supporting a government policy are two entirely different things. "Nobody ever reacts well to threats, and this MLC is no exception." Rosevears Independent MLC Kerry Finch added: "If the government think the Legislative Council can be pressured like this, they may have to think again." According to Western Tiers Independent MLC Greg Hall, if the wage freeze does not pass and the Liberals refuse to borrow money to cover their spending, any public sector job losses incurred will be their own responsibility. Blocking supply usually means cutting a government off from its regular funding streams, forcing an election. Rumney Independent MLC Tony Mulder and Murchison Independent MLC Ruth Forrest both said that if the government wanted to call an election over its wage freeze policy, it should do so.
LEGISLATIVE Councillors have slammed claims that rejecting wage freeze legislation is equivalent to blocking budget supply, saying that the argument is "absolute rubbish".
Treasurer Peter Gutwein told a Budget Estimates Committee yesterday that his government's proposed "pay pause" was inextricably linked to its budget, and blocking the measure would effectively halt funding to key government services.
Legislation underpinning the controversial wage freeze will be up to MLCs to accept or reject after sailing through the Liberal-dominated House of Assembly.
"What we're hoping is that the upper house see the sense in ensuring we can put the budget on a pathway to surplus," Mr Gutwein said.
A number of Legislative Councillors yesterday lashed out at Mr Gutwein, saying linking barring the wage freeze to blocking supply was a "desperate, baseless and unfair" threat.
Yesterday's was the last in a string of warnings that the government has levelled at MLCs over Budget Estimates week in relation to the legislation.
Upper house MPs were this week told rejecting the freeze would damage the state's credit rating, after earlier hearing there was no "Plan B" and 500 public sector jobs would be cut if the measure did not pass into law.
The wage freeze, which is forecast to save about $180 million over four years, is a separate piece of legislation from the Liberals' budget bills.
Apsley Independent MLC Tania Rattray said: "Blocking supply and potentially not supporting a government policy are two entirely different things.
"Nobody ever reacts well to threats, and this MLC is no exception."
Rosevears Independent MLC Kerry Finch added: "If the government think the Legislative Council can be pressured like this, they may have to think again."
According to Western Tiers Independent MLC Greg Hall, if the wage freeze does not pass and the Liberals refuse to borrow money to cover their spending, any public sector job losses incurred will be their own responsibility.
Blocking supply usually means cutting a government off from its regular funding streams, forcing an election.
Rumney Independent MLC Tony Mulder and Murchison Independent MLC Ruth Forrest both said that if the government wanted to call an election over its wage freeze policy, it should do so.
