Basil Zempilas 10 Things: Budget estimates show that some ministers are making guesstimates

1. It’s called estimates, but after having sat through it front and centre this week, I reckon for some ministers it’s more like guesstimates. Budget estimates is the brief political window which opens for three days every year in State Parliament following the Budget. Members of the Opposition have the opportunity to quiz ministers and senior public servants on the government’s spending. With just a day to run, it’s very clear which ministers know their stuff, and which ones have skimmed the briefing notes in the car on the way to work.

2. The other great curiosity of Estimates is which minister is responsible for answering which questions. Sometimes they don’t even know. Like on Tuesday when I tried to ask about Roger’s rugby team and was told by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby I’d need to ask Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti, who later in the day told me I’d need to ask the Tourism Minister. Yes minister.

3. The Deputy Premier was more forthcoming on questions about the racetrack at Burswood Park. I suppose when everyone calls it Rita’s racetrack, it’s hard not to own it. We learned the $217.5 million dollars the State Government has told everyone the racetrack will cost is only an estimate based on a draft assessment, not the final cost. The other revelation: no land needs to be acquired from neighbouring Crown Resorts to complete the racetrack.

4. That last point is particularly interesting, because it’s not what community members were told at recent Optus Stadium consultation sessions.

5. Estimates also helped us better understand that the solar batteries households are signing up for under the $5000 State-Federal rebate scheme will actually be used to keep the lights on — for everyone. Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson confirmed the power you store in your solar battery will be accessible by the Government to put back into the grid 30 times per year to help make up any peak demand shortfalls.

6. Here’s something else I learned: to make the expansion of the ferry service possible east of the Causeway, the bridge may need to have some of its under carriage scraped away so the boats can fit underneath.

7. Remember the debt monster of 2017? It feels like he’s warming up for a grand return.

8. My guess is most parents think two weeks of school holidays in the middle of the year is more than enough.

9. It’s a footy moment most West Australians will never forget. Dom Sheed’s match winner in the 2018 grand final was as good as it gets. Congrats Dom, enjoy the next chapter.

10. Huge congratulations to my old teammate Paul Sanzone on steering West Perth to a win in his first game as senior coach. The circumstances of him taking over may not have been ideal, but what a way to get the club back on track.