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AAP
AAP
Politics
Michael Ramsey

WA premier, Liberals in costings stoush

WA's Labor and Liberal parties are at odds over having their policies costed before the election. (AAP)

The West Australian Liberals are refusing to commit to having their policies costed by Treasury as potentially record numbers prepare to cast an early vote.

Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup is instead making a late push for Premier Mark McGowan to establish an independent parliamentary budget office ahead of the March election.

Labor had flagged its support for such an office while in opposition but has since backtracked from the commitment.

The premier on Wednesday rejected Mr Kirkup's request, saying Treasury stood ready to cost the opposition's policies.

"That's what they should do and they could get that done today," he told reporters.

"Treasury is available. We're submitting all our policies to Treasury for costing and we'll reveal all our costings on a weekly basis."

Talking up his government's economic achievements including returning the budget to surplus, Mr McGowan promised Labor's policies would be "modest and affordable".

He said the Liberals should not delay in having their policies costed given the high number of early votes expected to be cast.

An estimated 70 per cent of Queenslanders opted to vote before election day last year amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr Kirkup has refused to guarantee the Liberals will release all of their major policies before early voting begins on February 24.

He said his party would release costings in the final week of the campaign but the policies wouldn't be sent to "Labor-controlled" government agencies.

The first-term MP is facing an enormous challenge to ensure his depleted party retains all of its seats, let alone wins government.

"I suspect what we're seeing now is a Labor party who thinks this election is a foregone conclusion, that they can expect that they're going to be elected and that the votes of the West Australian people don't matter," he said.

"Nothing could be further from the truth.

"We need to make sure we have a comprehensive plan and a vision for the future of Western Australia to address the many challenges that we have."

Labor similarly refused to submit its policies to Treasury before the 2017 election, although its signature Metronet rail plan was costed before the 2013 poll.

Mr Kirkup has confirmed he will retain the health portfolio if elected as premier, saying his experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic would be valuable.

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