Western Australian households will have to pay at least $882 each to fund the first year deficit of a Liberal/National government.
The tax will have to be maintained for a full four-year term and remain as high as $527 per household in the last year.
The Premier said today costings produced by the Government showed that funding of the Opposition's election promises would produce a State Budget deficit of between $471 million and $758 million a year depending on the government in Canberra.
This projected deficit had not been disputed by the Opposition Leader.
Instead, he had been forced to admit that tax increases would be needed to fund his election promises.
Dr Lawrence said the shortfall would have to be met by every Western Australian family.
"A household tax, or poll tax is definitely part of the conservative tax agenda," said the Premier.
In submissions to Government released by Dr Lawrence today, two interest groups closely associated with the Opposition's election campaign strongly advocated such a tax.
"Their recommendations are also in line with the Liberal's political partner - the National Party - which has raised the possibility of a poll tax," she said.
In its submission, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry recommended:
`That the Government investigate ways in which householders currently exempt from land tax and metropolitan region improvement tax can make an equitable contribution to the cost of administering Western Australia.'
And Mr Philip Achurch of the Small Business and Enterprise Association Inc proposed the introduction of a general community tax.
In his submission, Mr Achurch said: "The General Community Tax should be applied to all working adults of 18 years, or over in WA," and that "each working adult of 18 years, or over in WA should then be required to pay a fixed quantum each year."
The Premier said these proposals were rejected by the Government.
The National Party's former spokesperson on local government, Bob Wiese, said the party was committed to a public inquiry into the desirability of a poll tax.
"In Victoria, electors were not told until after the election that a new tax would be levied on all households and introduced within weeks," Dr Lawrence said.
"The WA Opposition cannot fund its election promises through existing taxation revenue.
"In refusing to disclose his taxation agenda and his election costings until the last days of the campaign, the Opposition leader is being less than honest with the people of this State.
"His refusal to inform electors of his tax plans and election costings is in stark contrast to his campaign speech which made much of his stand against dishonesty."
