Barnett lashes foreign property buyer plan

WA Premier Colin Barnett has lashed Labor's plan to fund a TAFE fee freeze by making foreign residential property buyers pay a stamp duty surcharge, labelling it anti-investment.

The opposition announced the policy at their recent election campaign launch, saying TAFE fees had gone up 500 per cent under the Barnett government.

A surcharge on foreign property buyers was working in Queensland and Victoria and had been introduced in NSW, opposition leader Mark McGowan added.

But Treasurer Mike Nahan recently deemed the four per cent surcharge a breach of Labor's promise not to introduce new and increase taxes, while Mr Barnett took aim at the plan on Wednesday.

"Many of the people from Asia who invest and buy apartments and townhouses here do it to support their children's university education," the premier told reporters.

However Mr McGowan says TAFE is no longer affordable to average West Australians and foreign property speculators should pay their fair share.