Key reactions to the WA budget

REACTIONS TO THE WA BUDGET:

* Labor Opposition - Says the Liberal government has no plan for jobs, no plan for congestion and no hope for West Australians. The Barnett government's legacy is a financial wreck, with record debt and deficit, jobs losses and privatisation confusion

* Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA - Calls it a sensible budget with no new taxes. Supports budget measures to broaden the economy, regain the AAA credit rating and keep spending under control. Also supports privatising Western Power and selling Horizon Power's poles and wires in the Pilbara

* Electrical Trades Union WA - Describes the budget as a disaster. Opposes the possible sale of Western Power because it will rob the state of hundreds of millions of dollars in income, and the network will be a less reliable system. Likens it to selling an investment property to pay a couple of year's worth of a mortgage

* Community and Public Sector Union - Supports lifting the job freeze but says the damage is already done and the WA government is using the public service to pay for its wasteful spending

* Unions WA - Expects expenditure review flagged for 54 agencies will result in cuts and will affect working families

* State School Teachers Union WA - Says education workers are being asked to do more with less and students are suffering. Expects kindergartens and TAFEs to be hardest hit

* Association of Mining and Exploration Companies - Applauds $41 million allocated over three years to assist the magnetite iron ore industry, comprising a 50 per cent rebate of royalty payments on a case-by-case basis, and says a similar scheme should be made available for other commodities such as nickel

* Housing Industry Association - Welcomes the continuation of the first home owners grant, stamp duty exemptions and concessions, and continued investment in affordable housing.