KEEPING Western Australia's budget in surplus is going to be a close call, Premier Colin Barnett warns.
The budget, to be delivered on August 8, is expected to show a sharp drop in revenue due to volatile iron ore royalties and lower payroll tax receipts.
On top of falling revenue, the state government is spending big on new hospitals, a stadium and the controversial Elizabeth Quay waterfront development.
Since a prediction in last year's budget of a $196 million surplus for 2012/13, the WA government has changed its forecast three times.
In the Mid Year Economic Review released in December, it was reduced to $140 million.
In February's Pre-election Financial Projections Statement, a $241 million surplus was forecast.
But in May, Treasurer Troy Buswell said the surplus wouldn't be that high.
On Wednesday, Mr Barnett said the state government was doing everything it could to keep the budget in the black for the 2012/13 and current financial years.
"That's tough and it's going to be a tight call, and it's going to impact on public services - not greatly - but there will be an impact," he told ABC radio.
He expected "debate" around the impact but defended his government's cuts - which have ranged from axing public service jobs to a pre-June 30 ban on stationery purchases - saying other states hadn't made tough decisions to balance its books and were simply selling off assets.
He also defended former Energy Minister Peter Collier over the botched Muja power plant refurbishment, which wasted $280 million.
"This was a bungled project in every respect and I'm terribly embarrassed because I think it's the first major financial problem we've had as a state government," Mr Barnett said.
Opposition treasury spokesman Ben Wyatt said the Liberal leader had conveniently ignored almost $1 billion worth of cost blowouts, in the energy portfolio alone, under his watch.
"Colin Barnett displays extremely selective memory when it comes to his government's financial mismanagement," Mr Wyatt said.
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