Slow growth may hit social programs: WA THE Commonwealth is spending money it doesn't have and unrealistically raising expectations with its education and disability care reforms, the West Australian Premier says. Colin Barnett made the comment at a business function in Perth on Friday after newly-installed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he'd visit states that had not yet committed to the reforms - but omitted WA. "Policies like NDIS (the national disability insurance scheme) and Gonski sound fine and may well be raising expectations about social policy that may not be fulfilled," the Liberal leader said. With slower national economic growth, he questioned whether the programs could be delivered. Mr Barnett also said he expected Mr Rudd would do better in the polls than his predecessor, but predicted there would still be a change in government. BHP Billiton president of iron ore, Jimmy Wilson, told the forum it would be good if the man who pushed for a higher rate mining tax than the one eventually introduced could provide stability to the government and its dealings with the business community. Fortescue Metals chief executive Nev Power said it was important Mr Rudd re-engaged the Labor party with the business community, as he promised in his first public address after being reinstated on Wednesday. And Santos vice president of WA and Northern Territory, John Anderson, simply called for an election date.