❓ Mr. Norberger asks about job figures for construction projects managed by the Department of Finance's Building Management and Works. The Minister responds by highlighting the government's job creation record and criticises the opposition's policies.
AnsweredQoN 926Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUILDING
MANAGEMENT AND WORKS — CONSTRUCTION JOBS
926. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Finance:
Can the minister please update the house on the latest job
figures for construction projects being managed by the Department of Finance's
Building Management and Works?
MANAGEMENT AND WORKS — CONSTRUCTION JOBS
926. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Finance:
Can the minister please update the house on the latest job
figures for construction projects being managed by the Department of Finance's
Building Management and Works?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question, because this is not a Liberal–National
government that talks about creating jobs. This is not a Liberal–National
government that has a slogan for creating jobs. This is a Liberal–National
government that can stand on its eight-year record up to the next election and
beyond for creating thousands and thousands of jobs throughout Western Australia.
The building and construction industry has a key role in driving the Western Australian
economy and of providing employment for many Western Australians. We are proud,
and have a proud track record, of creating local jobs on government-funded
projects. There have been 1 700 jobs created due to work on four primary
schools to commence this year. Around 6 300 further jobs have been created
under recently awarded contracts by the Department of Finance's
Building Management and Works, including three new police stations, additions
to the Challenger Institute of Technology, and redevelopment of the Collie,
Katanning and Warren health services.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : We know about the member for Cockburn's
strong ties to the union movement.
Mr
F.M. Logan : You're right.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : We understand that. The member for Cockburn should
know more than anyone that what was evidenced in the recent United States
election was a move away from the political establishment. Can I just say that
the political establishment that he and the Leader of the Opposition represent,
the left union political elite, who wish to dominate construction sites, will
damage jobs, not create jobs. We have made major additions to Fremantle College
and Joseph Banks Secondary College. The member for Bassendean would do well to
listen to this.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, through the Chair, please.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : There are other things, like Byford Secondary
College stage 3 and Yanchep District High School; and, just over the way here
from Parliament House, members can see the restoration of the facade of Dumas
House.
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : We could certainly do some facade work on the
member for Bassendean! We are about policies that help support businesses both
in metropolitan Perth and regional WA. In fact, our Buy Local policy and the
sub-policies that we —
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, you have got 30 seconds; through the Chair.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : I will need a little bit more, Mr Speaker. We have
the Buy Local policy, and the data shows us that in 2015–16, 90 per
cent of the suppliers —
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : — that were awarded government contracts
were WA-based suppliers. What is equally important is that 35 per cent of the
suppliers that were awarded contracts were small businesses. In the regions, 74
per cent of regional goods and services contracts were awarded to regional
suppliers. We are not a government that runs a slogan on more jobs. We are a government
that actually delivers more jobs. Can I just say that I know the member for
Albany loves looking at his red book—the Labor platform. That is a very,
very important document that the people of Western Australia are encouraged to
read. They need to look at the detail. When we talk about building and
construction that creates jobs, I can tell members now that the people of Western
Australia do not want to have the Labor Party leading them, because its policy
says that construction sites must take a positive approach towards the rights
of trade unions and their members and respect the right of employees to become
members of the appropriate union. It goes on to say that individual employment
contracts should not be promoted as a mechanism to undermine collective
bargaining, and that WA Labor expects that companies will ensure that any
subcontractors will also —
The
SPEAKER : Minister, I have given you some leeway. Now wind it up. Thank you.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : What is really significant is that Paul Murray in
his recent —
The
SPEAKER : Sit down. That is enough. Next question, thank you.
government that talks about creating jobs. This is not a Liberal–National
government that has a slogan for creating jobs. This is a Liberal–National
government that can stand on its eight-year record up to the next election and
beyond for creating thousands and thousands of jobs throughout Western Australia.
The building and construction industry has a key role in driving the Western Australian
economy and of providing employment for many Western Australians. We are proud,
and have a proud track record, of creating local jobs on government-funded
projects. There have been 1 700 jobs created due to work on four primary
schools to commence this year. Around 6 300 further jobs have been created
under recently awarded contracts by the Department of Finance's
Building Management and Works, including three new police stations, additions
to the Challenger Institute of Technology, and redevelopment of the Collie,
Katanning and Warren health services.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : We know about the member for Cockburn's
strong ties to the union movement.
Mr
F.M. Logan : You're right.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : We understand that. The member for Cockburn should
know more than anyone that what was evidenced in the recent United States
election was a move away from the political establishment. Can I just say that
the political establishment that he and the Leader of the Opposition represent,
the left union political elite, who wish to dominate construction sites, will
damage jobs, not create jobs. We have made major additions to Fremantle College
and Joseph Banks Secondary College. The member for Bassendean would do well to
listen to this.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, through the Chair, please.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : There are other things, like Byford Secondary
College stage 3 and Yanchep District High School; and, just over the way here
from Parliament House, members can see the restoration of the facade of Dumas
House.
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : We could certainly do some facade work on the
member for Bassendean! We are about policies that help support businesses both
in metropolitan Perth and regional WA. In fact, our Buy Local policy and the
sub-policies that we —
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, you have got 30 seconds; through the Chair.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : I will need a little bit more, Mr Speaker. We have
the Buy Local policy, and the data shows us that in 2015–16, 90 per
cent of the suppliers —
Mr
D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : — that were awarded government contracts
were WA-based suppliers. What is equally important is that 35 per cent of the
suppliers that were awarded contracts were small businesses. In the regions, 74
per cent of regional goods and services contracts were awarded to regional
suppliers. We are not a government that runs a slogan on more jobs. We are a government
that actually delivers more jobs. Can I just say that I know the member for
Albany loves looking at his red book—the Labor platform. That is a very,
very important document that the people of Western Australia are encouraged to
read. They need to look at the detail. When we talk about building and
construction that creates jobs, I can tell members now that the people of Western
Australia do not want to have the Labor Party leading them, because its policy
says that construction sites must take a positive approach towards the rights
of trade unions and their members and respect the right of employees to become
members of the appropriate union. It goes on to say that individual employment
contracts should not be promoted as a mechanism to undermine collective
bargaining, and that WA Labor expects that companies will ensure that any
subcontractors will also —
The
SPEAKER : Minister, I have given you some leeway. Now wind it up. Thank you.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : What is really significant is that Paul Murray in
his recent —
The
SPEAKER : Sit down. That is enough. Next question, thank you.
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