❓ Mrs. Harvey questions Premier McGowan on WA's low wages growth, citing ABS data. McGowan defends his government's economic performance, highlighting job creation, surplus, and investment, while acknowledging challenges like coronavirus.
AnsweredQoN 67Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY —
WAGES GROWTH
67. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I refer to the Australian Bureau of
Statistics data released this morning on wages growth, which stated that Western
Australia recorded the lowest growth in the country for six consecutive
quarters. Why is the Premier the worst performing Premier in the country on
wages growth after three years in government?
WAGES GROWTH
67. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I refer to the Australian Bureau of
Statistics data released this morning on wages growth, which stated that Western
Australia recorded the lowest growth in the country for six consecutive
quarters. Why is the Premier the worst performing Premier in the country on
wages growth after three years in government?
AnswerView source ↗
The data released this morning
indicated that annual wages growth is 1.6 per cent, which is higher than when
we came to government. Private sector wages growth has been significantly
stronger. Obviously, we have had a wages policy designed to improve the debt
and deficit situation we inherited, which was diabolical, if you would excuse
the alliteration, Mr Speaker. Obviously, public sector wages growth has not
been as strong as private sector wages growth,
but that is a reflection of the reality of the situation we face. Clearly, the
economy has improved significantly . There have been 50 000 new jobs
created and the state is back in surplus. There has been a significant
improvement in retail and in business confidence and a significant improvement
in the rental vacancy situation; by that I mean a decline in the rental vacancy
situation, which indicates that over time there will be increasing demand for
housing across Western Australia. There has been a major increase in mining
investment, and we saw some positive announcements last week when it came to
the Scarborough project. In terms of the threats that face the state, as I have
said on numerous occasions, what has erupted over the last three weeks with the
coronavirus is a significant threat to Western Australia. This morning, BHP
indicated that it is a threat to its operations and a potential threat to its
revenues, and if it is a threat to BHP's revenues, it is a threat to Western
Australia's.
The SPEAKER : Member for South
Perth!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We face
significant headwinds, but the people of Western Australia can be confident
that they have a stable, responsible and competent government in place in Western
Australia.
indicated that annual wages growth is 1.6 per cent, which is higher than when
we came to government. Private sector wages growth has been significantly
stronger. Obviously, we have had a wages policy designed to improve the debt
and deficit situation we inherited, which was diabolical, if you would excuse
the alliteration, Mr Speaker. Obviously, public sector wages growth has not
been as strong as private sector wages growth,
but that is a reflection of the reality of the situation we face. Clearly, the
economy has improved significantly . There have been 50 000 new jobs
created and the state is back in surplus. There has been a significant
improvement in retail and in business confidence and a significant improvement
in the rental vacancy situation; by that I mean a decline in the rental vacancy
situation, which indicates that over time there will be increasing demand for
housing across Western Australia. There has been a major increase in mining
investment, and we saw some positive announcements last week when it came to
the Scarborough project. In terms of the threats that face the state, as I have
said on numerous occasions, what has erupted over the last three weeks with the
coronavirus is a significant threat to Western Australia. This morning, BHP
indicated that it is a threat to its operations and a potential threat to its
revenues, and if it is a threat to BHP's revenues, it is a threat to Western
Australia's.
The SPEAKER : Member for South
Perth!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We face
significant headwinds, but the people of Western Australia can be confident
that they have a stable, responsible and competent government in place in Western
Australia.
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