❓ Mr. Nalder questions the Treasurer on rising unemployment figures, attributing them to the current government. The Treasurer deflects, blaming the previous Liberal government's economic performance and highlighting improvements under his leadership.
AnsweredQoN 92Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY —
UNEMPLOYMENT
92. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question.
Just for the Treasurer's benefit—I assume he must have missed
the announcement today —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I will
hear it in silence.
Mr D.C. NALDER : Today it was
announced that the unemployment rate is 6.8 per cent and that 97 600 Western Australians—the
most in the state's history—are seeking a job. What does the
Treasurer have to say to the people of Western Australia about his unenviable
title as the Treasurer who has delivered the highest number of unemployed in Western
Australia's history?
UNEMPLOYMENT
92. Mr D.C. NALDER to the Treasurer:
I have a supplementary question.
Just for the Treasurer's benefit—I assume he must have missed
the announcement today —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I will
hear it in silence.
Mr D.C. NALDER : Today it was
announced that the unemployment rate is 6.8 per cent and that 97 600 Western Australians—the
most in the state's history—are seeking a job. What does the
Treasurer have to say to the people of Western Australia about his unenviable
title as the Treasurer who has delivered the highest number of unemployed in Western
Australia's history?
AnswerView source ↗
What
do I have to say to them? Thank God the Liberals are no longer in power! When
the Liberals were in power, they did not have a hope of finding a job—not
a hope in hell—because what the Liberal government did was drive the
state into recession! The former government was losing 17 000 jobs a year.
People could not find a job. Western Australia's confidence was shot. I
remind everyone again: when businesses were asked for their views on their
confidence in the economy and the jobs market when Mike Nahan was the Treasurer
of this state, they equated him to the global financial crisis when it came to
confidence data. We are now seeing that confidence data increasing.
Dr M.D. Nahan : Where did you
get that?
Mr B.S. WYATT : Jobs are being
created. I know it stings, Mike, I know it stings, but that is the reality.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
Point of order!
Mr B.S. WYATT : I apologise:
Member for Riverton. I know it stings, member for Riverton, but that is the
reality. After two years, I think we are starting to get the economy back on
track.
Dr M.D. Nahan : I see: a 6.8 per
cent unemployment rate is not too bad!
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr B.S. WYATT : I am glad it
has come down from 8.6 per cent, just quietly.
Dr M.D. Nahan : That is what
you said—''not too bad''.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the second time. Treasurer, will you get to
the end of this, please.
Mr B.S. WYATT : I will get
there, Mr Speaker; do not worry.
Importantly, what is going on is
that jobs are being created. That bothers members opposite, it embarrasses them
and it harms them, but I will be reminding everyone. To answer the member for
Bateman's question, I am delighted that I am the Treasurer who has
returned the economy to growth, will return the finances to surplus, will be
the first Treasurer since Eric Ripper to actually pay down debt, and will
deliver jobs growth for Western Australia, unlike the record of the Leader of
the Opposition.
do I have to say to them? Thank God the Liberals are no longer in power! When
the Liberals were in power, they did not have a hope of finding a job—not
a hope in hell—because what the Liberal government did was drive the
state into recession! The former government was losing 17 000 jobs a year.
People could not find a job. Western Australia's confidence was shot. I
remind everyone again: when businesses were asked for their views on their
confidence in the economy and the jobs market when Mike Nahan was the Treasurer
of this state, they equated him to the global financial crisis when it came to
confidence data. We are now seeing that confidence data increasing.
Dr M.D. Nahan : Where did you
get that?
Mr B.S. WYATT : Jobs are being
created. I know it stings, Mike, I know it stings, but that is the reality.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
Point of order!
Mr B.S. WYATT : I apologise:
Member for Riverton. I know it stings, member for Riverton, but that is the
reality. After two years, I think we are starting to get the economy back on
track.
Dr M.D. Nahan : I see: a 6.8 per
cent unemployment rate is not too bad!
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr B.S. WYATT : I am glad it
has come down from 8.6 per cent, just quietly.
Dr M.D. Nahan : That is what
you said—''not too bad''.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the second time. Treasurer, will you get to
the end of this, please.
Mr B.S. WYATT : I will get
there, Mr Speaker; do not worry.
Importantly, what is going on is
that jobs are being created. That bothers members opposite, it embarrasses them
and it harms them, but I will be reminding everyone. To answer the member for
Bateman's question, I am delighted that I am the Treasurer who has
returned the economy to growth, will return the finances to surplus, will be
the first Treasurer since Eric Ripper to actually pay down debt, and will
deliver jobs growth for Western Australia, unlike the record of the Leader of
the Opposition.
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