Opposition questions the Premier's new 'Plan for Jobs' given the state's high unemployment rate following the 2017 election plan. The Premier defends the plan, citing advice from an inquiry and highlighting job creation and economic initiatives since taking office, while criticizing the previous government's economic performance.

AnsweredQoN 71Legislative Assembly
Asked
20 February 2019
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

PLAN FOR JOBS
71. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
How does the Premier honestly expect
the people of Western Australia to believe the Plan for Jobs he released today
when the Plan for Jobs announced in the 2017 election has delivered Western Australia
the highest unemployment rate in the nation?

AnswerView source ↗

Today the government launched a range
of targets that we want to achieve improved outcomes for on behalf of the
people of Western Australia over the course of the medium and long term for the
state. I think having a target for Western Australia is a very good idea.
Indeed, we have followed the advice of the special inquiry undertaken by an
eminent Western Australian, Mr John Langoulant, and as part of his inquiry he
recommended that there be an overarching plan for the state. He indicated that
as part of his report, which we released last year, and he said this about the
former government —
The lack of a coherent, co-ordinated
State plan from the Government meant policy development and financial
management were uncoordinated and constantly in ''catch up''
mode.
He indicated that the government
needed to have a plan because the Liberal and National Parties did not have
one. In effect, they were two governments.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : We announced today
that part of our plan, considering the Leader of the Opposition touched on it —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, if you
listen, you will hear it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : — is
to ensure that the government provides from June 2017 to June 2024 an
additional 150 000 jobs across Western Australia.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I want
to hear this and I do not want to hear any interjections.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : That builds on the
more than 31 000 jobs this government has created since we came to office.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hang on; I want
to compare the 25 000 jobs that were lost in the last 18 months of the last
Liberal government. You might recall, Mr Speaker, that the last Liberal
government threw the state's economy into the first recession recorded
in Western Australian history.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The last
Liberal government lost our state forty thousand million dollars. Our plan is
to start create more jobs.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : There is just a wall
of noise. I will just start calling you all to order and you can go home early.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I want to
outline to the house that we have already done the Western Australian Jobs Act.
We have the Western Australian Industry Link online portal to support local
businesses.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We intervened
to secure the Albemarle project and MRL's Koolyanobbing activities—600
jobs in the member for Roe's electorate. There is the local capability
fund and Infrastructure WA, which we introduced today. We are building
Metronet. We have a range of improvements, including the local railcar
manufacturing strategy. Remember railcar manufacturing under the last
government? We got two per cent; the windows were tinted here under the
Liberals and Nationals. Over Christmas we secured the Perth to Tokyo flights.
We secured additional cruise ships in Western Australia. We brought the
manufacturing of the Swan River Matagarup Bridge back into Western Australia.
We put in place important protections for subcontractors. We cut red tape with
liquor reforms. There is Defence West. We are capitalising on our battery
industry.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They do not
like it, Mr Speaker.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
You are asking a question and then you are answering it. I want to hear the
answer from the Premier.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They do not
like it, because they sent the state into recession. They lost tens of
thousands of jobs. This government has pulled this state out of recession —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — and
has created more than 30 000 jobs.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Liberal
and National Parties were completely useless. Its members sit there grinning
like a bunch of fools, but the reality is that this government is putting in
place numerous initiatives to create jobs, opportunities and confidence in Western
Australia.

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