❓ Ms. Rowe asks the Treasurer for an update on WA's economic performance and its impact on jobs and businesses. The Treasurer highlights positive economic indicators and contrasts the government's stability with the opposition's perceived dysfunction.
AnsweredQoN 360Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY —
DIVERSITY
360. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Treasurer:
I refer to our Labor government's
responsible management of the state's finances and delivery of a strong
diversified economy.
(1) Can the
Treasurer update the house on recent economic data that shows Western Australia
continues to be the envy of the nation?
(2) Can the Treasurer outline to
the house what this means for local jobs, businesses and communities?
DIVERSITY
360. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Treasurer:
I refer to our Labor government's
responsible management of the state's finances and delivery of a strong
diversified economy.
(1) Can the
Treasurer update the house on recent economic data that shows Western Australia
continues to be the envy of the nation?
(2) Can the Treasurer outline to
the house what this means for local jobs, businesses and communities?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Belmont for the question. At the time of presenting the
budget, we outlined our plan for Western Australia—strong jobs growth,
strong management of finances, diversification of the economy and making sure
that there are jobs and opportunities for Western Australians around the state.
More recently, we had more good economic news for the state. State final demand
for the March quarter showed that the WA domestic economy grew by 5.5 per cent
in annual average terms. That is the strongest since June 2022 and double the
rate of the national economy. What has been fuelling our strong state final
demand? It is strong household consumption, strong dwelling investment, very
strong business investment and, of course, extremely strong government
investment.
Overall,
we continue to lead the nation in a number of factors. Of course, when we look
at all the indicators, when we look at retail trade, WA's growth
rate surpasses the national rate. On household spending, again, WA beats the national rate. On wages, our wage
price index has been stronger than the national rate; and, of course, when it comes to consumer sentiment and
credit card spending, the growth in WA has been stronger.
We
know the strength of the WA Labor government. Let us compare it with what is
happening on the other side—in particular, the Nationals WA,
which has just gone through its first round of preselections for the upper
house. I will show members a picture of the new team. Does anyone notice that
no existing member of the upper house got preselected in a winnable position?
The factions of the National Party are out to get each other! They are not
preselecting one existing member in the other place.
The SPEAKER : Treasurer, I would just ask you to come
back to the question that you were asked, please.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The key theme
of this question is strength and stability. That is what the WA Labor
government is presenting, as opposed to the chaos and dysfunction on the other
side. We will have more to say tomorrow about other things happening in the
National Party and some of the candidates it is looking at recruiting. We are
already seeing instability, chaos and dysfunction on the other side compared
with a government that continues to see the state leading the nation on all
economic and financial indicators.
thank the member for Belmont for the question. At the time of presenting the
budget, we outlined our plan for Western Australia—strong jobs growth,
strong management of finances, diversification of the economy and making sure
that there are jobs and opportunities for Western Australians around the state.
More recently, we had more good economic news for the state. State final demand
for the March quarter showed that the WA domestic economy grew by 5.5 per cent
in annual average terms. That is the strongest since June 2022 and double the
rate of the national economy. What has been fuelling our strong state final
demand? It is strong household consumption, strong dwelling investment, very
strong business investment and, of course, extremely strong government
investment.
Overall,
we continue to lead the nation in a number of factors. Of course, when we look
at all the indicators, when we look at retail trade, WA's growth
rate surpasses the national rate. On household spending, again, WA beats the national rate. On wages, our wage
price index has been stronger than the national rate; and, of course, when it comes to consumer sentiment and
credit card spending, the growth in WA has been stronger.
We
know the strength of the WA Labor government. Let us compare it with what is
happening on the other side—in particular, the Nationals WA,
which has just gone through its first round of preselections for the upper
house. I will show members a picture of the new team. Does anyone notice that
no existing member of the upper house got preselected in a winnable position?
The factions of the National Party are out to get each other! They are not
preselecting one existing member in the other place.
The SPEAKER : Treasurer, I would just ask you to come
back to the question that you were asked, please.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The key theme
of this question is strength and stability. That is what the WA Labor
government is presenting, as opposed to the chaos and dysfunction on the other
side. We will have more to say tomorrow about other things happening in the
National Party and some of the candidates it is looking at recruiting. We are
already seeing instability, chaos and dysfunction on the other side compared
with a government that continues to see the state leading the nation on all
economic and financial indicators.
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