❓ The Treasurer outlines how WA's economic growth will be sustained under a Rudd Labor government, contrasting it with the Howard government's perceived lack of investment in WA infrastructure and highlighting Rudd's commitment to the state.
AnsweredQoN 748Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY - GROWTH UNDER RUDD LABOR GOVERNMENT
Can the Treasurer outline how Western Australia will be even better placed to sustain its incredible economic growth under a Rudd Labor government? Mr E.S. RIPPER
Can the Treasurer outline how Western Australia will be even better placed to sustain its incredible economic growth under a Rudd Labor government? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
The Howard government was missing in action when it came to our infrastructure. It took the cash and spent it elsewhere in the country, compromising the nation’s economic outcomes and demonstrably not achieving the political outcomes that it sought with the money that it raised in Western Australia. Members of the Howard government barely ever came to this state. All they were interested in in this state was the cash flow from resources development, which they could give back in pork-barrelling to eastern seaboard electorates, ultimately, not even to the political effect that they sought. In contrast, the Prime Minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, has long acknowledged the importance of Western Australia. He has been listening to the concerns of the Western Australian community and the Western Australian government. He has been a regular visitor to the state. He will have regional cabinet meetings in Western Australia. He has pledged - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The Howard government was missing in action when it came to our infrastructure. It took the cash and spent it elsewhere in the country, compromising the nation’s economic outcomes and demonstrably not achieving the political outcomes that it sought with the money that it raised in Western Australia. Members of the Howard government barely ever came to this state. All they were interested in in this state was the cash flow from resources development, which they could give back in pork-barrelling to eastern seaboard electorates, ultimately, not even to the political effect that they sought. In contrast, the Prime Minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, has long acknowledged the importance of Western Australia. He has been listening to the concerns of the Western Australian community and the Western Australian government. He has been a regular visitor to the state. He will have regional cabinet meetings in Western Australia. He has pledged - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The Howard government was missing in action when it came to our infrastructure. It took the cash and spent it elsewhere in the country, compromising the nation’s economic outcomes and demonstrably not achieving the political outcomes that it sought with the money that it raised in Western Australia. Members of the Howard government barely ever came to this state. All they were interested in in this state was the cash flow from resources development, which they could give back in pork-barrelling to eastern seaboard electorates, ultimately, not even to the political effect that they sought. In contrast, the Prime Minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, has long acknowledged the importance of Western Australia. He has been listening to the concerns of the Western Australian community and the Western Australian government. He has been a regular visitor to the state. He will have regional cabinet meetings in Western Australia. He has pledged - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: The Howard government was missing in action when it came to our infrastructure. It took the cash and spent it elsewhere in the country, compromising the nation’s economic outcomes and demonstrably not achieving the political outcomes that it sought with the money that it raised in Western Australia. Members of the Howard government barely ever came to this state. All they were interested in in this state was the cash flow from resources development, which they could give back in pork-barrelling to eastern seaboard electorates, ultimately, not even to the political effect that they sought. In contrast, the Prime Minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, has long acknowledged the importance of Western Australia. He has been listening to the concerns of the Western Australian community and the Western Australian government. He has been a regular visitor to the state. He will have regional cabinet meetings in Western Australia. He has pledged - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The Howard government was missing in action when it came to our infrastructure. It took the cash and spent it elsewhere in the country, compromising the nation’s economic outcomes and demonstrably not achieving the political outcomes that it sought with the money that it raised in Western Australia. Members of the Howard government barely ever came to this state. All they were interested in in this state was the cash flow from resources development, which they could give back in pork-barrelling to eastern seaboard electorates, ultimately, not even to the political effect that they sought. In contrast, the Prime Minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, has long acknowledged the importance of Western Australia. He has been listening to the concerns of the Western Australian community and the Western Australian government. He has been a regular visitor to the state. He will have regional cabinet meetings in Western Australia. He has pledged - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth and the member for Avon to order for the first time. Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Mr T. Buswell : What have you done to Kim Wilkie? The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The SPEAKER : I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : What about the member for Perth? The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The SPEAKER : Member for Carine! Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : I was just pointing out the member for Perth. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Carine to order for the first time. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I am so disappointed to have those interjections because I was just about to explain to the house that we are looking to the $100 million a year infrastructure fund from the Pluto and Gorgon royalties that Kevin Rudd has promised to this state. That is something we never got from John Howard or Peter Costello. We need it when we look at the forthcoming developments that we can expect in this state. Last night in London Rio Tinto announced plans to more than double its iron ore production in the Pilbara. It has a new target of 420 million tonnes per annum. While that was happening, I attended the launch of CITIC Pacific Mining’s major magnetite project in the Pilbara. It is looking to export 27.6 million tonnes of pellets and concentrates to Chinese steel mills every year. This very morning I met with representatives of the Korean industrial giant Samsung, which is very interested in participating in our economy and entering into our engineering and construction sector. Samsung is also interested in investment opportunities in this state. That was, therefore, interest in our economy from Rio Tinto, CITIC Pacific and Samsung all within 24 hours. That says where Western Australia sits on the global resources stage. To keep it there we must invest in infrastructure and we must continue to do what we are doing; that is, use every single dollar of our surplus to invest in the future. The surplus is funding the $5.8 billion capital works program this year and will fund the $21 billion capital works program over the four-year forward estimates period. However, we also need commonwealth engagement, and we are getting that commonwealth engagement now courtesy of the election of Kevin Rudd. We therefore need that infrastructure and we need a labour supply to drive the infrastructure and resources development in this state. We aim to maximise our economic growth, to sustain it and to share it with all Western Australians. To do that we need a positive partnership with the commonwealth government, and we are confident we can now achieve that partnership following the election of Kevin Rudd.
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