❓ Mr. Hughes asks the Premier about job creation in WA since the McGowan government took office. The Premier highlights job growth statistics, investments in infrastructure projects, and initiatives aimed at stimulating the economy and creating employment opportunities.
AnsweredQoN 86Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY —
JOB CREATION
86. Mr M. HUGHES to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Jandakot and the member for Southern River, I would like to
welcome the students of Harrisdale Senior High School to the Parliament today.
I would like to hear more from the
Premier on jobs. I refer to the 58 000 local Western Australian jobs that have
been created since the McGowan Labor government has come to office. Can the
Premier further update the house on how the McGowan Labor government is leading
the country when it comes to creating jobs?
JOB CREATION
86. Mr M. HUGHES to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Jandakot and the member for Southern River, I would like to
welcome the students of Harrisdale Senior High School to the Parliament today.
I would like to hear more from the
Premier on jobs. I refer to the 58 000 local Western Australian jobs that have
been created since the McGowan Labor government has come to office. Can the
Premier further update the house on how the McGowan Labor government is leading
the country when it comes to creating jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
The Australian Bureau of Statistics'
figures released today show that the since this government came to office, 58 000
new jobs have been created in Western Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That compares
with the last two years of the last Liberal–National government, when
the number of people employed in Western Australia contracted by 30 000—30
000 jobs lost in the last two years; 58 000 jobs created in our nearly three
years in office.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : WA has the
strongest jobs growth in Australia. We have the highest participation rate in
Australia. Overall, half of all the new jobs created in Australia were created
in Western Australia, with 11 per cent of the population—50 per cent of
the new jobs created in the entire country were created in one state that has
only 11 per cent of the population. So, 6 700 new jobs have been created.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, do you want to go home early today?
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are
16 300 fewer Western Australians underemployed since March 2017. All up, since we have come to office, more jobs have been created; unemployment is down
significantly—remember, the former government had the worst figure in
Australia in early 2017; underemployment is down; and we are seeing more
encouraging signs when it comes to jobs vacancies. The number of internet job
vacancies increased by 1.6 per cent in January. That can be compared with the
national figures, which fell.
This government is getting on with
the job of creating jobs for Western Australians. We are investing in Metronet, with the Yanchep line construction underway.
The Thornlie–Cockburn work is underway. On the Morley–Ellenbrook rail line, the legislation has gone through the Parliament, and the tender
process is underway. On the local railcar manufacturing,
we are about to commence construction of the facility. We are working on record
investment in roads , with the Mitchell Freeway widening, and the Kwinana
Freeway widening, as I well know. Other projects are the Armadale to North Lake Road bridge, Karratha–Tom
Price Road, Tonkin Highway gap project, Albany ring-road —
The SPEAKER : Hear, hear!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — Bunbury
Outer Ring Road, and extending Mitchell Freeway north to Romeo Road.
We cut payroll tax for 12 000 Western
Australian businesses. We cut stamp duty. I might add that we want to see those
developments go ahead. We want to see multistorey developments that employ
people and give alternative options for people to live in. We want those
developments to go ahead, unlike some members—in fact, unlike the
opposition, as I understand it. We have expanded Keystart to allow for easier
availability of credit, slashed TAFE fees, made a record investment in tourism,
launched a $22 million housing package the other week and expanded the Building
and Construction Industry Training Fund to provide more training for
apprentices. Mining projects are going on all over the state and there has been
very encouraging news on the Scarborough gas project. This government is
getting on with getting the state back on track and creating jobs. We have the
highest growth rate in jobs in Australia. Half of the jobs created in this
country in January were created in Western Australia.
figures released today show that the since this government came to office, 58 000
new jobs have been created in Western Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That compares
with the last two years of the last Liberal–National government, when
the number of people employed in Western Australia contracted by 30 000—30
000 jobs lost in the last two years; 58 000 jobs created in our nearly three
years in office.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : WA has the
strongest jobs growth in Australia. We have the highest participation rate in
Australia. Overall, half of all the new jobs created in Australia were created
in Western Australia, with 11 per cent of the population—50 per cent of
the new jobs created in the entire country were created in one state that has
only 11 per cent of the population. So, 6 700 new jobs have been created.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman, do you want to go home early today?
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are
16 300 fewer Western Australians underemployed since March 2017. All up, since we have come to office, more jobs have been created; unemployment is down
significantly—remember, the former government had the worst figure in
Australia in early 2017; underemployment is down; and we are seeing more
encouraging signs when it comes to jobs vacancies. The number of internet job
vacancies increased by 1.6 per cent in January. That can be compared with the
national figures, which fell.
This government is getting on with
the job of creating jobs for Western Australians. We are investing in Metronet, with the Yanchep line construction underway.
The Thornlie–Cockburn work is underway. On the Morley–Ellenbrook rail line, the legislation has gone through the Parliament, and the tender
process is underway. On the local railcar manufacturing,
we are about to commence construction of the facility. We are working on record
investment in roads , with the Mitchell Freeway widening, and the Kwinana
Freeway widening, as I well know. Other projects are the Armadale to North Lake Road bridge, Karratha–Tom
Price Road, Tonkin Highway gap project, Albany ring-road —
The SPEAKER : Hear, hear!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — Bunbury
Outer Ring Road, and extending Mitchell Freeway north to Romeo Road.
We cut payroll tax for 12 000 Western
Australian businesses. We cut stamp duty. I might add that we want to see those
developments go ahead. We want to see multistorey developments that employ
people and give alternative options for people to live in. We want those
developments to go ahead, unlike some members—in fact, unlike the
opposition, as I understand it. We have expanded Keystart to allow for easier
availability of credit, slashed TAFE fees, made a record investment in tourism,
launched a $22 million housing package the other week and expanded the Building
and Construction Industry Training Fund to provide more training for
apprentices. Mining projects are going on all over the state and there has been
very encouraging news on the Scarborough gas project. This government is
getting on with getting the state back on track and creating jobs. We have the
highest growth rate in jobs in Australia. Half of the jobs created in this
country in January were created in Western Australia.
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