❓ Mrs. Clarke asks about the impact of Rio Tinto's investment on WA jobs and the economy. The Premier responds positively, highlighting job creation, business confidence, and economic improvement under his government, while also criticising the previous government's financial management.
AnsweredQoN 807Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ECONOMY —
BUSINESS CONFIDENCE
807. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Premier:
I refer to the recent announcement
by Rio Tinto to invest in its Robe Valley operations in the Pilbara.
(1) What does this decision mean for
WA jobs?
(2) What does it demonstrate about
the prospects for the Western Australian economy?
BUSINESS CONFIDENCE
807. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Premier:
I refer to the recent announcement
by Rio Tinto to invest in its Robe Valley operations in the Pilbara.
(1) What does this decision mean for
WA jobs?
(2) What does it demonstrate about
the prospects for the Western Australian economy?
AnswerView source ↗
Prior to answering the member's
question, I acknowledge the 21 participants from the Anna Stewart Memorial
Project who are in the gallery today. It is a training project for women
delegates organised by UnionsWA. I thank them for their work in workplaces
across Western Australia.
(1)–(2) We
have seen a return of confidence to Western Australia—a return of
business and consumer confidence. Rio Tinto made the announcement earlier this
month that it would invest $2.15 billion in improvement projects in its Robe
Valley operations. There are 1 200 jobs in that and it has made commitments to
local procurement and supporting Western Australian businesses. It comes on top
of BHP's $5 billion announcement of the South Flank project go-ahead
and Fortescue Metals Group's decision to go ahead with the Eliwana mine
and railway. I want to make special mention of the project mentioned by the
Minister for Fisheries the other day, Huon Aquaculture's announcement
of an investment in an aquaculture project off the coast of Geraldton, where
yellowtail kingfish will be propagated. It will create a new industry for Western
Australia, one the Minister for Fisheries and myself worked very hard to
achieve. I would like to thank the great company Huon for its confidence in Western
Australia.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Earlier this
week we saw the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia bring
down its business confidence survey that shows that business confidence is now
at a five-year high in Western Australia. Medium-term business confidence is
strong and 54 per cent of businesses expect the economy to improve over the
next 12 months. It is very much the case that every indicator is showing that
the Western Australian economy is improving under this government. On top of
that, today we saw positive job figures from the Australian Bureau of
Statistics. It shows that the unemployment rate has fallen. In September, 7 000
new full-time jobs were created in Western Australia.
Since this government has been in
office, more than 43 000 additional Western Australians have found work, and
nearly half of those additional jobs are full time. I have a range of
quotations from the Reserve Bank of Australia, Deloitte Access Economics and
even the federal Treasurer, all saying that the Australian economy and the Western
Australian economy, in particular, are on the up. I must say that my ministers—my
government—have worked very hard to ensure that we attract jobs and
investment and get stable government back in place in Western Australia, while
at the same time fixing the financial mess that we were left by the Liberals
and Nationals WA. Western Australians, in light of today's figures—they
bounce around a bit, to be fair—can have confidence that this
government is getting our great state back on track.
question, I acknowledge the 21 participants from the Anna Stewart Memorial
Project who are in the gallery today. It is a training project for women
delegates organised by UnionsWA. I thank them for their work in workplaces
across Western Australia.
(1)–(2) We
have seen a return of confidence to Western Australia—a return of
business and consumer confidence. Rio Tinto made the announcement earlier this
month that it would invest $2.15 billion in improvement projects in its Robe
Valley operations. There are 1 200 jobs in that and it has made commitments to
local procurement and supporting Western Australian businesses. It comes on top
of BHP's $5 billion announcement of the South Flank project go-ahead
and Fortescue Metals Group's decision to go ahead with the Eliwana mine
and railway. I want to make special mention of the project mentioned by the
Minister for Fisheries the other day, Huon Aquaculture's announcement
of an investment in an aquaculture project off the coast of Geraldton, where
yellowtail kingfish will be propagated. It will create a new industry for Western
Australia, one the Minister for Fisheries and myself worked very hard to
achieve. I would like to thank the great company Huon for its confidence in Western
Australia.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Earlier this
week we saw the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia bring
down its business confidence survey that shows that business confidence is now
at a five-year high in Western Australia. Medium-term business confidence is
strong and 54 per cent of businesses expect the economy to improve over the
next 12 months. It is very much the case that every indicator is showing that
the Western Australian economy is improving under this government. On top of
that, today we saw positive job figures from the Australian Bureau of
Statistics. It shows that the unemployment rate has fallen. In September, 7 000
new full-time jobs were created in Western Australia.
Since this government has been in
office, more than 43 000 additional Western Australians have found work, and
nearly half of those additional jobs are full time. I have a range of
quotations from the Reserve Bank of Australia, Deloitte Access Economics and
even the federal Treasurer, all saying that the Australian economy and the Western
Australian economy, in particular, are on the up. I must say that my ministers—my
government—have worked very hard to ensure that we attract jobs and
investment and get stable government back in place in Western Australia, while
at the same time fixing the financial mess that we were left by the Liberals
and Nationals WA. Western Australians, in light of today's figures—they
bounce around a bit, to be fair—can have confidence that this
government is getting our great state back on track.
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