❓ The Minister for Mines and Petroleum responds to a question regarding the McGowan government's support for employment in WA's resources sector, highlighting increased employment figures and various initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 1006Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESOURCES SECTOR —
WORKFORCE
1006. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I
note that resources sector jobs under the McGowan government have continued to
increase for the third successive year, with record numbers announced
once again. Can the minister please explain how the McGowan government is
supporting employment in Western Australia's resources sector?
WORKFORCE
1006. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I
note that resources sector jobs under the McGowan government have continued to
increase for the third successive year, with record numbers announced
once again. Can the minister please explain how the McGowan government is
supporting employment in Western Australia's resources sector?
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you very much, member; I appreciate
the question. Of course, the member represents an area of significant mining
activity in the south west of Western Australia. People in the state often
think of the Pilbara as being the only place in which mining takes place. Of
course, the iron ore sector is our dominant industry in the mining sector but
we have many other successful and globally significant mining activities such
as the production of mineral sands and the bauxite industry, which is in the
member's electorate. The member's electorate also has
significant construction material activity, which is critical to Western Australia
and our continued growth.
As the member explained, I note
that this year we now have for the third year in a row an increase in
employment with over 124 000 people employed in the mining sector in 2018–19.
I want to contrast that with the height of the boom. We all remember the mining
construction boom, as it is called. In 2013–14, 107 871 people were
employed in the industry. Let me make it
clear that 17 000 more people are employed in the mining sector in Western Australia today, or at least in the last financial year, than were employed at the height
of the boom. This is a great success and one of the reasons that jobs growth is
happening in Western Australia. The McGowan government is very proud to
continue to partner with industry to see this continued growth. Just as an
example, we have put the exploration incentives scheme into the activities of
the department. In the past it was funded outside the department only from year
to year. Now it is a key activity of the agency.
The future battery industry
strategy has created 5 000 extra jobs in the battery industry since the
government changed. We have supported the new potash industry by providing a new
structure for its tenement rental fees so that that industry can come into
production. We have provided certainty for the onshore petroleum industry
through our scientific inquiry and our regulatory activity in that space. I note
that the National Party does not support us in that ongoing work to support the
onshore petroleum industry. I am looking forward to hearing what the position of the Liberal Party is and whether it supports
the onshore oil and gas industry or joins the Nationals WA in opposing the onshore oil and gas industry. Streamline WA is working with industry to
ensure that our already globally leading approvals system is improved further.
I note that we have already identified a number of opportunities for a parallel
approvals process to shorten the time line of the world's best
regulatory framework that we have here in Western Australia to make it even
better again. Because there are more applications for programs of work and
environmental approvals and more activity in the mining sector in Western Australia
now than at any time in our history, we have also allocated additional
resources so more staff are available to do the approvals to make sure that we
meet our key time lines.
The Western Australian McGowan
government is very proud to partner with industry to create these extra
opportunities for Western Australian workers. Over 124 000 people are now able
to enjoy high-wage, high-skill jobs because we are working together with
industry to make every post a winner.
the question. Of course, the member represents an area of significant mining
activity in the south west of Western Australia. People in the state often
think of the Pilbara as being the only place in which mining takes place. Of
course, the iron ore sector is our dominant industry in the mining sector but
we have many other successful and globally significant mining activities such
as the production of mineral sands and the bauxite industry, which is in the
member's electorate. The member's electorate also has
significant construction material activity, which is critical to Western Australia
and our continued growth.
As the member explained, I note
that this year we now have for the third year in a row an increase in
employment with over 124 000 people employed in the mining sector in 2018–19.
I want to contrast that with the height of the boom. We all remember the mining
construction boom, as it is called. In 2013–14, 107 871 people were
employed in the industry. Let me make it
clear that 17 000 more people are employed in the mining sector in Western Australia today, or at least in the last financial year, than were employed at the height
of the boom. This is a great success and one of the reasons that jobs growth is
happening in Western Australia. The McGowan government is very proud to
continue to partner with industry to see this continued growth. Just as an
example, we have put the exploration incentives scheme into the activities of
the department. In the past it was funded outside the department only from year
to year. Now it is a key activity of the agency.
The future battery industry
strategy has created 5 000 extra jobs in the battery industry since the
government changed. We have supported the new potash industry by providing a new
structure for its tenement rental fees so that that industry can come into
production. We have provided certainty for the onshore petroleum industry
through our scientific inquiry and our regulatory activity in that space. I note
that the National Party does not support us in that ongoing work to support the
onshore petroleum industry. I am looking forward to hearing what the position of the Liberal Party is and whether it supports
the onshore oil and gas industry or joins the Nationals WA in opposing the onshore oil and gas industry. Streamline WA is working with industry to
ensure that our already globally leading approvals system is improved further.
I note that we have already identified a number of opportunities for a parallel
approvals process to shorten the time line of the world's best
regulatory framework that we have here in Western Australia to make it even
better again. Because there are more applications for programs of work and
environmental approvals and more activity in the mining sector in Western Australia
now than at any time in our history, we have also allocated additional
resources so more staff are available to do the approvals to make sure that we
meet our key time lines.
The Western Australian McGowan
government is very proud to partner with industry to create these extra
opportunities for Western Australian workers. Over 124 000 people are now able
to enjoy high-wage, high-skill jobs because we are working together with
industry to make every post a winner.
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