❓ Mr. Mubarakai asks how the Local Capability Fund will involve WA businesses in Metronet and create jobs. The Premier details the fund's dollar-for-dollar grants to help local businesses prepare for Metronet work, criticising the opposition's record on local manufacturing.
AnsweredQoN 593Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL CAPABILITY FUND
593. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Premier;
Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade:
I refer to this government's
commitment to creating local jobs and maximising local content on major
projects, which has been demonstrated by the local capability fund. How will
the local capability fund ensure that Western Australian businesses are involved
in work on Metronet, and how will it provide more job opportunities for Western
Australians?
593. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Premier;
Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade:
I refer to this government's
commitment to creating local jobs and maximising local content on major
projects, which has been demonstrated by the local capability fund. How will
the local capability fund ensure that Western Australian businesses are involved
in work on Metronet, and how will it provide more job opportunities for Western
Australians?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Jandakot for
the question, and congratulate him on all his work.
We are committed to ensuring that Western
Australian businesses and Western Australians benefit as much as possible from
the important projects that we are bringing in. Our Metronet project, as we
know, will connect our city into suburbs that have not received rail
connections before. We have established the local capability fund, which will
go a long way to ensuring that local businesses can secure that work. Small and
medium highly skilled businesses will be able to apply for up to $20 000 in
dollar-for-dollar funding to help them prepare for work on Metronet. This money
could be used to establish business plans, to pay for expert consultants, to
upgrade internal infrastructure, for IT, to upgrade equipment and issues of
that nature. The $20 000 will assist local businesses to actually secure those
contracts in Western Australia to undertake that work.
Several members interjected.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I can hear the sniping across the chamber! I can hear the
sniping across the chamber from people who do not support local jobs. It is
clear that the Liberal and National Parties do not support local work,
otherwise they would not be so nasty and snippy about local businesses getting
work. We want to ensure that local businesses are in the best position to be
part of the supply chain for Metronet rolling stock. We will manufacture as
much of our Metronet rolling stock locally —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I heard the words, ''How
much?'' I know how much rolling stock was manufactured in Western Australia
under the last government—two per cent. I know that because it was
provided by way of parliamentary questions.
We will ensure that Western Australian businesses are in the
box seat to obtain this work. It is not just about building it and hoping they
come: this is about providing practical measures to help local businesses
secure work on important government projects like this one. These grants are
designed to ensure that local businesses have the opportunities, the business
plans, the assistance and the infrastructure—whatever it might be—to
ensure they are in the best position to secure that important for work for Western
Australians.
the question, and congratulate him on all his work.
We are committed to ensuring that Western
Australian businesses and Western Australians benefit as much as possible from
the important projects that we are bringing in. Our Metronet project, as we
know, will connect our city into suburbs that have not received rail
connections before. We have established the local capability fund, which will
go a long way to ensuring that local businesses can secure that work. Small and
medium highly skilled businesses will be able to apply for up to $20 000 in
dollar-for-dollar funding to help them prepare for work on Metronet. This money
could be used to establish business plans, to pay for expert consultants, to
upgrade internal infrastructure, for IT, to upgrade equipment and issues of
that nature. The $20 000 will assist local businesses to actually secure those
contracts in Western Australia to undertake that work.
Several members interjected.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I can hear the sniping across the chamber! I can hear the
sniping across the chamber from people who do not support local jobs. It is
clear that the Liberal and National Parties do not support local work,
otherwise they would not be so nasty and snippy about local businesses getting
work. We want to ensure that local businesses are in the best position to be
part of the supply chain for Metronet rolling stock. We will manufacture as
much of our Metronet rolling stock locally —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I heard the words, ''How
much?'' I know how much rolling stock was manufactured in Western Australia
under the last government—two per cent. I know that because it was
provided by way of parliamentary questions.
We will ensure that Western Australian businesses are in the
box seat to obtain this work. It is not just about building it and hoping they
come: this is about providing practical measures to help local businesses
secure work on important government projects like this one. These grants are
designed to ensure that local businesses have the opportunities, the business
plans, the assistance and the infrastructure—whatever it might be—to
ensure they are in the best position to secure that important for work for Western
Australians.
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