❓ Opposition MP Krsticevic questions the Premier about increased demand for Foodbank WA, attributing it to the government's failure on jobs and cost-of-living. The Premier refutes this, highlighting job creation and financial management initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 937Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FOODBANK WA
937. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
I
refer to an article in The West Australian of 13 October titled ''Foodbank
WA says number of hungry West Australians rose 20 per cent in the last
12 months''. Can the Premier confirm that his failure to deliver on
full-time jobs and the massive cost-of-living hikes are the major underlying
causes for the spike in struggling Western Australians needing help?
937. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
I
refer to an article in The West Australian of 13 October titled ''Foodbank
WA says number of hungry West Australians rose 20 per cent in the last
12 months''. Can the Premier confirm that his failure to deliver on
full-time jobs and the massive cost-of-living hikes are the major underlying
causes for the spike in struggling Western Australians needing help?
AnswerView source ↗
Since
it has been in office, the government has delivered over 50 000 new jobs,
unemployment has gone down and we now have the third-lowest unemployment rate
in the country. When we came to office, Western Australia had the worst
unemployment rate in the country. I do not understand the member's
argument considering the unemployment rate has significantly improved since he
was in office. In recent days we announced a range of initiatives to improve
the number of people who are employed in Western Australia. In the last few
weeks we have been using our good financial management to put people to work in
Western Australia. It is a pity you did not do that. It is a pity you made a mess of it, and you know you made a mess of it.
The interesting thing about this is you all know. You know that over eight and a half years you sent debt and deficits
sky-rocketing to levels never, ever seen before in Western Australia and,
actually, until that point in time, never ever seen before in Australia. That
is what you did. This government is now turning it around, and has successfully
turned it around, but the member comes in here and complains.
We have the utmost sympathy, empathy
and support for people doing it tough. That is why in the state budget we put
up fees and charges at the lowest rate in 13 years. That is why we reinstated
funding to financial counsellors and
increased funding for the hardship utility grant scheme. That is why we increased
the energy assistance payment . We are doing these initiatives all over Western
Australia to improve the situation for Western Australians using the good
financial management of this government and this cabinet.
it has been in office, the government has delivered over 50 000 new jobs,
unemployment has gone down and we now have the third-lowest unemployment rate
in the country. When we came to office, Western Australia had the worst
unemployment rate in the country. I do not understand the member's
argument considering the unemployment rate has significantly improved since he
was in office. In recent days we announced a range of initiatives to improve
the number of people who are employed in Western Australia. In the last few
weeks we have been using our good financial management to put people to work in
Western Australia. It is a pity you did not do that. It is a pity you made a mess of it, and you know you made a mess of it.
The interesting thing about this is you all know. You know that over eight and a half years you sent debt and deficits
sky-rocketing to levels never, ever seen before in Western Australia and,
actually, until that point in time, never ever seen before in Australia. That
is what you did. This government is now turning it around, and has successfully
turned it around, but the member comes in here and complains.
We have the utmost sympathy, empathy
and support for people doing it tough. That is why in the state budget we put
up fees and charges at the lowest rate in 13 years. That is why we reinstated
funding to financial counsellors and
increased funding for the hardship utility grant scheme. That is why we increased
the energy assistance payment . We are doing these initiatives all over Western
Australia to improve the situation for Western Australians using the good
financial management of this government and this cabinet.
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