❓ Ms Freeman asks the Premier about the importance of Western Australians continuing to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Premier acknowledges the economic challenges and thanks essential workers for their service.
AnsweredQoN 188Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
STATE ECONOMY
188. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's
response to the impact of COVID-19 on our economy. Can the Premier further
outline to the house the reasons it is important that Western Australians
continue to turn up to work and keep our economy going during these challenging
times?
STATE ECONOMY
188. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's
response to the impact of COVID-19 on our economy. Can the Premier further
outline to the house the reasons it is important that Western Australians
continue to turn up to work and keep our economy going during these challenging
times?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mirrabooka
for her question. These are very uncertain times. All Western Australians face a tough road ahead. Our economy is going to be
severely tested, and that is a very, very difficult pill for all of us to swallow. Since we came to government, we have been determined to create more
jobs for all Western Australians. Today's Australian Bureau of
Statistics job figures reflect that. For the month of February, they show that
since we came to government, 72 200 jobs have
been created, and WA's unemployment rate is at a five-year low at 5.2 per cent—one of the lowest in the
country. However, these figures are unfortunately an economic high point. Tragically,
I fear this will be the last bit of economic good news we hear for a long time.
I just have to be honest and up-front. Job losses are unavoidable. Some
businesses will suffer and potentially close. People will be let go. As
Premier, that breaks my heart for Western Australians. I assure Western Australians
that I care about your jobs and I care about your businesses. My government
will be doing everything it can to support you. As the impacts of COVID-19
continue to evolve, we will continue to respond, but it will not be easy. Now,
more than ever before, we need to keep calm and we need to act responsibly,
but, most of all, we need to work together. These difficult times show us what
it means to be part of a community. Shutting our economy does not help get us
through this crisis; it makes it immeasurably worse. It breaks us apart. It
would create fear and distress. It would leave people isolated and alone.
Mr Speaker, I want to do this. I want
to thank every worker out there who continues to turn up to work and do their
jobs in these uncertain times. To the doctors, nurses and healthcare staff who
continue to care for the sick, thank you. To the teachers and education staff
who continue to teach our kids, I thank you. To the paramedics, firefighters and emergency service workers who
continue to be there when we need them, I thank you. To the police officers who continue to protect our community, I thank you. To the aged-care
and disability workers who continue to look after the elderly and the vulnerable,
I thank you. To the corrective services workers who continue to keep order in our prisons, I thank you. To the public
transport staff who continue to help Western Australians get to where they need to be, I thank you. To the retail staff who are working hard to keep
our shelves stocked, I very much thank you. To the truck drivers and freight
operators who are delivering the things we need, I thank you from the bottom of
our hearts. To those pharmacies who continue to ensure that Western Australians
have the medicines they need, I thank you. To those staff in the cafes and the
restaurants, the bars and the retail outlets who continue to serve us during
this difficult time, I thank you.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : To all those who keep
our economy going by turning up to work on mine sites and farms, factories and construction sites, water and electricity and other utilities, I thank you,
and to every other Western Australian who continues to keep our community
together, thank you very much.
for her question. These are very uncertain times. All Western Australians face a tough road ahead. Our economy is going to be
severely tested, and that is a very, very difficult pill for all of us to swallow. Since we came to government, we have been determined to create more
jobs for all Western Australians. Today's Australian Bureau of
Statistics job figures reflect that. For the month of February, they show that
since we came to government, 72 200 jobs have
been created, and WA's unemployment rate is at a five-year low at 5.2 per cent—one of the lowest in the
country. However, these figures are unfortunately an economic high point. Tragically,
I fear this will be the last bit of economic good news we hear for a long time.
I just have to be honest and up-front. Job losses are unavoidable. Some
businesses will suffer and potentially close. People will be let go. As
Premier, that breaks my heart for Western Australians. I assure Western Australians
that I care about your jobs and I care about your businesses. My government
will be doing everything it can to support you. As the impacts of COVID-19
continue to evolve, we will continue to respond, but it will not be easy. Now,
more than ever before, we need to keep calm and we need to act responsibly,
but, most of all, we need to work together. These difficult times show us what
it means to be part of a community. Shutting our economy does not help get us
through this crisis; it makes it immeasurably worse. It breaks us apart. It
would create fear and distress. It would leave people isolated and alone.
Mr Speaker, I want to do this. I want
to thank every worker out there who continues to turn up to work and do their
jobs in these uncertain times. To the doctors, nurses and healthcare staff who
continue to care for the sick, thank you. To the teachers and education staff
who continue to teach our kids, I thank you. To the paramedics, firefighters and emergency service workers who
continue to be there when we need them, I thank you. To the police officers who continue to protect our community, I thank you. To the aged-care
and disability workers who continue to look after the elderly and the vulnerable,
I thank you. To the corrective services workers who continue to keep order in our prisons, I thank you. To the public
transport staff who continue to help Western Australians get to where they need to be, I thank you. To the retail staff who are working hard to keep
our shelves stocked, I very much thank you. To the truck drivers and freight
operators who are delivering the things we need, I thank you from the bottom of
our hearts. To those pharmacies who continue to ensure that Western Australians
have the medicines they need, I thank you. To those staff in the cafes and the
restaurants, the bars and the retail outlets who continue to serve us during
this difficult time, I thank you.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : To all those who keep
our economy going by turning up to work on mine sites and farms, factories and construction sites, water and electricity and other utilities, I thank you,
and to every other Western Australian who continues to keep our community
together, thank you very much.
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