❓ Mr Punch questions the government's job creation plans, referencing high unemployment under the previous government. The Minister responds by outlining initiatives to diversify the economy, particularly in mining and tourism, and criticises the previous government's approach.
AnsweredQoN 57Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EMPLOYMENT LEVELS
57. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for State Development,
Jobs and Trade:
I refer to record unemployment that
was a particular characteristic of the previous Liberal–National
government. Will this government actually work with industry to create jobs;
and, if so, how?
57. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for State Development,
Jobs and Trade:
I refer to record unemployment that
was a particular characteristic of the previous Liberal–National
government. Will this government actually work with industry to create jobs;
and, if so, how?
AnswerView source ↗
First of all, in answering this
question, I would like to acknowledge a group of town planning students from
Curtin University's School of Built Environment who are in the Speaker's
gallery today with their lecturer Mattie Turnbull.
I thank the member for Bunbury for
the question. When this government arrived in office, the state's
unemployment situation was that 93 600 Western Australians were out of work; in
addition, about 150 000 Western Australians are unemployed. We have inherited a
situation in which the state's domestic economy has been in recession
for some years now. We went to the election with a plan to diversify and
broaden the state's economy. We have already seen some action as a consequence
of this government being elected. For instance, we have seen confidence return
to the mining industry of Western Australia. I have received calls from senior
leaders in the mining industry acknowledging that a new —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, a question has been asked. We want to hear it. You might think you
are funny, laughing and looking around to see if anyone is listening—they
are not.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have
received calls from senior people in the mining industry, acknowledging that
they have a government that is supporting the mining industry, and they are
taking steps to ensure more local content as a consequence of this government's
election. Members will have seen recent announcements by Rio Tinto in that
regard. In addition, we have a plan to broaden and diversify the Western Australian
economy. We have organised a range of industry engagement consortia, which
basically is pulling industry together —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mr Speaker,
honestly —
The SPEAKER : Members!
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You are an
embarrassment. Look at you; you are an embarrassment!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I will
take a word from the previous Speaker: the wall of noise is starting to pick
up. Just keep it quiet, because I know you want to hear what the Premier has to
say.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We are working
with industry to create jobs in Western Australia. On Friday, the Ministers for
Tourism and Regional Development and I chaired an engagement process with the
tourism industry, in which a large number of senior representatives of the
tourism industry met in my office to talk about the ideas they would like to
see to take the tourism industry forward in Western Australia. There were representatives
from the Australian Hotels Association, the Tourism Council, Perth Airport,
Crown Perth, the Perth Convention Bureau, academia, small business and the
regions. It was chaired by an eminent Australian, Mr Sam Walsh, who told The
West Australian after Friday's event, and I quote —
It will help jobs, it will help the
State forward and I've got to say with the discussion we just had there
was very good engagement �
That is what Sam Walsh had to say
about it.
It came up with a range of ideas
that the relevant ministers and I will progress to make sure that the tourism
industry in Perth and across Western Australia is advanced, because that is
what we need to do. The ideas that were discussed included extra flights; a focus
on interstate tourism, which was neglected; red tape reduction; marketing and
events dollars; extra product for Western Australia; and better branding for Western
Australia, among numerous others. When we actually sit down and work with
industry, we get better outcomes. That is what this government is doing. The
previous government was too arrogant to even sit down with industry because it
always thought it knew best; whereas, we are prepared to sit down with industry
and come up with good ideas to take the state forward and create more jobs and
opportunities for our citizens.
question, I would like to acknowledge a group of town planning students from
Curtin University's School of Built Environment who are in the Speaker's
gallery today with their lecturer Mattie Turnbull.
I thank the member for Bunbury for
the question. When this government arrived in office, the state's
unemployment situation was that 93 600 Western Australians were out of work; in
addition, about 150 000 Western Australians are unemployed. We have inherited a
situation in which the state's domestic economy has been in recession
for some years now. We went to the election with a plan to diversify and
broaden the state's economy. We have already seen some action as a consequence
of this government being elected. For instance, we have seen confidence return
to the mining industry of Western Australia. I have received calls from senior
leaders in the mining industry acknowledging that a new —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, a question has been asked. We want to hear it. You might think you
are funny, laughing and looking around to see if anyone is listening—they
are not.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have
received calls from senior people in the mining industry, acknowledging that
they have a government that is supporting the mining industry, and they are
taking steps to ensure more local content as a consequence of this government's
election. Members will have seen recent announcements by Rio Tinto in that
regard. In addition, we have a plan to broaden and diversify the Western Australian
economy. We have organised a range of industry engagement consortia, which
basically is pulling industry together —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mr Speaker,
honestly —
The SPEAKER : Members!
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You are an
embarrassment. Look at you; you are an embarrassment!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I will
take a word from the previous Speaker: the wall of noise is starting to pick
up. Just keep it quiet, because I know you want to hear what the Premier has to
say.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We are working
with industry to create jobs in Western Australia. On Friday, the Ministers for
Tourism and Regional Development and I chaired an engagement process with the
tourism industry, in which a large number of senior representatives of the
tourism industry met in my office to talk about the ideas they would like to
see to take the tourism industry forward in Western Australia. There were representatives
from the Australian Hotels Association, the Tourism Council, Perth Airport,
Crown Perth, the Perth Convention Bureau, academia, small business and the
regions. It was chaired by an eminent Australian, Mr Sam Walsh, who told The
West Australian after Friday's event, and I quote —
It will help jobs, it will help the
State forward and I've got to say with the discussion we just had there
was very good engagement �
That is what Sam Walsh had to say
about it.
It came up with a range of ideas
that the relevant ministers and I will progress to make sure that the tourism
industry in Perth and across Western Australia is advanced, because that is
what we need to do. The ideas that were discussed included extra flights; a focus
on interstate tourism, which was neglected; red tape reduction; marketing and
events dollars; extra product for Western Australia; and better branding for Western
Australia, among numerous others. When we actually sit down and work with
industry, we get better outcomes. That is what this government is doing. The
previous government was too arrogant to even sit down with industry because it
always thought it knew best; whereas, we are prepared to sit down with industry
and come up with good ideas to take the state forward and create more jobs and
opportunities for our citizens.
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