❓ Mr L'Estrange asks the Treasurer for an update on employment data and government support for jobs. The Treasurer highlights employment growth despite economic headwinds, while facing opposition interjections and a point of order.
AnsweredQoN 610Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EMPLOYMENT FIGURES
610. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Treasurer:
Could the Treasurer please provide an update on employment
data for the last 12 months and what this government is doing to support jobs?
610. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Treasurer:
Could the Treasurer please provide an update on employment
data for the last 12 months and what this government is doing to support jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. As we know, employment
growth is one of the most important issues in the state. This state has faced
huge headwinds on employment growth. We knew that there would be reductions in
employment in the mining sector, particularly in construction. We knew that we
would lose tens of thousands of jobs from that; the projects were coming to an
end. We also knew that with the commodity prices coming down sharply—iron
ore, oil and gas, and to some extent gold—there was pressure on our
major resource production and employment in that. We faced the strongest
headwinds that this state has faced for decades and we have done pretty well.
Throughout the year, from July to June of 2014–15, we had the second
highest employment growth of all states—2.3 per cent growth in employment
over the year.
Given the headwinds that we faced—we
do not have a burgeoning housing market—2.3 per cent employment growth
is phenomenally good. Also, we had the lowest rate of unemployment across the
state—5.5 per cent. We also have the highest number of people in
employment—the highest participation rate—at 68.7 per cent. We
are two to three per cent above the national average, which is phenomenally
good. This state, despite the headwinds and despite the reduction in the mining
boom, has earned 14 per cent of the total job creation in the nation—way
beyond our population. What do people opposite say? That it is embarrassing.
Why did this happen? How did it happen? Mining employment has declined—there
is no doubt about that—as we knew it would. When there is a reduction
in iron ore prices of 50 per cent, it is expected. But we have gone out and
done the hard yards.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The opposition does not like this, but it is the truth. Despite
a reduction in construction jobs in the mining sector, over the last year we
have seen 10 000 extra jobs in the construction sector. In terms of professions
in technical services, 15 000 extra jobs were created. Much of these have been
driven expressly by the policies of this government. Members opposite have
complained about most of them.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : We hear the shadow minister pop up when there is a variation
from month to month in unemployment rates. He did that in January and February
this year when the unemployment rate went up temporarily. He said, ''The
sky is falling in!'' Then he shut up and went back to his chook cage for
four months as the unemployment rate went down. He did it again recently. I
decided to see what Labor's real policy is on job creation. I went to
the web, and the top hit is ''metro hubs''—''metro
hubs will be a major driver of new jobs''. Do members know what metro
hub was referred to? The Murdoch precinct! What is at the Murdoch precinct?
Hubs, hubs, everywhere!
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not sure
what the Treasurer had for lunch today but he is answering an entirely
different question from what he was asked and it is about time he stopped
embarrassing himself.
The SPEAKER : The Treasurer has
exactly 30 seconds to wind this up.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I would be completely embarrassed if I were the member for
Midland too! Trying to deal with one of the most important issues in the state—job
creation—bagging us for creating the largest number of jobs in the
nation and coming up with a policy of metro hubs, and describing the metro hub
that we have finished. Murdoch precinct, by the way, is gone now!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : That is the metro hub that was referred to.
growth is one of the most important issues in the state. This state has faced
huge headwinds on employment growth. We knew that there would be reductions in
employment in the mining sector, particularly in construction. We knew that we
would lose tens of thousands of jobs from that; the projects were coming to an
end. We also knew that with the commodity prices coming down sharply—iron
ore, oil and gas, and to some extent gold—there was pressure on our
major resource production and employment in that. We faced the strongest
headwinds that this state has faced for decades and we have done pretty well.
Throughout the year, from July to June of 2014–15, we had the second
highest employment growth of all states—2.3 per cent growth in employment
over the year.
Given the headwinds that we faced—we
do not have a burgeoning housing market—2.3 per cent employment growth
is phenomenally good. Also, we had the lowest rate of unemployment across the
state—5.5 per cent. We also have the highest number of people in
employment—the highest participation rate—at 68.7 per cent. We
are two to three per cent above the national average, which is phenomenally
good. This state, despite the headwinds and despite the reduction in the mining
boom, has earned 14 per cent of the total job creation in the nation—way
beyond our population. What do people opposite say? That it is embarrassing.
Why did this happen? How did it happen? Mining employment has declined—there
is no doubt about that—as we knew it would. When there is a reduction
in iron ore prices of 50 per cent, it is expected. But we have gone out and
done the hard yards.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The opposition does not like this, but it is the truth. Despite
a reduction in construction jobs in the mining sector, over the last year we
have seen 10 000 extra jobs in the construction sector. In terms of professions
in technical services, 15 000 extra jobs were created. Much of these have been
driven expressly by the policies of this government. Members opposite have
complained about most of them.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : We hear the shadow minister pop up when there is a variation
from month to month in unemployment rates. He did that in January and February
this year when the unemployment rate went up temporarily. He said, ''The
sky is falling in!'' Then he shut up and went back to his chook cage for
four months as the unemployment rate went down. He did it again recently. I
decided to see what Labor's real policy is on job creation. I went to
the web, and the top hit is ''metro hubs''—''metro
hubs will be a major driver of new jobs''. Do members know what metro
hub was referred to? The Murdoch precinct! What is at the Murdoch precinct?
Hubs, hubs, everywhere!
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I am not sure
what the Treasurer had for lunch today but he is answering an entirely
different question from what he was asked and it is about time he stopped
embarrassing himself.
The SPEAKER : The Treasurer has
exactly 30 seconds to wind this up.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I would be completely embarrassed if I were the member for
Midland too! Trying to deal with one of the most important issues in the state—job
creation—bagging us for creating the largest number of jobs in the
nation and coming up with a policy of metro hubs, and describing the metro hub
that we have finished. Murdoch precinct, by the way, is gone now!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : That is the metro hub that was referred to.
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