❓ Question regarding the McGowan Labor government's economic reforms and their impact on WA's economic growth and prosperity. The Treasurer outlines the government's achievements in turning around the state's economy and finances since 2017.
AnsweredQoN 270Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY
270. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Treasurer:
On behalf of the member for Southern
River, can I please acknowledge the student leaders of Excelsior Primary School
in Canning Vale.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's reforms to the Western Australian economy and the state's
finances. Can the Treasurer outline to the house how this Labor government has
returned economic growth and prosperity to WA?
270. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Treasurer:
On behalf of the member for Southern
River, can I please acknowledge the student leaders of Excelsior Primary School
in Canning Vale.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's reforms to the Western Australian economy and the state's
finances. Can the Treasurer outline to the house how this Labor government has
returned economic growth and prosperity to WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bicton for
the question.
In 2017, when we were elected, the
state's economy was in recession—the first recession in living
memory. We also had the worst set of finances of any government in Australia.
In the period since then, our economy has turned around and our finances have
turned around. Economic growth this year is forecast to be the highest in nine
years at 4.25 per cent. We have also through this mechanism supported the
federal Labor government to get to a surplus in its budget, which was handed
down yesterday. Since the last election alone, we have created 122 000 jobs and since our election in 2017, we have created
220 000 jobs in Western Australia. We have also turned around the state's finances to be, until yesterday, the only government in Australia in surplus,
so a massive turnaround in the state over the six and a bit years that this
government has been in office, and we have done it without selling off major
utilities like Western Power.
We
have also announced some measures in conjunction with the commonwealth
government to support families with cost-of-living pressures and also small
businesses. It was great this morning to join the member for Bicton and the
Minister for Small Business at Picobello Patisserie in Bicton, a great little
patisserie. We were able to announce the $650 energy rebate for small businesses
across Western Australia. Up to 90 000 small businesses will share in this, which is jointly funded by the state government
and the commonwealth government. It is one of a range of cost-of-living initiatives we have put in place across Western Australia
over the course of the last few years, particularly over the COVID period. One
of the great things about helping these small businesses is that it allows them
to deal with some of the cost-of-living pressures they are facing—as
indeed are households—with the initiatives that were announced by the
commonwealth. Members will see more of that tomorrow when we bring down the
state budget. It is terrific that we have managed to turn around both the
finances and the economy during our six years in office.
the question.
In 2017, when we were elected, the
state's economy was in recession—the first recession in living
memory. We also had the worst set of finances of any government in Australia.
In the period since then, our economy has turned around and our finances have
turned around. Economic growth this year is forecast to be the highest in nine
years at 4.25 per cent. We have also through this mechanism supported the
federal Labor government to get to a surplus in its budget, which was handed
down yesterday. Since the last election alone, we have created 122 000 jobs and since our election in 2017, we have created
220 000 jobs in Western Australia. We have also turned around the state's finances to be, until yesterday, the only government in Australia in surplus,
so a massive turnaround in the state over the six and a bit years that this
government has been in office, and we have done it without selling off major
utilities like Western Power.
We
have also announced some measures in conjunction with the commonwealth
government to support families with cost-of-living pressures and also small
businesses. It was great this morning to join the member for Bicton and the
Minister for Small Business at Picobello Patisserie in Bicton, a great little
patisserie. We were able to announce the $650 energy rebate for small businesses
across Western Australia. Up to 90 000 small businesses will share in this, which is jointly funded by the state government
and the commonwealth government. It is one of a range of cost-of-living initiatives we have put in place across Western Australia
over the course of the last few years, particularly over the COVID period. One
of the great things about helping these small businesses is that it allows them
to deal with some of the cost-of-living pressures they are facing—as
indeed are households—with the initiatives that were announced by the
commonwealth. Members will see more of that tomorrow when we bring down the
state budget. It is terrific that we have managed to turn around both the
finances and the economy during our six years in office.
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