❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett's government's economic performance, particularly regarding unemployment and diversification. Barnett defends his government's record, highlighting WA's economic strengths and contrasting it with South Australia.
AnsweredQoN 934Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BARNETT GOVERNMENT — PERFORMANCE
934. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time;
member for Victoria Park, for the first time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I have a supplementary question.
Mr
J. Norberger interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I call you for the second time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : As the Premier who has presided over a higher unemployment rate
than South Australia and Tasmania, and after having ignored all the warning —
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Churchlands, I call you for the second time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : As the Premier who has presided over higher unemployment than
South Australia and Tasmania and as the Premier who has failed to diversify and
broaden the Western Australian economy as called upon to do so by many people,
why has he not got a plan for jobs like WA Labor has a ''Plan for Jobs''?
Several members interjected.
934. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time;
member for Victoria Park, for the first time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I have a supplementary question.
Mr
J. Norberger interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I call you for the second time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : As the Premier who has presided over a higher unemployment rate
than South Australia and Tasmania, and after having ignored all the warning —
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Churchlands, I call you for the second time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : As the Premier who has presided over higher unemployment than
South Australia and Tasmania and as the Premier who has failed to diversify and
broaden the Western Australian economy as called upon to do so by many people,
why has he not got a plan for jobs like WA Labor has a ''Plan for Jobs''?
Several members interjected.
AnswerView source ↗
Here we go! Have we got a plan? We
are growing the tourism industry; we support genetically modified crops; we are
developing the Ord River; and I could go on and on and on. I do not hold up a flimsy
little bit of paper —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Call it—you or whoever—a plan for Western Australia!
When did we make the decision on Elizabeth —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Sit down.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
N.W. Morton interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Forrestfield, I call you to order for the first time.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Swan Hills, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Armadale, I call you for the first time. I do not need another
speech.
Mr
N.W. Morton interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Forrestfield, I call you for the second time.
Mr
N.W. Morton interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Forrestfield, I call you for the third time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker —
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Butler, I call you for the third time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : This, presumably, will be the last day of sitting for the
Assembly and then we will be in an election campaign; there is no doubt about
that. People will look. The Leader of the Opposition's supplementary
question refers to South Australia. Where would members want to live? Where
would a young family want to be—in Western Australia or South
Australia? Where do members reckon they would want to be?
The comparisons that the Leader of
the Opposition makes are from one year to another. He does not understand the difference
between comparison over time and looking at absolutes. If we look at the
absolutes, we see that this state produces nearly 45 per cent of Australia's
export. We dominate Australia's international trade. We dominate
Australian investment. We have the highest productivity and the highest
incomes, and we dominate it. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to go live
in South Australia, they deserve him; they can have him.
are growing the tourism industry; we support genetically modified crops; we are
developing the Ord River; and I could go on and on and on. I do not hold up a flimsy
little bit of paper —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Call it—you or whoever—a plan for Western Australia!
When did we make the decision on Elizabeth —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Sit down.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
N.W. Morton interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Forrestfield, I call you to order for the first time.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Swan Hills, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Armadale, I call you for the first time. I do not need another
speech.
Mr
N.W. Morton interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Forrestfield, I call you for the second time.
Mr
N.W. Morton interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Forrestfield, I call you for the third time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker —
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Butler, I call you for the third time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : This, presumably, will be the last day of sitting for the
Assembly and then we will be in an election campaign; there is no doubt about
that. People will look. The Leader of the Opposition's supplementary
question refers to South Australia. Where would members want to live? Where
would a young family want to be—in Western Australia or South
Australia? Where do members reckon they would want to be?
The comparisons that the Leader of
the Opposition makes are from one year to another. He does not understand the difference
between comparison over time and looking at absolutes. If we look at the
absolutes, we see that this state produces nearly 45 per cent of Australia's
export. We dominate Australia's international trade. We dominate
Australian investment. We have the highest productivity and the highest
incomes, and we dominate it. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to go live
in South Australia, they deserve him; they can have him.
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