❓ Ms Shaw asks the Premier about the impact of WA's COVID-19 response, particularly the hard border, on jobs. The Premier responds positively, citing job creation statistics and attributing them to the government's health-focused strategy.
AnsweredQoN 694Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
JOBS
694. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Premier:
I refer to the state's
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the McGowan Labor government's
decision to maintain the hard border. Can the Premier outline to the house what
Western Australia's success in stopping community transmission of
COVID-19 and maintaining the most open economy of any state in the country has
meant for Western Australian jobs?
JOBS
694. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Premier:
I refer to the state's
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the McGowan Labor government's
decision to maintain the hard border. Can the Premier outline to the house what
Western Australia's success in stopping community transmission of
COVID-19 and maintaining the most open economy of any state in the country has
meant for Western Australian jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills
for the question. As we have constantly said, the best economic response to
COVID-19 is a strong and effective health response. Today's job figures
clearly show that the health response that the government has put in place is
paying dividends in creating jobs across Western Australia. We now have the
most open economy within the nation and the fewest restrictions on gatherings
and economic activity of any state in Australia.
Every
employment indicator is heading in the right direction. In August, 32 200 jobs
were created in Western Australia. The largest number of jobs created in
any month in the history of Western Australia were created last month. That is
a growth in jobs of 2.4 per cent, which is the strongest of any state in
Australia. In August, about one-third of all the jobs created across Australia
were created in Western Australia. With 11 per cent of the nation's
population, we created one-third of the jobs! We have now recovered 71 per cent
of the jobs lost at the start of the pandemic. There are now 47 000 more Western
Australians in work than when this government came to office. On top of that,
our participation rate has surged to 67.9 per cent, which is easily the highest
in Australia. If our participation rate were the same as the national average
or the average of one of the major states, our unemployment rate would,
obviously, be significantly lower. Our unemployment rate is down. The number of
people who are unemployed or underemployed is down. All that has happened
because we put in place measures to protect Western Australians from COVID. Our
hard border arrangement has worked.
Had
we listened to those who wanted to bring down the hard border, such as Mr Clive
Palmer and the Liberal Party , these results would not be there,
especially if we had listened to the state Liberal Party.
Mr A. Krsticevic : Don't
lie!
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, you will withdraw that. I just heard you say, ''Don't
lie.''
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : I withdraw.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is true.
Clive Palmer and the Liberal Party have tried to bring down our border. That is
a statement of fact.
These figures are encouraging, but
we are not out of the woods. We obviously need to be vigilant and very careful
about the reintroduction of COVID to Western Australia. We also have to
continue to implement our $5.5 billion recovery plan that we worked through
with industry, unions, not-for-profits and across government to ensure that we get activity back across the board in Western Australia
in TAFE, manufacturing, education, and land sales and the like, and that
we continue to get great results. I am very proud of Western Australians and
what we have been able to do in this very difficult situation. Our state has
done extraordinarily well. I would like to thank every Western Australian who
has done the right thing in difficult circumstances. Today's job
figures show that our plan to get people back to work and keep Western Australians
safe is working.
for the question. As we have constantly said, the best economic response to
COVID-19 is a strong and effective health response. Today's job figures
clearly show that the health response that the government has put in place is
paying dividends in creating jobs across Western Australia. We now have the
most open economy within the nation and the fewest restrictions on gatherings
and economic activity of any state in Australia.
Every
employment indicator is heading in the right direction. In August, 32 200 jobs
were created in Western Australia. The largest number of jobs created in
any month in the history of Western Australia were created last month. That is
a growth in jobs of 2.4 per cent, which is the strongest of any state in
Australia. In August, about one-third of all the jobs created across Australia
were created in Western Australia. With 11 per cent of the nation's
population, we created one-third of the jobs! We have now recovered 71 per cent
of the jobs lost at the start of the pandemic. There are now 47 000 more Western
Australians in work than when this government came to office. On top of that,
our participation rate has surged to 67.9 per cent, which is easily the highest
in Australia. If our participation rate were the same as the national average
or the average of one of the major states, our unemployment rate would,
obviously, be significantly lower. Our unemployment rate is down. The number of
people who are unemployed or underemployed is down. All that has happened
because we put in place measures to protect Western Australians from COVID. Our
hard border arrangement has worked.
Had
we listened to those who wanted to bring down the hard border, such as Mr Clive
Palmer and the Liberal Party , these results would not be there,
especially if we had listened to the state Liberal Party.
Mr A. Krsticevic : Don't
lie!
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, you will withdraw that. I just heard you say, ''Don't
lie.''
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : I withdraw.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is true.
Clive Palmer and the Liberal Party have tried to bring down our border. That is
a statement of fact.
These figures are encouraging, but
we are not out of the woods. We obviously need to be vigilant and very careful
about the reintroduction of COVID to Western Australia. We also have to
continue to implement our $5.5 billion recovery plan that we worked through
with industry, unions, not-for-profits and across government to ensure that we get activity back across the board in Western Australia
in TAFE, manufacturing, education, and land sales and the like, and that
we continue to get great results. I am very proud of Western Australians and
what we have been able to do in this very difficult situation. Our state has
done extraordinarily well. I would like to thank every Western Australian who
has done the right thing in difficult circumstances. Today's job
figures show that our plan to get people back to work and keep Western Australians
safe is working.
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