❓ Mr. McGowan questions the Premier about rising unemployment figures and the perceived lack of an economic plan, referencing comments made by the Leader of the National Party. The Premier deflects, stating the question is irrelevant to his portfolio and criticising the Leader of the Opposition's line of questioning.
AnsweredQoN 523Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY — UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
523. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to today's jobless figures, which show that
unemployment is now at 6.3 per cent. There are 61 600 more unemployed people
now than when the Premier came to office. The number of full-time jobs has
fallen for the nineteenth consecutive month, and there are 8 200 more
unemployed people in Western Australia since last month.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected.
The
SPEAKER : All right,
that's enough, thank you—quickly.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Would you like me to repeat it, Mr Speaker?
The
SPEAKER : N o, we have
heard it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is the Leader of the National Party not
correct that the government, of which he is a part, has no economic plan?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is a bad start! A very long question and a lot of noise.
523. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to today's jobless figures, which show that
unemployment is now at 6.3 per cent. There are 61 600 more unemployed people
now than when the Premier came to office. The number of full-time jobs has
fallen for the nineteenth consecutive month, and there are 8 200 more
unemployed people in Western Australia since last month.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected.
The
SPEAKER : All right,
that's enough, thank you—quickly.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Would you like me to repeat it, Mr Speaker?
The
SPEAKER : N o, we have
heard it.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is the Leader of the National Party not
correct that the government, of which he is a part, has no economic plan?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is a bad start! A very long question and a lot of noise.
AnswerView source ↗
In this year's state budget, Treasury forecast that our
unemployment rate would rise above six per cent. That was expected. Everyone
was very conscious of the very large fall in commodity prices and a dislocation
of employment from the mining and mining services industries. I think anyone
who follows the economy at all would understand that the labour market is
fragile and that there is a great deal of uncertainty about job security. This
is a highly cyclical economy. The average growth rate here is higher than is
the case in the rest of Australia, but it is highly cyclical because we are the
export state of Australia and we are heavily dependent on international events
and international commodity prices. The month-to-month figures bounce around. Last
month, unemployment fell; this month, it has risen. Does the Leader of the
Opposition think that both of those circumstances are correct? One of them is
wrong. The labour market is weak and people are concerned, as I am, about job
security, particularly for fly in, fly out workers and the like. That is a reality.
As for the question, to ask me, as the Premier, what I think about
something the Leader of the National Party said is not about a portfolio. It is
not relevant.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Repeatedly —
Mr M. McGowan : He said you have no economic plan. Is he
right?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. The point of the member's
question is wrong. Does he not understand that in Parliament, members ask
ministers or Premiers questions about their responsibilities and portfolios?
Members do not ask me or anyone else to give an opinion about what someone else
has said. If the Leader of the Opposition is interested in the view of the
Leader of the National Party, he should ask him.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, this is childish stuff. If the
Leader of the Opposition wants to ask me a question about our economic plan or
unemployment, he should do so, but I will not be answering questions about what
some other minister might think. Ask him!
unemployment rate would rise above six per cent. That was expected. Everyone
was very conscious of the very large fall in commodity prices and a dislocation
of employment from the mining and mining services industries. I think anyone
who follows the economy at all would understand that the labour market is
fragile and that there is a great deal of uncertainty about job security. This
is a highly cyclical economy. The average growth rate here is higher than is
the case in the rest of Australia, but it is highly cyclical because we are the
export state of Australia and we are heavily dependent on international events
and international commodity prices. The month-to-month figures bounce around. Last
month, unemployment fell; this month, it has risen. Does the Leader of the
Opposition think that both of those circumstances are correct? One of them is
wrong. The labour market is weak and people are concerned, as I am, about job
security, particularly for fly in, fly out workers and the like. That is a reality.
As for the question, to ask me, as the Premier, what I think about
something the Leader of the National Party said is not about a portfolio. It is
not relevant.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Repeatedly —
Mr M. McGowan : He said you have no economic plan. Is he
right?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. The point of the member's
question is wrong. Does he not understand that in Parliament, members ask
ministers or Premiers questions about their responsibilities and portfolios?
Members do not ask me or anyone else to give an opinion about what someone else
has said. If the Leader of the Opposition is interested in the view of the
Leader of the National Party, he should ask him.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, this is childish stuff. If the
Leader of the Opposition wants to ask me a question about our economic plan or
unemployment, he should do so, but I will not be answering questions about what
some other minister might think. Ask him!
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