❓ Mr. Michael asks the Premier about the WA Jobs Act's impact on local jobs and content. The Premier responds with statistics on contracts, local content usage, and job creation, while also criticizing the Liberal Party's stance on a related issue.
AnsweredQoN 1101Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MCGOWAN GOVERNMENT —
EMPLOYMENT
1101. Mr D.R. MICHAEL to the Premier:
Before I start, on behalf of the
member for Kalamunda, I welcome the Kalamunda Happy Hatters to the chamber
today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to maximising local content, creating local
jobs, and supporting local businesses through
its landmark WA Jobs Act. Can the Premier update the house on how the WA Jobs
Act created more Western Australian jobs and delivered increased Western Australian
content on government projects?
EMPLOYMENT
1101. Mr D.R. MICHAEL to the Premier:
Before I start, on behalf of the
member for Kalamunda, I welcome the Kalamunda Happy Hatters to the chamber
today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to maximising local content, creating local
jobs, and supporting local businesses through
its landmark WA Jobs Act. Can the Premier update the house on how the WA Jobs
Act created more Western Australian jobs and delivered increased Western Australian
content on government projects?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Balcatta for
the question, and I thank the Happy Hatters at the back of the chamber. They
used to be called the red hat ladies, but to the Happy Hatters, on behalf of
the member for Kalamunda, it is great to see you all here.
We took a policy to the state
election to create the WA Jobs Act, and we have passed that legislation. That
means that if a company wants a government
contract in Western Australia over a certain amount, it has to demonstrate how much local WA content it will use as part of
the tendering process and, if successful, those local content commitments will be written into the contract. This is the first time that has occurred in Western
Australia, to guarantee local content. I must say that the feedback from the
business community has been very positive—overwhelming—towards
this. Since the Jobs Act was introduced, about 110 contracts have required WA
industry participation plans. Of those, 92 contracts have utilised 100 per cent
local Western Australian content and another 10 contracts have used more than
90 per cent local content. Under the Jobs Act, more than 14 700 Western Australians
have found work in our state—that is, 14 700 Western Australian jobs
created, including 780 Western Australian apprentices and trainees.
Some of the projects that have been
built with 100 per cent local content include Balcatta Senior High School,
Bunbury prison expansion, Broome Senior High School upgrades, the new Capel
Police Station, stage 3 of the Karratha–Tom Price road, and construction
of new housing at Bidyadanga. We have seen this government stand up for Western Australia and Western Australian
jobs, unlike the Liberal Party, which is taking the side of John Holland against the state in its action against the people of Western Australia. The
Liberal Party is once again selling out Western Australia; the member for
Riverton should be ashamed of himself, and the Leader of the Opposition should
disown his conduct.
the question, and I thank the Happy Hatters at the back of the chamber. They
used to be called the red hat ladies, but to the Happy Hatters, on behalf of
the member for Kalamunda, it is great to see you all here.
We took a policy to the state
election to create the WA Jobs Act, and we have passed that legislation. That
means that if a company wants a government
contract in Western Australia over a certain amount, it has to demonstrate how much local WA content it will use as part of
the tendering process and, if successful, those local content commitments will be written into the contract. This is the first time that has occurred in Western
Australia, to guarantee local content. I must say that the feedback from the
business community has been very positive—overwhelming—towards
this. Since the Jobs Act was introduced, about 110 contracts have required WA
industry participation plans. Of those, 92 contracts have utilised 100 per cent
local Western Australian content and another 10 contracts have used more than
90 per cent local content. Under the Jobs Act, more than 14 700 Western Australians
have found work in our state—that is, 14 700 Western Australian jobs
created, including 780 Western Australian apprentices and trainees.
Some of the projects that have been
built with 100 per cent local content include Balcatta Senior High School,
Bunbury prison expansion, Broome Senior High School upgrades, the new Capel
Police Station, stage 3 of the Karratha–Tom Price road, and construction
of new housing at Bidyadanga. We have seen this government stand up for Western Australia and Western Australian
jobs, unlike the Liberal Party, which is taking the side of John Holland against the state in its action against the people of Western Australia. The
Liberal Party is once again selling out Western Australia; the member for
Riverton should be ashamed of himself, and the Leader of the Opposition should
disown his conduct.
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