❓ Mrs Hayden questions the Premier on the adequacy of COVID-19 stimulus for WA small businesses, citing ABS data. The Premier defends the government's response, highlighting budget surpluses and a recovery plan.
AnsweredQoN 520Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
SMALL BUSINESS — RELIEF MEASURES
520. Mrs
A.K. HAYDEN to the Premier:
I refer to Australian Bureau of
Statistics data released yesterday that highlights that the government's
COVID-19 stimulus was the smallest state response in the country, with just 23
per cent of Western Australians receiving support from the government. Why has
the government ignored the real pain that is being felt across our small
family-run businesses and by struggling Western Australians during the COVID
crisis, especially given the government has been the recipient of massive
windfall gains from high iron ore prices?
SMALL BUSINESS — RELIEF MEASURES
520. Mrs
A.K. HAYDEN to the Premier:
I refer to Australian Bureau of
Statistics data released yesterday that highlights that the government's
COVID-19 stimulus was the smallest state response in the country, with just 23
per cent of Western Australians receiving support from the government. Why has
the government ignored the real pain that is being felt across our small
family-run businesses and by struggling Western Australians during the COVID
crisis, especially given the government has been the recipient of massive
windfall gains from high iron ore prices?
AnswerView source ↗
The Treasurer has just advised me
that as a percentage of revenue, we are the second highest in Australia in
terms of our COVID-19 stimulus response spend. The only reason that we can do
that is we got the budget back to surplus. Our first years in government were
obviously very difficult and the last six months in government have been very difficult. Our first three years in
government were spent turning around $2.5 billion deficits and converting them to $2.5 billion surpluses. By doing that we, obviously, have greater
capacity to deal with the COVID crisis confronting Western Australia. As far as
I am aware, we are the only state to have launched a recovery plan. I have sent
this to all the other Premiers and Chief Ministers. I have received some
considerable interest, it might be said, from them about how we have conducted
ourselves and how we have arrived at this point. In constructing this plan, we consulted around 800 people across the
state. There were numerous forums to listen to what the requirements were out there and where the spend was required. Members will find it is a very
balanced document, which ensures that there
is spend on important initiatives all over Western Australia, both city and
regional. We are doing everything we can to get jobs back in Western Australia.
However, it is a two-pronged
approach: it is not just what the government does; it is what the government
allows the private sector to do. I think that the tone of the member's
question once again shows how the world is very unusual. The Leader of the
Nationals WA seems to want me to organise accommodation for anyone who wants to
leave home and the member for Darling Range seems to think that bankrupting Western
Australia is somehow the solution to the
problem that we face. That is not the solution. The solution is to engage in
targeted spend in important areas that provide stimulus for the state
and to then encourage the private sector to get on to do what it does, which is
exactly what we are doing. As I have said before, other states followed us when
we went to the two-square metre rule. Some states have now rolled it back. Our
hospitality, tourism and entertainment sectors are the most open of any state
in Australia. Our land sales are the second strongest of any state in
Australia. Our retail figures are the strongest of any state in Australia. Our
growth in payroll is the strongest of any state in Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder : In wages.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member
for Bateman can ask me a question, but maybe he is not allowed to. Maybe that
is cost of living. The member for Bateman can ask me a question if he wants to,
but maybe it should be the member for Carine—obviously a future
Treasurer of Western Australia. I thought my colleague the Minister for
Transport put it well—imagine losing a portfolio to the member for
Carine! Now that is an insult!
That is the situation Western Australia
is in today. Obviously, we have a long road ahead of us. There will be many
twists and turns in this road. There already has been over the last six months,
but we are doing everything we can to get the economy back and to get jobs back
and to keep people safe at the same time.
that as a percentage of revenue, we are the second highest in Australia in
terms of our COVID-19 stimulus response spend. The only reason that we can do
that is we got the budget back to surplus. Our first years in government were
obviously very difficult and the last six months in government have been very difficult. Our first three years in
government were spent turning around $2.5 billion deficits and converting them to $2.5 billion surpluses. By doing that we, obviously, have greater
capacity to deal with the COVID crisis confronting Western Australia. As far as
I am aware, we are the only state to have launched a recovery plan. I have sent
this to all the other Premiers and Chief Ministers. I have received some
considerable interest, it might be said, from them about how we have conducted
ourselves and how we have arrived at this point. In constructing this plan, we consulted around 800 people across the
state. There were numerous forums to listen to what the requirements were out there and where the spend was required. Members will find it is a very
balanced document, which ensures that there
is spend on important initiatives all over Western Australia, both city and
regional. We are doing everything we can to get jobs back in Western Australia.
However, it is a two-pronged
approach: it is not just what the government does; it is what the government
allows the private sector to do. I think that the tone of the member's
question once again shows how the world is very unusual. The Leader of the
Nationals WA seems to want me to organise accommodation for anyone who wants to
leave home and the member for Darling Range seems to think that bankrupting Western
Australia is somehow the solution to the
problem that we face. That is not the solution. The solution is to engage in
targeted spend in important areas that provide stimulus for the state
and to then encourage the private sector to get on to do what it does, which is
exactly what we are doing. As I have said before, other states followed us when
we went to the two-square metre rule. Some states have now rolled it back. Our
hospitality, tourism and entertainment sectors are the most open of any state
in Australia. Our land sales are the second strongest of any state in
Australia. Our retail figures are the strongest of any state in Australia. Our
growth in payroll is the strongest of any state in Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder : In wages.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member
for Bateman can ask me a question, but maybe he is not allowed to. Maybe that
is cost of living. The member for Bateman can ask me a question if he wants to,
but maybe it should be the member for Carine—obviously a future
Treasurer of Western Australia. I thought my colleague the Minister for
Transport put it well—imagine losing a portfolio to the member for
Carine! Now that is an insult!
That is the situation Western Australia
is in today. Obviously, we have a long road ahead of us. There will be many
twists and turns in this road. There already has been over the last six months,
but we are doing everything we can to get the economy back and to get jobs back
and to keep people safe at the same time.
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