❓ The question praises the government's financial management and asks how it's being used to diversify the WA economy. The answer details investments in tourism, international education, business attraction, agriculture, and infrastructure.
AnsweredQoN 314Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY — DIVERSIFICATION
314. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Treasurer:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's responsible financial management that has delivered a strong
surplus and a significant reduction in the $44 billion of Liberal and National
debt. Can the Premier outline to the house how this government's strong
financial management is helping to deliver significant investment in
diversifying the economy and growing new industries in WA?
314. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Treasurer:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's responsible financial management that has delivered a strong
surplus and a significant reduction in the $44 billion of Liberal and National
debt. Can the Premier outline to the house how this government's strong
financial management is helping to deliver significant investment in
diversifying the economy and growing new industries in WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question.
Obviously, we are committed to
diversifying the Western Australian economy. Prior to the pandemic, two and a bit
years ago, we were having record tourism growth. We had attracted direct
flights and major events. We were investing in international education and
attracting very significant business investment. Obviously when the pandemic
hit, we had to take some pretty extraordinary measures to protect the state and
the state's economy. However, in the budget we announced $1.3 billion
in investment in a wide range of industries across the state to further
diversify the economy and support some of our strong industries in Western Australia.
I turn to tourism. We are back to
attracting blockbuster events. We have secured four English Premier League
teams to Western Australia to play round ball football. The NRL State of Origin
is coming to Western Australia. We have the Wallabies playing England in the
other rugby code, which will be terrific for rugby fans who have secured direct flights between Perth and Rome. The
direct flights are recommencing to London, and this budget will invest
another $70 million in tourism, including marketing major events and business
events—which, I might add, they are very happy about—and major
marketing campaigns across the east coast and internationally.
In international education, we have
the first Minister for International Education, Hon David Templeman, member for
Mandurah. Yes, he is doing a terrific job as the Minister for International
Education. There is no better evidence of that than the $41.2 million in the
budget, which is the biggest spend ever on international students to include
scholarships, familiarisation programs and commissions and the like to get more
international students back into our universities, TAFEs, schools and private
colleges in Western Australia.
On top of that, we are investing in
supporting and attracting businesses. The $80 million investment attraction
fund now totals $180 million. The $50 million for the industrial land development
fund is now growing to $100 million. There
is $25 million for the agricultural collaboration, which is in partnership with
the CSIRO and Western Australian universities to leverage commonwealth
funding. There is $17 million to open up new international trade offices in
Chennai, Ho Chi Minh City, Frankfurt and one other location. There is $10 million
of funding to attract call centres and back-office processing to WA. There is
the medical lifestyle sciences industry funding—it goes on and on. Where is the member for Geraldton? There will be a
massive investment in Geraldton port of $320 million to expand its capacity. Therefore, we are taking
unprecedented efforts to diversify the state's economy. Obviously, we
can do that when we manage the finances well, and we ensure that we have the
best outcomes from the pandemic of anywhere in the world. Our strong financial
management is paying dividends for future generations of Western Australians.
question.
Obviously, we are committed to
diversifying the Western Australian economy. Prior to the pandemic, two and a bit
years ago, we were having record tourism growth. We had attracted direct
flights and major events. We were investing in international education and
attracting very significant business investment. Obviously when the pandemic
hit, we had to take some pretty extraordinary measures to protect the state and
the state's economy. However, in the budget we announced $1.3 billion
in investment in a wide range of industries across the state to further
diversify the economy and support some of our strong industries in Western Australia.
I turn to tourism. We are back to
attracting blockbuster events. We have secured four English Premier League
teams to Western Australia to play round ball football. The NRL State of Origin
is coming to Western Australia. We have the Wallabies playing England in the
other rugby code, which will be terrific for rugby fans who have secured direct flights between Perth and Rome. The
direct flights are recommencing to London, and this budget will invest
another $70 million in tourism, including marketing major events and business
events—which, I might add, they are very happy about—and major
marketing campaigns across the east coast and internationally.
In international education, we have
the first Minister for International Education, Hon David Templeman, member for
Mandurah. Yes, he is doing a terrific job as the Minister for International
Education. There is no better evidence of that than the $41.2 million in the
budget, which is the biggest spend ever on international students to include
scholarships, familiarisation programs and commissions and the like to get more
international students back into our universities, TAFEs, schools and private
colleges in Western Australia.
On top of that, we are investing in
supporting and attracting businesses. The $80 million investment attraction
fund now totals $180 million. The $50 million for the industrial land development
fund is now growing to $100 million. There
is $25 million for the agricultural collaboration, which is in partnership with
the CSIRO and Western Australian universities to leverage commonwealth
funding. There is $17 million to open up new international trade offices in
Chennai, Ho Chi Minh City, Frankfurt and one other location. There is $10 million
of funding to attract call centres and back-office processing to WA. There is
the medical lifestyle sciences industry funding—it goes on and on. Where is the member for Geraldton? There will be a
massive investment in Geraldton port of $320 million to expand its capacity. Therefore, we are taking
unprecedented efforts to diversify the state's economy. Obviously, we
can do that when we manage the finances well, and we ensure that we have the
best outcomes from the pandemic of anywhere in the world. Our strong financial
management is paying dividends for future generations of Western Australians.
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