❓ Mr. Ripper questions Premier Barnett's priority of WA workers over skilled migrants amidst rising unemployment. Mr. Barnett defends his government's budget measures and highlights the Gorgon project's job creation potential, acknowledging the need for skilled migrants due to potential labour shortages.
AnsweredQoN 579Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EMPLOYMENT — SKILLED MIGRANT VISAS
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier not agree that his priority should be, firstly, Western Australian workers and, secondly, Australian workers from other states; and what is he doing to help them now when unemployment is rising more rapidly in this state than in any other state? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier not agree that his priority should be, firstly, Western Australian workers and, secondly, Australian workers from other states; and what is he doing to help them now when unemployment is rising more rapidly in this state than in any other state? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition was not listening, but I just said what was in the budget. This state is the only state that has given a significant tax cut in this round of budgets—$100 million. No other state has done it; this is the only state that has given a training place to anyone who is unemployed. No other state has done that. Therefore, in answer to members opposite when they ask what we are doing, I say we are doing that. The best thing that we can do in this state is make sure we maintain the momentum of investment in major projects. We have been working extremely hard, for example, on the Gorgon project. I acknowledge that the previous government played a role in the Gorgon project and I will in future acknowledge that. However, the Gorgon project will create 10 000 jobs when it comes to fruition. We will struggle to find the people from within this state and even across Australia to man that project. Firstly I hope that Western Australians work on the project and that skilled people from the other states then move across to work on the project. However, in reality—for personal, family, education and other reasons—many people will not want to relocate to the Kimberley. I am very optimistic and confident about employment prospects in this state; I am less confident about the country as a whole.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition was not listening, but I just said what was in the budget. This state is the only state that has given a significant tax cut in this round of budgets—$100 million. No other state has done it; this is the only state that has given a training place to anyone who is unemployed. No other state has done that. Therefore, in answer to members opposite when they ask what we are doing, I say we are doing that. The best thing that we can do in this state is make sure we maintain the momentum of investment in major projects. We have been working extremely hard, for example, on the Gorgon project. I acknowledge that the previous government played a role in the Gorgon project and I will in future acknowledge that. However, the Gorgon project will create 10 000 jobs when it comes to fruition. We will struggle to find the people from within this state and even across Australia to man that project. Firstly I hope that Western Australians work on the project and that skilled people from the other states then move across to work on the project. However, in reality—for personal, family, education and other reasons—many people will not want to relocate to the Kimberley. I am very optimistic and confident about employment prospects in this state; I am less confident about the country as a whole.
Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition was not listening, but I just said what was in the budget. This state is the only state that has given a significant tax cut in this round of budgets—$100 million. No other state has done it; this is the only state that has given a training place to anyone who is unemployed. No other state has done that. Therefore, in answer to members opposite when they ask what we are doing, I say we are doing that. The best thing that we can do in this state is make sure we maintain the momentum of investment in major projects. We have been working extremely hard, for example, on the Gorgon project. I acknowledge that the previous government played a role in the Gorgon project and I will in future acknowledge that. However, the Gorgon project will create 10 000 jobs when it comes to fruition. We will struggle to find the people from within this state and even across Australia to man that project. Firstly I hope that Western Australians work on the project and that skilled people from the other states then move across to work on the project. However, in reality—for personal, family, education and other reasons—many people will not want to relocate to the Kimberley. I am very optimistic and confident about employment prospects in this state; I am less confident about the country as a whole.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition was not listening, but I just said what was in the budget. This state is the only state that has given a significant tax cut in this round of budgets—$100 million. No other state has done it; this is the only state that has given a training place to anyone who is unemployed. No other state has done that. Therefore, in answer to members opposite when they ask what we are doing, I say we are doing that. The best thing that we can do in this state is make sure we maintain the momentum of investment in major projects. We have been working extremely hard, for example, on the Gorgon project. I acknowledge that the previous government played a role in the Gorgon project and I will in future acknowledge that. However, the Gorgon project will create 10 000 jobs when it comes to fruition. We will struggle to find the people from within this state and even across Australia to man that project. Firstly I hope that Western Australians work on the project and that skilled people from the other states then move across to work on the project. However, in reality—for personal, family, education and other reasons—many people will not want to relocate to the Kimberley. I am very optimistic and confident about employment prospects in this state; I am less confident about the country as a whole.
Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition was not listening, but I just said what was in the budget. This state is the only state that has given a significant tax cut in this round of budgets—$100 million. No other state has done it; this is the only state that has given a training place to anyone who is unemployed. No other state has done that. Therefore, in answer to members opposite when they ask what we are doing, I say we are doing that. The best thing that we can do in this state is make sure we maintain the momentum of investment in major projects. We have been working extremely hard, for example, on the Gorgon project. I acknowledge that the previous government played a role in the Gorgon project and I will in future acknowledge that. However, the Gorgon project will create 10 000 jobs when it comes to fruition. We will struggle to find the people from within this state and even across Australia to man that project. Firstly I hope that Western Australians work on the project and that skilled people from the other states then move across to work on the project. However, in reality—for personal, family, education and other reasons—many people will not want to relocate to the Kimberley. I am very optimistic and confident about employment prospects in this state; I am less confident about the country as a whole.
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