❓ Opposition questions the Premier's refusal to build Roe 8 and 9 to address WA's high unemployment. The Premier defends the government's job creation record and COVID-19 economic support measures, reiterating their election commitment against the project due to environmental concerns and toll roads.
AnsweredQoN 454Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROE 8 AND 9 —
JOBS
454. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Given Western Australia has the
highest unemployment rate in the country and the highest number of unemployed
on record, why is the Premier still refusing to build Roe 8 and 9, which will
create thousands of desperately needed local jobs?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, the
Premier can answer this question.
JOBS
454. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Given Western Australia has the
highest unemployment rate in the country and the highest number of unemployed
on record, why is the Premier still refusing to build Roe 8 and 9, which will
create thousands of desperately needed local jobs?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, the
Premier can answer this question.
AnswerView source ↗
Obviously, the jobs situation in Western
Australia is very concerning. The government has taken it very seriously right
from the very beginning. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting, 72 000 new
jobs had been created in Western Australia over the term of this government,
according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We had the highest jobs growth in Australia. Clearly, all the
indicators were showing that the Western Australian economy was coming back very strongly. From memory, the unemployment
rate in early March was around 5.2 per cent, compared with the 6.4 per
cent we inherited on coming to government. It was a very significant turnaround
and things were looking good. Obviously,
COVID arrived and we have had to deal with a very serious situation. I do not
think anyone would suggest that it is not serious or that people out
there are not suffering. That is why we have put in place a range of measures
to support people across the community.
The building bonus package was
launched a few weeks ago. One builder advised me recently that the doors on his display villages are being knocked off,
figuratively, by customers flooding in to sign contracts. It has been a successful program. We joined with the federal
government to put that in place. The social housing economic recovery package will provide $319 million of new housing. We have frozen household fees and
charges, we have put in place significant payroll tax cuts and also payroll tax
cheques, if you like, so that businesses with payrolls of between $1 million
and $4 million will shortly receive a $17 500 cheque. That will help tide them
over during this critical period. We have reduced electricity bills for small
businesses and charities, provided rent relief for landlords and tenants, and
set up a tourism support package. I was at a cafe at a train station the other
day. The proprietor of the little kiosk was expressing his deep gratitude to
the state government for waiving his rent for six months. Those sorts of things
make a difference. We really feel it deeply when we see and meet people in that
position. I was at a Lotto kiosk the other day as well. Again, the owner of the
kiosk was expressing his gratitude for our support for Lotterywest retailers.
Basically, we have provided the 600 or so Lotterywest retailers out there with
significant financial support—around
$10 000 a month, from memory. Those sorts of things make a big difference to
businesses.
In
terms of infrastructure, which was the nub of the question, on the weekend we
announced, with the commonwealth government again, some very important
jointly funded programs that are shovel ready across Western Australia. I must congratulate the Minister for Transport for
her work on the regional road safety package. The commonwealth government
has picked it up, and I understand it is being implemented across Australia,
with the biggest program in Western Australia, which is a due reward for the
Minister for Transport's work. The Tonkin gap project—$400 million
worth of investment—will start shortly, fixing a long-term problem, and
there are other programs.
The Roe 8 project was the subject of
an election commitment on our behalf. We do not want to destroy the Beeliar
wetlands and we do not want to put in toll roads, unlike the Liberal Party.
Australia is very concerning. The government has taken it very seriously right
from the very beginning. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting, 72 000 new
jobs had been created in Western Australia over the term of this government,
according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We had the highest jobs growth in Australia. Clearly, all the
indicators were showing that the Western Australian economy was coming back very strongly. From memory, the unemployment
rate in early March was around 5.2 per cent, compared with the 6.4 per
cent we inherited on coming to government. It was a very significant turnaround
and things were looking good. Obviously,
COVID arrived and we have had to deal with a very serious situation. I do not
think anyone would suggest that it is not serious or that people out
there are not suffering. That is why we have put in place a range of measures
to support people across the community.
The building bonus package was
launched a few weeks ago. One builder advised me recently that the doors on his display villages are being knocked off,
figuratively, by customers flooding in to sign contracts. It has been a successful program. We joined with the federal
government to put that in place. The social housing economic recovery package will provide $319 million of new housing. We have frozen household fees and
charges, we have put in place significant payroll tax cuts and also payroll tax
cheques, if you like, so that businesses with payrolls of between $1 million
and $4 million will shortly receive a $17 500 cheque. That will help tide them
over during this critical period. We have reduced electricity bills for small
businesses and charities, provided rent relief for landlords and tenants, and
set up a tourism support package. I was at a cafe at a train station the other
day. The proprietor of the little kiosk was expressing his deep gratitude to
the state government for waiving his rent for six months. Those sorts of things
make a difference. We really feel it deeply when we see and meet people in that
position. I was at a Lotto kiosk the other day as well. Again, the owner of the
kiosk was expressing his gratitude for our support for Lotterywest retailers.
Basically, we have provided the 600 or so Lotterywest retailers out there with
significant financial support—around
$10 000 a month, from memory. Those sorts of things make a big difference to
businesses.
In
terms of infrastructure, which was the nub of the question, on the weekend we
announced, with the commonwealth government again, some very important
jointly funded programs that are shovel ready across Western Australia. I must congratulate the Minister for Transport for
her work on the regional road safety package. The commonwealth government
has picked it up, and I understand it is being implemented across Australia,
with the biggest program in Western Australia, which is a due reward for the
Minister for Transport's work. The Tonkin gap project—$400 million
worth of investment—will start shortly, fixing a long-term problem, and
there are other programs.
The Roe 8 project was the subject of
an election commitment on our behalf. We do not want to destroy the Beeliar
wetlands and we do not want to put in toll roads, unlike the Liberal Party.
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