❓ Opposition questions the Premier's denial of a resources boom, accusing him of avoiding responsibility for its management and equitable distribution of benefits. The Premier argues against the term 'boom' and highlights mixed economic performance across sectors.
AnsweredQoN 99Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESOURCES BOOM — PREMIER’S COMMENTS
I note that the state’s royalty income has doubled to $4 billion since the Premier’s government came to power; that the Reserve Bank in its statement on monetary policy in February this year said that mining sector investment is at a historically high level and is expected to increase significantly; that Access Economics has commented that not all of WA’s economy is booming; and that the members for Riverton, Wanneroo and Scarborough have each referred to WA’s boom. (1) Why should Western Australians believe the Premier’s statement yesterday that Western Australia is not in a resources boom? (2) Did the Premier not say this simply to avoid his responsibilities to manage this boom and to deliver benefits, including local manufacturing content, to ordinary Western Australians? Several opposition members: Hear, hear! Mr C.J. BARNETT
I note that the state’s royalty income has doubled to $4 billion since the Premier’s government came to power; that the Reserve Bank in its statement on monetary policy in February this year said that mining sector investment is at a historically high level and is expected to increase significantly; that Access Economics has commented that not all of WA’s economy is booming; and that the members for Riverton, Wanneroo and Scarborough have each referred to WA’s boom. (1) Why should Western Australians believe the Premier’s statement yesterday that Western Australia is not in a resources boom? (2) Did the Premier not say this simply to avoid his responsibilities to manage this boom and to deliver benefits, including local manufacturing content, to ordinary Western Australians? Several opposition members: Hear, hear! Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
(1) Why should Western Australians believe the Premier’s statement yesterday that Western Australia is not in a resources boom? (2) Did the Premier not say this simply to avoid his responsibilities to manage this boom and to deliver benefits, including local manufacturing content, to ordinary Western Australians? Several opposition members: Hear, hear! Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
(2) Did the Premier not say this simply to avoid his responsibilities to manage this boom and to deliver benefits, including local manufacturing content, to ordinary Western Australians? Several opposition members: Hear, hear! Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Several opposition members: Hear, hear! Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
(1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
(1) Why should Western Australians believe the Premier’s statement yesterday that Western Australia is not in a resources boom? (2) Did the Premier not say this simply to avoid his responsibilities to manage this boom and to deliver benefits, including local manufacturing content, to ordinary Western Australians? Several opposition members: Hear, hear! Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
(2) Did the Premier not say this simply to avoid his responsibilities to manage this boom and to deliver benefits, including local manufacturing content, to ordinary Western Australians? Several opposition members: Hear, hear! Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Several opposition members: Hear, hear! Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
(1)–(2) The phrase “to manage a boom” is a contradiction in terms if we think about it. What this state is heading into — Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr M. McGowan interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Did the member for Rockingham think it through and work it out? Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr M. McGowan : I am still thinking about it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The member for Rockingham will have to think for a long time. Sooner or later one of us will come over and explain it to him. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr E.S. Ripper : We will hold you accountable for managing this boom. You can’t avoid accountability by saying it’s impossible. We will hold you accountable for management of the boom. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no doubt that this state is going through an expansion in the mining and petroleum industry. In 2010, Western Australian exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time in history. That accounted for 44 per cent of national merchandise exports and was equal to the sum of exports from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Yes, we are going through a period of expansion; that is very evident, and some very major projects are coming forward. However, as I have said a number of times, if we look across the economy, it is mixed. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What is happening in the resources sector? You said there was no resources boom. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr R.H. Cook : Have royalties really doubled? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question, but members seem to not want me to answer. I got more respect from the gathering outside yesterday. Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : No, you didn’t. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did. Two-thirds of them listened. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If we look at the various components, the mining and petroleum industry is strong; the property sector, as I think the Treasurer will attest to, is as flat as a tack; and the tourism industry has gone through a very difficult time due to a whole host of factors, not least of which is the high value of the Australian dollar. Members opposite should talk to retailers and ask them about retail sales. They will tell them that they are sluggish. In that environment would it be proper for me to talk about a boom? No, it would not; in fact, it would be quite irresponsible. We are not about the boom–bust cycle. This is an opportunity for Western Australia to shake that off and have 10 or 20 years of consistent, strong expansion in which not only the size of the economy grows but the qualitative side of the nature of this economy changes as we move into more sophisticated areas of mining and mineral processing and a broader economic base. That is what this government is about, so members opposite will not find me talking about booms. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition had a commodity price boom in 2006 and squandered it. He completely squandered it, so I will not take his advice on how to handle the economy.
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