❓ Premier Carpenter outlines the WA government's investments in infrastructure, job creation, and skills development, highlighting strong economic growth and low unemployment rates.
AnsweredQoN 500Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INVESTMENT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Can the Premier inform the house of how the Carpenter government is investing in a better future for all Western Australians? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Can the Premier inform the house of how the Carpenter government is investing in a better future for all Western Australians? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question and for his excellent representation of his constituency. We are living in magnificent economic times in Western Australia, perhaps unparalleled economic times. The figures demonstrate a nine per cent economic growth over the 12 months to March 2006 and an unemployment figure of 3.1 per cent, which, I remind the house, is the lowest figure we have ever recorded in this state. When we got below four per cent, we wondered whether it was possible to go further; and we have. It will be interesting to see whether we can reach unemployment figures with the figure “two” in front of them. It is heartening to note that this state’s level of long-term unemployment is being considerably eroded. In 2003, the government set a target to create more than 125 000 new jobs over the next five years. In 2006, two and a half years on from that, we are more than 90 per cent of the way to reaching that target, with 116 000 new jobs having been created. We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question and for his excellent representation of his constituency. We are living in magnificent economic times in Western Australia, perhaps unparalleled economic times. The figures demonstrate a nine per cent economic growth over the 12 months to March 2006 and an unemployment figure of 3.1 per cent, which, I remind the house, is the lowest figure we have ever recorded in this state. When we got below four per cent, we wondered whether it was possible to go further; and we have. It will be interesting to see whether we can reach unemployment figures with the figure “two” in front of them. It is heartening to note that this state’s level of long-term unemployment is being considerably eroded. In 2003, the government set a target to create more than 125 000 new jobs over the next five years. In 2006, two and a half years on from that, we are more than 90 per cent of the way to reaching that target, with 116 000 new jobs having been created. We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question and for his excellent representation of his constituency. We are living in magnificent economic times in Western Australia, perhaps unparalleled economic times. The figures demonstrate a nine per cent economic growth over the 12 months to March 2006 and an unemployment figure of 3.1 per cent, which, I remind the house, is the lowest figure we have ever recorded in this state. When we got below four per cent, we wondered whether it was possible to go further; and we have. It will be interesting to see whether we can reach unemployment figures with the figure “two” in front of them. It is heartening to note that this state’s level of long-term unemployment is being considerably eroded. In 2003, the government set a target to create more than 125 000 new jobs over the next five years. In 2006, two and a half years on from that, we are more than 90 per cent of the way to reaching that target, with 116 000 new jobs having been created. We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
It is heartening to note that this state’s level of long-term unemployment is being considerably eroded. In 2003, the government set a target to create more than 125 000 new jobs over the next five years. In 2006, two and a half years on from that, we are more than 90 per cent of the way to reaching that target, with 116 000 new jobs having been created. We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question and for his excellent representation of his constituency. We are living in magnificent economic times in Western Australia, perhaps unparalleled economic times. The figures demonstrate a nine per cent economic growth over the 12 months to March 2006 and an unemployment figure of 3.1 per cent, which, I remind the house, is the lowest figure we have ever recorded in this state. When we got below four per cent, we wondered whether it was possible to go further; and we have. It will be interesting to see whether we can reach unemployment figures with the figure “two” in front of them. It is heartening to note that this state’s level of long-term unemployment is being considerably eroded. In 2003, the government set a target to create more than 125 000 new jobs over the next five years. In 2006, two and a half years on from that, we are more than 90 per cent of the way to reaching that target, with 116 000 new jobs having been created. We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question and for his excellent representation of his constituency. We are living in magnificent economic times in Western Australia, perhaps unparalleled economic times. The figures demonstrate a nine per cent economic growth over the 12 months to March 2006 and an unemployment figure of 3.1 per cent, which, I remind the house, is the lowest figure we have ever recorded in this state. When we got below four per cent, we wondered whether it was possible to go further; and we have. It will be interesting to see whether we can reach unemployment figures with the figure “two” in front of them. It is heartening to note that this state’s level of long-term unemployment is being considerably eroded. In 2003, the government set a target to create more than 125 000 new jobs over the next five years. In 2006, two and a half years on from that, we are more than 90 per cent of the way to reaching that target, with 116 000 new jobs having been created. We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
It is heartening to note that this state’s level of long-term unemployment is being considerably eroded. In 2003, the government set a target to create more than 125 000 new jobs over the next five years. In 2006, two and a half years on from that, we are more than 90 per cent of the way to reaching that target, with 116 000 new jobs having been created. We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
We have invested a record $5.2 billion in the capital works program to avoid the infrastructure bottlenecks that could otherwise curtail our development. Over the four years of our forward estimates, we have a capital works program of $18.1 billion. It is interesting and also heartening to note that we have done that while reducing the net debt to revenue ratios. Our capital works program provides not only roads, railways and ports, but also schools, hospitals, police stations and other essential service infrastructure. It is a program to invest in not only our physical but also our human infrastructure. Investing as we are today, we are putting in place policies that will deliver long-term benefits to future generations of this state in a way that has not been done by any modern government of this state. A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
A great example of the government’s commitment to developing skilled individuals is its overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the number of new apprentices. In 2005, this government set a target to have 30 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. The target was met in the first eight months of our second term of government. It was increased again by about 10 per cent. The new target was set at almost 33 000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009. I am happy to report to the house that we are well on the way to meeting that new target, with almost 32 000 apprentices and trainees currently in training. These increases in apprenticeships and trainee numbers come on top of the biggest changes to the traineeship system that this state has seen in a century. The changes include three-year apprenticeships in five key building and construction industry areas, and six new housing apprenticeships that can be completed in two years. Combined with our land release initiatives, these improvements are helping supply much-needed skilled labour to our building and construction industries. There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
There is a great story to tell. There is currently a lot of debate about history: the narrative of history and important dates. The period we are now living in will be looked back upon as a golden era in this state’s history, and an era in which more beneficial changes were put in place for the long-term benefit of Western Australia than had ever been done or even contemplated before.
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