❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett about rising unemployment in WA and the lack of job-creating submissions to Infrastructure Australia. Barnett defends the government's economic performance and criticises the Labor Party.
AnsweredQoN 867Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
UNEMPLOYMENT — FIGURES
867. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the fact that there are
now 58 300 more Western Australians unemployed since this government came to
power combined with the fact that Western Australia's unemployment rate
is now worse than that of New South Wales, the Northern Territory, the ACT and
Tasmania. Why has the Premier not made a single job-creating submission to
Infrastructure Australia like the Premiers and chief ministers of those states
and territories have?
867. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the fact that there are
now 58 300 more Western Australians unemployed since this government came to
power combined with the fact that Western Australia's unemployment rate
is now worse than that of New South Wales, the Northern Territory, the ACT and
Tasmania. Why has the Premier not made a single job-creating submission to
Infrastructure Australia like the Premiers and chief ministers of those states
and territories have?
AnswerView source ↗
As I said before, the Western Australian government does not
report or answer to Infrastructure Australia. We never have and we never will.
Mr P. Papalia : You're
too lazy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, we are not subservient, as the Labor Party would be in government if it
ever got there. There is a big difference.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition, I call you to order for the first time. Let the
Premier answer the question please.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : We have major projects underway in this state. As I have
said, Roe 8 is the next one to get underway.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Roe 8 is the next major project to hopefully have contracts
signed this year, with construction beginning next year. Next year—2016—we
will also see the rail line out to Forrestfield and the airport, a major
project underway, costing $2 billion or thereabouts. Then we will be making a
choice about what is the following project, and we will do that in good time
when we are ready to do so.
Mr
P. Papalia : You're too lazy to put in a submission.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I do not make submissions. The advisory groups —
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I am not going to ask you again.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
We will negotiate directly with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer on
funding. This is still the strongest economy in Australia.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Again, members opposite talk down the economy all the time. I will tell them
why this is the strongest economy. Look at the projects that have got underway
under this government—Gorgon, Wheatstone; we can go right around the
state and find project after project, private and public, a huge surge in
investment the like of which has never been seen in Australia before. Yes,
commodity prices have come off a peak. We saw employment in the resources
industry rise dramatically and it has come back not to where it was but it has
come back off that peak. There is a dislocation in the workforce. If we look at
the Western Australian economy, it is clear, the pathway ahead; it is clear.
Mr F.M. Logan : You're
talking bulldust.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Apparently, I am talking bulldust, according to the member opposite.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The direction of the economy in Western Australia is clear. We could ask a
rhetorical question: where does Victoria go? I do not know. What is Queensland
going to do? The coal industry is probably in long-term decline. What is its
future? Go to Tasmania: Tasmania is doing better under the new Liberal Premier.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He is doing a good job.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, member for Warnbro; I call you to order for the first time.
Mr R.H. Cook : They've
got lower unemployment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
To that comment—Tasmania has lower unemployment—I say well
done, Will Hodgman; he has done a terrific job. He is getting a bit of activity
in Tasmania. Who do members reckon has the strongest economy—Tasmania
or Western Australia? Get real and understand the economic structure of this
state! Western Australia has by far the strongest economy and by far the
strongest prospects. Our one big problem is that $3.7 billion is taken off this
state and given to the other states. People can talk, as they will, about
reform of GST. There will be no reform of GST unless the distribution is fixed.
report or answer to Infrastructure Australia. We never have and we never will.
Mr P. Papalia : You're
too lazy.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, we are not subservient, as the Labor Party would be in government if it
ever got there. There is a big difference.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition, I call you to order for the first time. Let the
Premier answer the question please.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : We have major projects underway in this state. As I have
said, Roe 8 is the next one to get underway.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Roe 8 is the next major project to hopefully have contracts
signed this year, with construction beginning next year. Next year—2016—we
will also see the rail line out to Forrestfield and the airport, a major
project underway, costing $2 billion or thereabouts. Then we will be making a
choice about what is the following project, and we will do that in good time
when we are ready to do so.
Mr
P. Papalia : You're too lazy to put in a submission.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I do not make submissions. The advisory groups —
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I am not going to ask you again.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
We will negotiate directly with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer on
funding. This is still the strongest economy in Australia.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Again, members opposite talk down the economy all the time. I will tell them
why this is the strongest economy. Look at the projects that have got underway
under this government—Gorgon, Wheatstone; we can go right around the
state and find project after project, private and public, a huge surge in
investment the like of which has never been seen in Australia before. Yes,
commodity prices have come off a peak. We saw employment in the resources
industry rise dramatically and it has come back not to where it was but it has
come back off that peak. There is a dislocation in the workforce. If we look at
the Western Australian economy, it is clear, the pathway ahead; it is clear.
Mr F.M. Logan : You're
talking bulldust.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Apparently, I am talking bulldust, according to the member opposite.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The direction of the economy in Western Australia is clear. We could ask a
rhetorical question: where does Victoria go? I do not know. What is Queensland
going to do? The coal industry is probably in long-term decline. What is its
future? Go to Tasmania: Tasmania is doing better under the new Liberal Premier.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He is doing a good job.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, member for Warnbro; I call you to order for the first time.
Mr R.H. Cook : They've
got lower unemployment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
To that comment—Tasmania has lower unemployment—I say well
done, Will Hodgman; he has done a terrific job. He is getting a bit of activity
in Tasmania. Who do members reckon has the strongest economy—Tasmania
or Western Australia? Get real and understand the economic structure of this
state! Western Australia has by far the strongest economy and by far the
strongest prospects. Our one big problem is that $3.7 billion is taken off this
state and given to the other states. People can talk, as they will, about
reform of GST. There will be no reform of GST unless the distribution is fixed.
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