❓ Mr Punch asks about the McGowan government's job creation agenda. The Premier responds with employment statistics, project examples, and quotes from the opposition leader acknowledging economic growth.
AnsweredQoN 945Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY — EMPLOYMENT
945. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Premier:
Can the Premier update the house on how the McGowan Labor government's
comprehensive job-creating agenda is growing business confidence, attracting
more investment and delivering more jobs for Western Australians?
945. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Premier:
Can the Premier update the house on how the McGowan Labor government's
comprehensive job-creating agenda is growing business confidence, attracting
more investment and delivering more jobs for Western Australians?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bunbury—an outstanding
advocate for the south west. On behalf of the Minister for Health, I acknowledge
in the Speaker's gallery members of the Women Leaders in Public Health,
who have come along this afternoon; I thank you for your attendance.
It is the case that unemployment figures move around, month
to month, but there is no doubt that there is now a trend in place and that we
are seeing clear employment growth and jobs being created in Western Australia.
We now have a record number of Western Australians in work—that is 1 350
000 of our citizens in jobs, and that is 47 000 more Western Australians in
work than at the time of the last state election in March last year. Of those,
34 000 have found full-time employment—that is the highest figure since
May 2015—and the number of underemployed is lower than it was when we
came to government. We have the highest participation rate in the country. If
our participation rate reflected those of other states, we would have one of
the lowest employment rates in the nation.
Businesses in Western Australia are
now more confident about hiring workers in our state, and I would like to run
members through a couple of projects. Firstly, we cleared the way for the
Albemarle Kemerton Lithium Plant for the south west. I look forward to that
generating jobs for people in Harvey, Australind, Bunbury, Collie and those
sorts of communities down there. There will be 500 jobs during construction and
500 permanent operational jobs. We have seen the $800 million expansion of
Karrinyup Shopping Centre, which is expected to create 2 500 jobs during construction and another 2 500 jobs in
retail and management once underway. There is also the Belmont Park redevelopment. The first stage —
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Golden Group's
$3.8 million Belmont Park redevelopment is underway and I note that the
opposition is saying that that is nothing to do with us, but I want to quote
Golden Group's managing director, Andrew Sugiaputra, who said —
''The
signing of this tender is a testament to the Government's commitment to
rebuilding WA's economy,''
That is what he had to say.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is what
he said last week, and we are in government; he was not talking about you. I doubt
you are ever going to see government again, Leader of the Opposition.
Last week I opened the RAC Monkey
Mia Dolphin Resort—a $20 million investment in the Shire of Shark Bay.
Today we see more signs of confidence in the office buildings at King's
Square and Perth City Link. One, which has sat nearly empty since 2015, is now
almost fully leased. We are also seeing new projects in the mining sector all
over the state.
Other people are acknowledging the
success of the economy these days, and I want to quote the Leader of the
Opposition, who has recognised that there are more jobs.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please, Leader
of the Opposition; you can ask your question, and I will speak now.
He told the Urban Development
Institute of Australia's National Congress on Friday last week,
according to my notes —
''I want to emphasise this:
the mining sector growth now is the best I've ever seen in 30 years of
watching the economy.''
Thank you, Leader of the Opposition.
I am pleased to see him acknowledging what an excellent job this government is
doing in getting the economy back on track after his disastrous period in
government.
advocate for the south west. On behalf of the Minister for Health, I acknowledge
in the Speaker's gallery members of the Women Leaders in Public Health,
who have come along this afternoon; I thank you for your attendance.
It is the case that unemployment figures move around, month
to month, but there is no doubt that there is now a trend in place and that we
are seeing clear employment growth and jobs being created in Western Australia.
We now have a record number of Western Australians in work—that is 1 350
000 of our citizens in jobs, and that is 47 000 more Western Australians in
work than at the time of the last state election in March last year. Of those,
34 000 have found full-time employment—that is the highest figure since
May 2015—and the number of underemployed is lower than it was when we
came to government. We have the highest participation rate in the country. If
our participation rate reflected those of other states, we would have one of
the lowest employment rates in the nation.
Businesses in Western Australia are
now more confident about hiring workers in our state, and I would like to run
members through a couple of projects. Firstly, we cleared the way for the
Albemarle Kemerton Lithium Plant for the south west. I look forward to that
generating jobs for people in Harvey, Australind, Bunbury, Collie and those
sorts of communities down there. There will be 500 jobs during construction and
500 permanent operational jobs. We have seen the $800 million expansion of
Karrinyup Shopping Centre, which is expected to create 2 500 jobs during construction and another 2 500 jobs in
retail and management once underway. There is also the Belmont Park redevelopment. The first stage —
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Golden Group's
$3.8 million Belmont Park redevelopment is underway and I note that the
opposition is saying that that is nothing to do with us, but I want to quote
Golden Group's managing director, Andrew Sugiaputra, who said —
''The
signing of this tender is a testament to the Government's commitment to
rebuilding WA's economy,''
That is what he had to say.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is what
he said last week, and we are in government; he was not talking about you. I doubt
you are ever going to see government again, Leader of the Opposition.
Last week I opened the RAC Monkey
Mia Dolphin Resort—a $20 million investment in the Shire of Shark Bay.
Today we see more signs of confidence in the office buildings at King's
Square and Perth City Link. One, which has sat nearly empty since 2015, is now
almost fully leased. We are also seeing new projects in the mining sector all
over the state.
Other people are acknowledging the
success of the economy these days, and I want to quote the Leader of the
Opposition, who has recognised that there are more jobs.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Please, Leader
of the Opposition; you can ask your question, and I will speak now.
He told the Urban Development
Institute of Australia's National Congress on Friday last week,
according to my notes —
''I want to emphasise this:
the mining sector growth now is the best I've ever seen in 30 years of
watching the economy.''
Thank you, Leader of the Opposition.
I am pleased to see him acknowledging what an excellent job this government is
doing in getting the economy back on track after his disastrous period in
government.
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