❓ Mr. Aubrey questions the Premier on the Cook Labor government's economic performance and potential risks. The Premier responds by highlighting achievements in various sectors, emphasising economic growth and job creation.
AnsweredQoN 893Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE
ECONOMY — INVESTMENT
893. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, on behalf of the member for Mount
Lawley, I would like to welcome deputy principal Christine Ashkenazy and the school leaders of Mount Lawley Primary
School, who are here in the public gallery today.
I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to
doing what is right for Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how the Cook Labor government has ensured that the
state is in a stronger position today than eight years ago?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house whether he is aware of any risks to Western Australia's
nation-leading progress?
ECONOMY — INVESTMENT
893. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, on behalf of the member for Mount
Lawley, I would like to welcome deputy principal Christine Ashkenazy and the school leaders of Mount Lawley Primary
School, who are here in the public gallery today.
I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to
doing what is right for Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how the Cook Labor government has ensured that the
state is in a stronger position today than eight years ago?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house whether he is aware of any risks to Western Australia's
nation-leading progress?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question; it is
an important one. The last day of Parliament gives us an opportunity to
reflect, focus and make sure that we understand the importance of having a government
that the state needs because it is capable of focusing on the issues that
matter and has a proven record of delivering outcomes. The state needs to be
led by a government that is unified and absolutely focused on the things that
matter to the people of Western Australia. This week, we have seen the
alternative government's true c olours.
Quite frankly, it is frightening. It represents a risk to the people of Western
Australia and everything that has been achieved over the last seven
years.
Because it is the final day of
Parliament, I thought I would take the Parliament through some of the
achievements of this government in this term. Household electricity credits
have provided households with $2 100 in assistance in recent years. We provided
$150 for primary school students and $250 for high school students under our WA
student assistance payment. We delivered cheaper public transport through
two-zone capped fares, free rides for school students, free transport for
everyone on Sundays and, of course, we are
coming up to our new summer of free public transport. The regional airfare cap
is one of the policies that we are
most proud of; it is keeping travel affordable for regional Western Australians. Of course, the WA rent relief program is
helping vulnerable tenants to stay in their homes. Then there was the
$3.2 billion for housing and homelessness during this term. We have delivered
more than 2 500 social homes and more than 1 000 are under contract or
construction. We have provided $144 million in grants for community housing
across the state and delivered initiatives like the Subiaco East and Smith
Street housing developments. We are
supporting regional housing via the $80 million infrastructure development fund and the remote communities fund and by unlocking lazy land. Major planning
reform is underway to cut red tape and boost housing supply. We are subsidising
apprentices and supporting businesses to bring in skilled construction workers.
Madam Speaker, it goes on. In the
health system, a record $14.3 billion has been invested in health and mental
health since 2021. We added 709 new beds to the system in the past three years,
the equivalent of a whole new tertiary hospital. A new world-class women's
and babies' hospital in Murdoch is in the pipeline, along with improved maternity services at Osborne Park
Hospital. Despite global health workforce shortages, we increased our health workforce by more than 30 per cent.
This includes more than 4 400 new nurses and 1 800 new doctors. We
stabilised the health system following the pandemic, with ambulance ramping
down 22.5 per cent and elective surgery wait times down 31 per cent.
We have strengthened the economy.
Through some of the toughest global conditions, Western Australia has not only
prevailed, but also thrived. Our economy has grown by nearly a quarter from
pre-pandemic levels and unemployment has averaged below four per cent for the
last three years—a record for this state.
More than 320 000 new local jobs have been created during our time in office
and we are diversifying our economy at a rate never seen before.
We have transformed the transport
network, with 72 kilometres of new rail and 23 stations being delivered through
Metronet. We brought railcar manufacturing back to Western Australia. We have
invested in major road projects around Perth and regional WA. We expanded the
cycling network all over the state.
That just scratches the surface of
our achievements. It has been a busy term, but our government is focused on the
economy and focused on jobs. The government has protected the state's
finances so that we can now make investments, look after those who are doing it
tough, continue to support our health system and continue to grow our housing
stock.
The
progress and the promise of the future is all at risk if Western Australians
waste or risk their vote on the Liberals or the Nationals. We know that
they are hopelessly divided. They are a shambles. We know that the Liberal
Party is in almost terminal civil war at the moment. We say to the people of Western
Australia: stick with WA Labor, stick with WA and stick with our future.
an important one. The last day of Parliament gives us an opportunity to
reflect, focus and make sure that we understand the importance of having a government
that the state needs because it is capable of focusing on the issues that
matter and has a proven record of delivering outcomes. The state needs to be
led by a government that is unified and absolutely focused on the things that
matter to the people of Western Australia. This week, we have seen the
alternative government's true c olours.
Quite frankly, it is frightening. It represents a risk to the people of Western
Australia and everything that has been achieved over the last seven
years.
Because it is the final day of
Parliament, I thought I would take the Parliament through some of the
achievements of this government in this term. Household electricity credits
have provided households with $2 100 in assistance in recent years. We provided
$150 for primary school students and $250 for high school students under our WA
student assistance payment. We delivered cheaper public transport through
two-zone capped fares, free rides for school students, free transport for
everyone on Sundays and, of course, we are
coming up to our new summer of free public transport. The regional airfare cap
is one of the policies that we are
most proud of; it is keeping travel affordable for regional Western Australians. Of course, the WA rent relief program is
helping vulnerable tenants to stay in their homes. Then there was the
$3.2 billion for housing and homelessness during this term. We have delivered
more than 2 500 social homes and more than 1 000 are under contract or
construction. We have provided $144 million in grants for community housing
across the state and delivered initiatives like the Subiaco East and Smith
Street housing developments. We are
supporting regional housing via the $80 million infrastructure development fund and the remote communities fund and by unlocking lazy land. Major planning
reform is underway to cut red tape and boost housing supply. We are subsidising
apprentices and supporting businesses to bring in skilled construction workers.
Madam Speaker, it goes on. In the
health system, a record $14.3 billion has been invested in health and mental
health since 2021. We added 709 new beds to the system in the past three years,
the equivalent of a whole new tertiary hospital. A new world-class women's
and babies' hospital in Murdoch is in the pipeline, along with improved maternity services at Osborne Park
Hospital. Despite global health workforce shortages, we increased our health workforce by more than 30 per cent.
This includes more than 4 400 new nurses and 1 800 new doctors. We
stabilised the health system following the pandemic, with ambulance ramping
down 22.5 per cent and elective surgery wait times down 31 per cent.
We have strengthened the economy.
Through some of the toughest global conditions, Western Australia has not only
prevailed, but also thrived. Our economy has grown by nearly a quarter from
pre-pandemic levels and unemployment has averaged below four per cent for the
last three years—a record for this state.
More than 320 000 new local jobs have been created during our time in office
and we are diversifying our economy at a rate never seen before.
We have transformed the transport
network, with 72 kilometres of new rail and 23 stations being delivered through
Metronet. We brought railcar manufacturing back to Western Australia. We have
invested in major road projects around Perth and regional WA. We expanded the
cycling network all over the state.
That just scratches the surface of
our achievements. It has been a busy term, but our government is focused on the
economy and focused on jobs. The government has protected the state's
finances so that we can now make investments, look after those who are doing it
tough, continue to support our health system and continue to grow our housing
stock.
The
progress and the promise of the future is all at risk if Western Australians
waste or risk their vote on the Liberals or the Nationals. We know that
they are hopelessly divided. They are a shambles. We know that the Liberal
Party is in almost terminal civil war at the moment. We say to the people of Western
Australia: stick with WA Labor, stick with WA and stick with our future.
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