❓ Mrs. Harvey questions Premier McGowan about unemployment figures following concerning ABS data on wage growth. McGowan defends his government's economic performance, highlighting job creation and contrasting it with the previous Liberal-National government's record.
AnsweredQoN 84Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY —
UNEMPLOYMENT
84. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Further to yesterday's
shocking Australian Bureau of Statistics' data highlighting that the
Premier is the worst performing Premier in the country for wages growth, can
the Premier confirm that unemployment in Western Australia has now jumped from
5.4 per cent to 5.8 per cent?
UNEMPLOYMENT
84. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Further to yesterday's
shocking Australian Bureau of Statistics' data highlighting that the
Premier is the worst performing Premier in the country for wages growth, can
the Premier confirm that unemployment in Western Australia has now jumped from
5.4 per cent to 5.8 per cent?
AnswerView source ↗
What I can confirm is that more than
58 000 jobs have been created since this government came to office—so
nearly 60 000 jobs created under this government. In the last two years of the
last Liberal–National government, 30 000 jobs were lost in Western Australia;
We also have the highest participation rate in Australia, and it has grown.
That means that there are more people who have confidence in getting a job;
that is what the participation rate means. In January, 6 700 jobs were created.
Half of all the jobs created in Australia were in Western Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Western Australia
also had, when it comes to the earnings of our citizens, the highest average weekly earnings of any state or territory in
Australia. We can compare that, as I said earlier, with the loss of 30 000 jobs
and the recession that was created during the term of the last government. I know
that the Leader of the Opposition and the
Liberal Party are relentlessly negative. All they want to do is talk down Western
Australia —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — and
ignore their record in office, when they wrecked the finances, and when they
had two warring parties in office, and they drove this state into recession.
Under us, the economy is growing. Under us, we are out of recession. Under us,
58 000 jobs have been created in Western Australia. Under us, we have the
highest jobs growth in Australia.
58 000 jobs have been created since this government came to office—so
nearly 60 000 jobs created under this government. In the last two years of the
last Liberal–National government, 30 000 jobs were lost in Western Australia;
We also have the highest participation rate in Australia, and it has grown.
That means that there are more people who have confidence in getting a job;
that is what the participation rate means. In January, 6 700 jobs were created.
Half of all the jobs created in Australia were in Western Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Western Australia
also had, when it comes to the earnings of our citizens, the highest average weekly earnings of any state or territory in
Australia. We can compare that, as I said earlier, with the loss of 30 000 jobs
and the recession that was created during the term of the last government. I know
that the Leader of the Opposition and the
Liberal Party are relentlessly negative. All they want to do is talk down Western
Australia —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — and
ignore their record in office, when they wrecked the finances, and when they
had two warring parties in office, and they drove this state into recession.
Under us, the economy is growing. Under us, we are out of recession. Under us,
58 000 jobs have been created in Western Australia. Under us, we have the
highest jobs growth in Australia.
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