❓ The Treasurer boasts about WA's low unemployment and strong economic performance, attributing it to the Cook Labor government's policies. She claims the only threat to the state's economy is the potential election of a Liberal-National government, criticising their lack of coherent policies.
AnsweredQoN 694Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY
694. Ms M.J. HAMMAT to the Treasurer:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's efforts to create new
opportunities for Western Australians. Can the Treasurer update the
house on recent economic and financial results that show Western Australia
continues to be the envy of the nation and advise the house if she is aware of
any threats to our state's future?
694. Ms M.J. HAMMAT to the Treasurer:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's efforts to create new
opportunities for Western Australians. Can the Treasurer update the
house on recent economic and financial results that show Western Australia
continues to be the envy of the nation and advise the house if she is aware of
any threats to our state's future?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mirrabooka
for that question.
Some
very pleasing results were released today—that is, the latest state
unemployment figures. WA's unemployment rate fell to 3.6 per
cent in September. It is again the lowest of all states and below the national
rate of 4.1 per cent. Importantly, it means that WA has now equalled the
longest period of sustained low unemployment in the 46 years of data reported
by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It means that the unemployment rate has
been at or below four per cent for 35 of the
last 36 months. It is an incredible number given global uncertainty and the
issues we are facing. The last time these sorts of figures were recorded
was from 2006 to 2009. Importantly, there is new record employment, with 1.62 million
people employed in September, growing by 8 000 jobs. Again, it shows that the
WA economy is on track and there is a lot of confidence out in the community.
Importantly, again, more than 321 000 jobs have been created since 2017. As we
know, there are pressures out there, but the best way we can support families
dealing with cost-of-living pressures is to make sure we create jobs, and that
is what we are doing. We are creating jobs at a rate of knots.
Consumer sentiment increased by
15.4 per cent in October to 102.6 index points. It is only the third time the index
has risen to positive over the past three years. Again, it is one of the
strongest results. We also saw a lift in consumer sentiment. Private new
capital expenditure is increasing and, of course, there was growth of 14 per cent
over the last financial year. Business confidence is also increasing. Members,
this is a state on the rise, and that means there will be enormous opportunities for Western Australians. The unemployment
figures show that Western Australians are working harder than ever,
making sure that they contribute to the state's economy.
From the government's
perspective, we want to continue to facilitate housing investment, private
sector investment and, of course, our direct investment with our pipeline of
works. We have finishing works on Metronet, Westport, record capital works for
our hospital system, regional road upgrades and port developments. They all
present a pipeline of works for business and industry to give them the
confidence to continue to invest in WA.
The only shock that can happen to
our economy is the election of a Liberal–National government, members.
That is the biggest risk to the state economy. What is the opposition's
policy on infrastructure? Has anyone seen anything? I remember a year before—over
a year, actually 18 months before the 2017 election we were doing consultation
on Metronet. We were out there consulting with the community. We outlined our
plans for a number of different major infrastructure spends. There are
absolutely no policies from the other side. When they do announce a policy,
they criticise it themselves. When the Liberal Party announced a policy on
Sunday, the Nationals WA attacked it. Are you guys still in an alliance?
Mr R.S. Love : Yes.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : So, whose
stamp duty policy exists? Is it the Liberal Party's or the National
Party's stamp duty policy, which one?
The SPEAKER : Deputy Premier,
this is the time for members to ask ministers questions, so if you could draw
your answer to a conclusion, please.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is
chaotic and shambolic. There are only six of them in this house and they cannot
agree on one policy.
Ms S. Winton interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : There are
only six elected members in this place and they cannot agree on policy. The
only risk to the state economy is the potential election of a Liberal–National
government.
for that question.
Some
very pleasing results were released today—that is, the latest state
unemployment figures. WA's unemployment rate fell to 3.6 per
cent in September. It is again the lowest of all states and below the national
rate of 4.1 per cent. Importantly, it means that WA has now equalled the
longest period of sustained low unemployment in the 46 years of data reported
by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It means that the unemployment rate has
been at or below four per cent for 35 of the
last 36 months. It is an incredible number given global uncertainty and the
issues we are facing. The last time these sorts of figures were recorded
was from 2006 to 2009. Importantly, there is new record employment, with 1.62 million
people employed in September, growing by 8 000 jobs. Again, it shows that the
WA economy is on track and there is a lot of confidence out in the community.
Importantly, again, more than 321 000 jobs have been created since 2017. As we
know, there are pressures out there, but the best way we can support families
dealing with cost-of-living pressures is to make sure we create jobs, and that
is what we are doing. We are creating jobs at a rate of knots.
Consumer sentiment increased by
15.4 per cent in October to 102.6 index points. It is only the third time the index
has risen to positive over the past three years. Again, it is one of the
strongest results. We also saw a lift in consumer sentiment. Private new
capital expenditure is increasing and, of course, there was growth of 14 per cent
over the last financial year. Business confidence is also increasing. Members,
this is a state on the rise, and that means there will be enormous opportunities for Western Australians. The unemployment
figures show that Western Australians are working harder than ever,
making sure that they contribute to the state's economy.
From the government's
perspective, we want to continue to facilitate housing investment, private
sector investment and, of course, our direct investment with our pipeline of
works. We have finishing works on Metronet, Westport, record capital works for
our hospital system, regional road upgrades and port developments. They all
present a pipeline of works for business and industry to give them the
confidence to continue to invest in WA.
The only shock that can happen to
our economy is the election of a Liberal–National government, members.
That is the biggest risk to the state economy. What is the opposition's
policy on infrastructure? Has anyone seen anything? I remember a year before—over
a year, actually 18 months before the 2017 election we were doing consultation
on Metronet. We were out there consulting with the community. We outlined our
plans for a number of different major infrastructure spends. There are
absolutely no policies from the other side. When they do announce a policy,
they criticise it themselves. When the Liberal Party announced a policy on
Sunday, the Nationals WA attacked it. Are you guys still in an alliance?
Mr R.S. Love : Yes.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : So, whose
stamp duty policy exists? Is it the Liberal Party's or the National
Party's stamp duty policy, which one?
The SPEAKER : Deputy Premier,
this is the time for members to ask ministers questions, so if you could draw
your answer to a conclusion, please.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It is
chaotic and shambolic. There are only six of them in this house and they cannot
agree on one policy.
Ms S. Winton interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : There are
only six elected members in this place and they cannot agree on policy. The
only risk to the state economy is the potential election of a Liberal–National
government.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.