❓ Question addresses the Cook Labor government's plans for economic diversification and job creation in WA through local manufacturing. The Minister's response highlights investments in renewable energy, defence, and training programs, while criticising the opposition's lack of policy.
AnsweredQoN 461Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State economy—Diversification461.Mrs Lisa O'Malleyto
theMinister for Manufacturing:I refer the minister
to the Cook Labor government's commitment to diversifying the Western
Australian economy to ensure it remains the strongest in the nation.(1) Can the minister update the house how the
government is creating quality jobs for Western Australians by making more
things here?(2) Can the minister advise how the government is
developing a skilled and productive workforce to support the growth in local
manufacturing across the state?
theMinister for Manufacturing:I refer the minister
to the Cook Labor government's commitment to diversifying the Western
Australian economy to ensure it remains the strongest in the nation.(1) Can the minister update the house how the
government is creating quality jobs for Western Australians by making more
things here?(2) Can the minister advise how the government is
developing a skilled and productive workforce to support the growth in local
manufacturing across the state?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 September 2025
Response time
0 days
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for Bicton for her
question. Our commitment to local manufacturing is solid and it is clear. It is
an important part of our economic diversification plans and it is creating more
jobs in Western Australia. We have committed tens of millions of dollars to
support manufacturing in renewable energy componentry and support the Clean
Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence. There is more than $3.1 million to
train an extra 450 electricians per year. We are positioning Western Australia
as a centre for naval shipbuilding for decades to come. There is $12 billion
from the Albanese government to deliver the Henderson Defence Precinct, and
there is $11.5 million for the AUKUS Defence Industry Incentive, supporting
training in industry. This will create more than 1,000 jobs in Western
Australia, with more than 10,000 in decades to come. Of course, that is all on
the back of our incredibly successful Metronet program, which has successfully
returned railcar manufacturing to WA, backed by the METRONET Trade Training
Centre. Our fee-free TAFE and training centre is providing 140 TAFE courses and
cutting fees for 72% of another 160, lowering the barriers for entry into
targeted skills areas.Look
across and see the opposition's record on these areas. Where are its policies
on these areas? Welooked far and wide for these policies, and all we could
find was a blank page on the opposition's TAFE policy. Its energy policy is a
blank page. Its manufacturing policy is a blank page. But we have heard some
announcements recently, particularly from the Leader of the Opposition. He took
an hour to deliver a major speech to the party faithful. There was not a single
element of policy in that speech, although he did promise not to have an energy
policy and that he would commentate on our policy. That was a key promise. He
delivered a "trust me" speech, outlining the listening tours: "Just
trust me; I've got this." He outlined a new website about himself. Again,
there is a complete vacuum of policy. But the website is a fantastic personal
photo gallery. Here is one of the Leader of the Opposition's head shots, just
to give members an idea. Wrong one, sorry—this is actually the Leader
of the Opposition because we know who is actually in charge of the Liberal
Party, and it is Hon Nick Goiran. We see that playing out in policy. We see it
in the chaos over net zero and the chaos of its immigration policy. We saw Hon Nick
Goiran attend a fundraiser with Senator Price at the Indian Society of WA, with
no consequences whatsoever. In fact, the Liberal Party made money out of it and
packed out the house.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:I am not surprised that he is
too scared—Mr Lachlan Hunter:
Are you back in the leadership still to be Premier?The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, I call you
for the second time.Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:The member for Central
Wheatbelt is behaving like a dysregulated teenager in this chamber. It is a
workplace and there are some behaviours tolerated in this workplace that are
not in others, and then there are those behaviours that go too far—and you
will learn that the hard way, member.I am not surprised
that the Leader of the Opposition is too scared to engage in policy development
in the Liberal Party, when we see what is going on with the national coalition
around net zero and immigration policy. We will see how far the Leader of the
Opposition gets closer to the election. But the time is coming when he will
have to put a view, put his position and not just commentate for Western
Australians.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition! Thank you,
minister.
State economy—Diversification
question. Our commitment to local manufacturing is solid and it is clear. It is
an important part of our economic diversification plans and it is creating more
jobs in Western Australia. We have committed tens of millions of dollars to
support manufacturing in renewable energy componentry and support the Clean
Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence. There is more than $3.1 million to
train an extra 450 electricians per year. We are positioning Western Australia
as a centre for naval shipbuilding for decades to come. There is $12 billion
from the Albanese government to deliver the Henderson Defence Precinct, and
there is $11.5 million for the AUKUS Defence Industry Incentive, supporting
training in industry. This will create more than 1,000 jobs in Western
Australia, with more than 10,000 in decades to come. Of course, that is all on
the back of our incredibly successful Metronet program, which has successfully
returned railcar manufacturing to WA, backed by the METRONET Trade Training
Centre. Our fee-free TAFE and training centre is providing 140 TAFE courses and
cutting fees for 72% of another 160, lowering the barriers for entry into
targeted skills areas.Look
across and see the opposition's record on these areas. Where are its policies
on these areas? Welooked far and wide for these policies, and all we could
find was a blank page on the opposition's TAFE policy. Its energy policy is a
blank page. Its manufacturing policy is a blank page. But we have heard some
announcements recently, particularly from the Leader of the Opposition. He took
an hour to deliver a major speech to the party faithful. There was not a single
element of policy in that speech, although he did promise not to have an energy
policy and that he would commentate on our policy. That was a key promise. He
delivered a "trust me" speech, outlining the listening tours: "Just
trust me; I've got this." He outlined a new website about himself. Again,
there is a complete vacuum of policy. But the website is a fantastic personal
photo gallery. Here is one of the Leader of the Opposition's head shots, just
to give members an idea. Wrong one, sorry—this is actually the Leader
of the Opposition because we know who is actually in charge of the Liberal
Party, and it is Hon Nick Goiran. We see that playing out in policy. We see it
in the chaos over net zero and the chaos of its immigration policy. We saw Hon Nick
Goiran attend a fundraiser with Senator Price at the Indian Society of WA, with
no consequences whatsoever. In fact, the Liberal Party made money out of it and
packed out the house.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:I am not surprised that he is
too scared—Mr Lachlan Hunter:
Are you back in the leadership still to be Premier?The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt, I call you
for the second time.Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson:The member for Central
Wheatbelt is behaving like a dysregulated teenager in this chamber. It is a
workplace and there are some behaviours tolerated in this workplace that are
not in others, and then there are those behaviours that go too far—and you
will learn that the hard way, member.I am not surprised
that the Leader of the Opposition is too scared to engage in policy development
in the Liberal Party, when we see what is going on with the national coalition
around net zero and immigration policy. We will see how far the Leader of the
Opposition gets closer to the election. But the time is coming when he will
have to put a view, put his position and not just commentate for Western
Australians.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition! Thank you,
minister.
State economy—Diversification
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