❓ Dr. Buti asks the Treasurer about the McGowan government's job creation efforts and how WA compares nationally. The Treasurer highlights improvements in WA's unemployment and underemployment rates since the previous government, attributing it to their policies.
AnsweredQoN 899Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MCGOWAN GOVERNMENT —
JOB CREATION
899. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Treasurer:
I
refer to the employment figures that were released today that show that there
are more Western Australians in work under
the McGowan Labor government than at any time under the previous Liberal–National
government. Can the Treasurer outline to the house the work the
government is doing to continue to create jobs for Western Australians, and can
the Treasurer advise the house how this compares with the rest of the country?
JOB CREATION
899. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Treasurer:
I
refer to the employment figures that were released today that show that there
are more Western Australians in work under
the McGowan Labor government than at any time under the previous Liberal–National
government. Can the Treasurer outline to the house the work the
government is doing to continue to create jobs for Western Australians, and can
the Treasurer advise the house how this compares with the rest of the country?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Armadale for
the question. Before I begin, I acknowledge the members of the Bassendean
Primary School Parents and Citizens Association who are in the gallery and no
doubt enjoying the company of the member for Bassendean, as we all do, Mr
Speaker.
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : We all do,
colleagues.
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Are you ready,
Treasurer?
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, much has been made by me
and others of the efforts this government has gone to to get the finances back
on track. During the term of the former government, we saw the state run up the
largest operating deficits in our history
and net debt went to levels never before seen in Western Australia. Of course,
all that has a human impact—an
impact on jobs in particular. During the time of the former government, the
unemployment rate rose from 2.9 per cent to 6.4 per cent by the time
that government lost office. That had a particular impact on youth unemployment, which trebled from five per
cent to 15 per cent by the time the former government lost office . A lot
of that damage was done in the second term of the former government,
particularly when full-time jobs were shed at such a rapid rate that nearly 37 000
full-time jobs were lost from the Western Australian economy.
We are very, very pleased that
since the election of the McGowan Labor government, the unemployment rate has
been going a much better way than it was, particularly during the second term
of the former government. We are now at 5.7 per cent, down from 6.4 four per
cent at the time of the election. Importantly, I want to emphasise that the
monthly data jumps around and is quite volatile. To be honest—by way of
an aside—I am surprised that the Australian Bureau of Statistics has
not moved to quarterly data as opposed to monthly. South Australia is feeling
that at the moment. Last month, its unemployment rate went up a whole per cent
and it has now come down a whole per cent. Clearly, the data is very volatile.
It has highlighted that Western Australia has now had, for the first time in a number
of years, an unemployment rate of under six per cent for four consecutive
quarters. It has been quite some time since that has happened.
Importantly, as I highlighted at
the time of the election, the youth unemployment rate was 15 per cent. That has
come down to 13.5 per cent. That is still too high, no doubt about it. But
clearly our efforts are starting to have an impact, particularly things like an
employer incentive scheme that is weighted with incentives to bring young
people into the employment market. Usefully, underemployment is also falling.
It was 10.5 per cent at the time of the election and is now down to 9.5 per
cent. Again, that is too high, but certainly it is going the right way.
What has been of interest—I
have been noting this for some time—is who is taking up these jobs. The
vast majority of the just over 50 000 jobs created since the 2017 election have
been taken up by women. Female employment is increasing eight times faster than
male employment. Women are very much coming back into the workforce at a very
rapid rate. That is why I suspect the federal Attorney-General, Christian
Porter, said on radio today, and I quote, ''The signs for the WA economy
are very positive.'' I think all rational and reasonable people can see
the efforts the government is going to in creating jobs. We are utterly focused
on job creation and ensuring that we have economic growth and providing those
opportunities for Western Australians.
How do we compare with the national
average? On the unemployment rate, Australia remains unchanged, and the WA rate has declined. The number of unemployed
people has increased nationally but declined in Western Australia, and
although the underemployment rate remains unchanged nationally, it is declining
in WA. Western Australia is now starting to outstrip the national employment
data. That is a very good sign—unsurprisingly—because when Western
Australia gets back to a stage of economic growth, it does so usually at a much
more rapid rate than the national average.
This is good news for Western Australia.
Those numbers are still too high. Our government is committed to ensuring that
we continue to drive those numbers down. In all the complaints that I hear,
whether it be around jobs or housing, the
one thing that can solve these and have a dramatic impact on everything is
getting Western Australians into a job. The WA economy is now very much
in a space of creating jobs, not like it was when we came to government in 2017, when jobs were being lost
left, right and centre. This is good news for every Western Australian.
the question. Before I begin, I acknowledge the members of the Bassendean
Primary School Parents and Citizens Association who are in the gallery and no
doubt enjoying the company of the member for Bassendean, as we all do, Mr
Speaker.
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : We all do,
colleagues.
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Are you ready,
Treasurer?
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr Speaker, much has been made by me
and others of the efforts this government has gone to to get the finances back
on track. During the term of the former government, we saw the state run up the
largest operating deficits in our history
and net debt went to levels never before seen in Western Australia. Of course,
all that has a human impact—an
impact on jobs in particular. During the time of the former government, the
unemployment rate rose from 2.9 per cent to 6.4 per cent by the time
that government lost office. That had a particular impact on youth unemployment, which trebled from five per
cent to 15 per cent by the time the former government lost office . A lot
of that damage was done in the second term of the former government,
particularly when full-time jobs were shed at such a rapid rate that nearly 37 000
full-time jobs were lost from the Western Australian economy.
We are very, very pleased that
since the election of the McGowan Labor government, the unemployment rate has
been going a much better way than it was, particularly during the second term
of the former government. We are now at 5.7 per cent, down from 6.4 four per
cent at the time of the election. Importantly, I want to emphasise that the
monthly data jumps around and is quite volatile. To be honest—by way of
an aside—I am surprised that the Australian Bureau of Statistics has
not moved to quarterly data as opposed to monthly. South Australia is feeling
that at the moment. Last month, its unemployment rate went up a whole per cent
and it has now come down a whole per cent. Clearly, the data is very volatile.
It has highlighted that Western Australia has now had, for the first time in a number
of years, an unemployment rate of under six per cent for four consecutive
quarters. It has been quite some time since that has happened.
Importantly, as I highlighted at
the time of the election, the youth unemployment rate was 15 per cent. That has
come down to 13.5 per cent. That is still too high, no doubt about it. But
clearly our efforts are starting to have an impact, particularly things like an
employer incentive scheme that is weighted with incentives to bring young
people into the employment market. Usefully, underemployment is also falling.
It was 10.5 per cent at the time of the election and is now down to 9.5 per
cent. Again, that is too high, but certainly it is going the right way.
What has been of interest—I
have been noting this for some time—is who is taking up these jobs. The
vast majority of the just over 50 000 jobs created since the 2017 election have
been taken up by women. Female employment is increasing eight times faster than
male employment. Women are very much coming back into the workforce at a very
rapid rate. That is why I suspect the federal Attorney-General, Christian
Porter, said on radio today, and I quote, ''The signs for the WA economy
are very positive.'' I think all rational and reasonable people can see
the efforts the government is going to in creating jobs. We are utterly focused
on job creation and ensuring that we have economic growth and providing those
opportunities for Western Australians.
How do we compare with the national
average? On the unemployment rate, Australia remains unchanged, and the WA rate has declined. The number of unemployed
people has increased nationally but declined in Western Australia, and
although the underemployment rate remains unchanged nationally, it is declining
in WA. Western Australia is now starting to outstrip the national employment
data. That is a very good sign—unsurprisingly—because when Western
Australia gets back to a stage of economic growth, it does so usually at a much
more rapid rate than the national average.
This is good news for Western Australia.
Those numbers are still too high. Our government is committed to ensuring that
we continue to drive those numbers down. In all the complaints that I hear,
whether it be around jobs or housing, the
one thing that can solve these and have a dramatic impact on everything is
getting Western Australians into a job. The WA economy is now very much
in a space of creating jobs, not like it was when we came to government in 2017, when jobs were being lost
left, right and centre. This is good news for every Western Australian.
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