❓ Mr Norberger asks the Treasurer for an update on the latest ABS labour force data. The Treasurer highlights WA's relatively low unemployment rate despite headwinds and job losses in mining and construction, attributing job growth to government initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 330Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EMPLOYMENT — AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS
DATA
330. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Treasurer:
Can the Treasurer please update the
house on the latest labour force data released by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics today?
DATA
330. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Treasurer:
Can the Treasurer please update the
house on the latest labour force data released by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics today?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Members might be able to guess, because the opposition leader, who talks about
jobs, is not talking about them today. He knocks WA. We are facing tremendous
headwinds in job creation, but the unemployment rate came down at 5.6 per cent—the
second-lowest in the nation.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : That was an increase, I might add, of 0.1 per cent from last
month's figure, which was 5.5 per cent. Over the year, our unemployment
rate is six per cent—again, the second-lowest in the nation. That is
despite having the highest participation rate—that is, the proportion
of the community looking for jobs.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Right. Through the Chair, thank you.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The only day the Leader of the Opposition does not talk about
jobs is the day that the job figures come out.
Ms
R. Saffioti : Why don't you look at us, instead of pointing at us—look
at us.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I am talking to the Speaker.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I tell you, member for West Swan, that I would rather not.
We are facing really strong
headwinds that will accentuate.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : As members know, there have been a large number of job losses
in the mining sector and construction. Opposition members do not like this.
They are squirming and screaming and trying to obfuscate the result of our hard
work, because it goes against all the rhetoric we have heard over this last
week. They actually do want unemployment; they want unemployment.
Mr
M. McGowan : Unemployment went up—it actually went up.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : By 0.1 per cent—the second-lowest level of unemployment
in the nation. Why?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale! Treasurer, I want a quick answer through the
Chair.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Job growth is taken seriously on this side and the trends are
clear that although the headwinds are strong, we are seeing job growth in areas
outside the mining sector —
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : — in education, tourism, agriculture —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Carry
on, Treasurer—quick answer.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : There is job growth in areas in which we have strong
comparative advantages such as tourism, education, hospitality and, of course,
defence. One of the most remarkable things that we are seeing, despite the very
sharp reduction in construction, the mining sector and the dwelling sector, is
that over the year there has been a substantial increase in employment in the
construction sector—and we know why. It is because our large capital
works program is employing thousands of Western Australians building the
infrastructure of the future.
Mr
F.M. Logan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : One of the projects that the people opposite have bagged and
called a conspiracy, the new Perth stadium, has 80 per cent–plus local
participation. It is employing thousands of people and maintaining growth,
providing the capital for the future, and what we get here is obfuscation,
whining, whingeing and no policies.
Members might be able to guess, because the opposition leader, who talks about
jobs, is not talking about them today. He knocks WA. We are facing tremendous
headwinds in job creation, but the unemployment rate came down at 5.6 per cent—the
second-lowest in the nation.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : That was an increase, I might add, of 0.1 per cent from last
month's figure, which was 5.5 per cent. Over the year, our unemployment
rate is six per cent—again, the second-lowest in the nation. That is
despite having the highest participation rate—that is, the proportion
of the community looking for jobs.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Right. Through the Chair, thank you.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The only day the Leader of the Opposition does not talk about
jobs is the day that the job figures come out.
Ms
R. Saffioti : Why don't you look at us, instead of pointing at us—look
at us.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I am talking to the Speaker.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I tell you, member for West Swan, that I would rather not.
We are facing really strong
headwinds that will accentuate.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : As members know, there have been a large number of job losses
in the mining sector and construction. Opposition members do not like this.
They are squirming and screaming and trying to obfuscate the result of our hard
work, because it goes against all the rhetoric we have heard over this last
week. They actually do want unemployment; they want unemployment.
Mr
M. McGowan : Unemployment went up—it actually went up.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : By 0.1 per cent—the second-lowest level of unemployment
in the nation. Why?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Armadale! Treasurer, I want a quick answer through the
Chair.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Job growth is taken seriously on this side and the trends are
clear that although the headwinds are strong, we are seeing job growth in areas
outside the mining sector —
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : — in education, tourism, agriculture —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Carry
on, Treasurer—quick answer.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : There is job growth in areas in which we have strong
comparative advantages such as tourism, education, hospitality and, of course,
defence. One of the most remarkable things that we are seeing, despite the very
sharp reduction in construction, the mining sector and the dwelling sector, is
that over the year there has been a substantial increase in employment in the
construction sector—and we know why. It is because our large capital
works program is employing thousands of Western Australians building the
infrastructure of the future.
Mr
F.M. Logan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn!
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : One of the projects that the people opposite have bagged and
called a conspiracy, the new Perth stadium, has 80 per cent–plus local
participation. It is employing thousands of people and maintaining growth,
providing the capital for the future, and what we get here is obfuscation,
whining, whingeing and no policies.
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