❓ Question regarding the Cook Labor government's strategy to leverage productivity reform for economic diversification following an Economic Reform Roundtable. The Treasurer's answer focuses on skills, infrastructure investment, and approvals reform, while criticising the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 291Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State economy—Diversification
291. Ms Caitlin Collins to the Treasurer:
I refer to today's WA Economic Reform Roundtable,
hosted alongside the federal government. Can the minister outline to the
house how the Cook Labor government is positioning itself to leverage greater
productivity reform in order to further diversify the Western Australian
economy?
291. Ms Caitlin Collins to the Treasurer:
I refer to today's WA Economic Reform Roundtable,
hosted alongside the federal government. Can the minister outline to the
house how the Cook Labor government is positioning itself to leverage greater
productivity reform in order to further diversify the Western Australian
economy?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for that question. This morning, the federal assistant minister Andrew Leigh
and the member for Hasluck, Ms Tania Lawrence, held a round table here in
Western Australia in the parliamentary buildings I spoke about before.
Mr Paul Papalia: Are they nice?
Ms Rita Saffioti: They are very nice. I saw the Leader
of the Opposition's offices and they are very, very nice.
We held the economic
round table at that building and discussed with representatives from industry
and the community our input into national economic agenda and what our focus is.
It was a really constructive discussion. Members will be pleased to hear that
many of the contributors basically highlighted some of the reforms and other things
we have done in WA to make sure that we continue to lead the nation on economic
growth. Economic growth creates jobs for Western Australians. What does more
jobs relate to? It relates to more confidence out there in the community. That
means more retail spending, consumer confidence and support for small business.
The multiplier effect is felt across the economy.
Today, a number of
issues were highlighted, including skills and training, noting that the TAFE
sector was neglected under the coalition government but that we now have a
record number of young people in training. There has been an incredible
increase in training in the electrical space for electrical apprenticeships and
pre-apprenticeships. We are making sure that young people have the skills to
participate in the transformation of the economy. There has been a 75% per cent
increase in electrical training. We have seen support for economic
infrastructure. A key theme today was to keep going and invest in the
transmission network, in our water utilities and in transport infrastructure to
keep Western Australia efficient when it comes to moving people and freight. A
state as big as WA needs to be able to move its freight and people around the
state.
Another key point
was approvals. We know there has been a lot of discussion about the approvals
process between the federal and state governments. In particular, we know about
the work that already has been undertaken under the Premier's leadership to
reform the regulatory space. The reforms that the now Minister for Planning and
Lands and I made are very much driving the planning space. We need to continue
to support approvals reform to ensure that we attract capital and investment in
the state.
We know that the
Liberal Party does not support approvals reform. It wants to join with the
Greens and create the "no-alition" in the upper house and refer our
planning system to a committee. They want to put red tape back into our
planning system. They want to delay investment in jobs and economic investment.
They want to delay the delivery of more housing in this state. The Liberals and
the Greens are joining in the other place—the "no-alition" of
Western Australia—to reject our reforms of the planning and approvals
process. They want to reinject red tape into our system. The shadow
spokesperson for regulatory reform and cutting red tape wants to put more red
tape into the planning system! That is the Liberal Party of today. We will
continue to work to ensure that we can grow the economy, grow jobs and deliver
benefits to all Western Australians.
Visitors
The Speaker: Before I give the next member the call,
on behalf of the member for South Perth I welcome the year 11 politics students
from Penrhos College in the public gallery today. Welcome.
for that question. This morning, the federal assistant minister Andrew Leigh
and the member for Hasluck, Ms Tania Lawrence, held a round table here in
Western Australia in the parliamentary buildings I spoke about before.
Mr Paul Papalia: Are they nice?
Ms Rita Saffioti: They are very nice. I saw the Leader
of the Opposition's offices and they are very, very nice.
We held the economic
round table at that building and discussed with representatives from industry
and the community our input into national economic agenda and what our focus is.
It was a really constructive discussion. Members will be pleased to hear that
many of the contributors basically highlighted some of the reforms and other things
we have done in WA to make sure that we continue to lead the nation on economic
growth. Economic growth creates jobs for Western Australians. What does more
jobs relate to? It relates to more confidence out there in the community. That
means more retail spending, consumer confidence and support for small business.
The multiplier effect is felt across the economy.
Today, a number of
issues were highlighted, including skills and training, noting that the TAFE
sector was neglected under the coalition government but that we now have a
record number of young people in training. There has been an incredible
increase in training in the electrical space for electrical apprenticeships and
pre-apprenticeships. We are making sure that young people have the skills to
participate in the transformation of the economy. There has been a 75% per cent
increase in electrical training. We have seen support for economic
infrastructure. A key theme today was to keep going and invest in the
transmission network, in our water utilities and in transport infrastructure to
keep Western Australia efficient when it comes to moving people and freight. A
state as big as WA needs to be able to move its freight and people around the
state.
Another key point
was approvals. We know there has been a lot of discussion about the approvals
process between the federal and state governments. In particular, we know about
the work that already has been undertaken under the Premier's leadership to
reform the regulatory space. The reforms that the now Minister for Planning and
Lands and I made are very much driving the planning space. We need to continue
to support approvals reform to ensure that we attract capital and investment in
the state.
We know that the
Liberal Party does not support approvals reform. It wants to join with the
Greens and create the "no-alition" in the upper house and refer our
planning system to a committee. They want to put red tape back into our
planning system. They want to delay investment in jobs and economic investment.
They want to delay the delivery of more housing in this state. The Liberals and
the Greens are joining in the other place—the "no-alition" of
Western Australia—to reject our reforms of the planning and approvals
process. They want to reinject red tape into our system. The shadow
spokesperson for regulatory reform and cutting red tape wants to put more red
tape into the planning system! That is the Liberal Party of today. We will
continue to work to ensure that we can grow the economy, grow jobs and deliver
benefits to all Western Australians.
Visitors
The Speaker: Before I give the next member the call,
on behalf of the member for South Perth I welcome the year 11 politics students
from Penrhos College in the public gallery today. Welcome.
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