❓ Mr. Whitby asks about the economic impact of Tianqi Lithium's expansion in Kwinana and the government's role in fostering economic confidence. The Premier responds positively, highlighting job creation and investment as signs of returning confidence.
AnsweredQoN 570Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TIANQI LITHIUM — EXPANSION — ECONOMIC
CONFIDENCE
570. Mr R.R. WHITBY to the Premier;
Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade:
I refer to Tianqi Lithium's
decision to immediately expand its Kwinana processing plant.
(1) What does this mean for WA jobs
and the WA economy?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how confidence is returning to the economy under this
government?
CONFIDENCE
570. Mr R.R. WHITBY to the Premier;
Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade:
I refer to Tianqi Lithium's
decision to immediately expand its Kwinana processing plant.
(1) What does this mean for WA jobs
and the WA economy?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how confidence is returning to the economy under this
government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Baldivis for
the question.
(1)–(2) It
is true that confidence is returning to the Western Australian community under
this government. It is returning to the government as well, Mr Speaker. We are
a very confident government. I am very confident. More jobs continue to be
created in Western Australia. The decision by Tianqi Lithium to invest another
$300 million to expand its processing plant in Kwinana is an example of the
confidence in the Western Australian government that is underway at the moment.
That takes the total investment in Tianqi to $700 million. That will mean that,
once complete, this plant will produce 48 000 tonnes of battery grade lithium
hydroxide each and every year. The decision to go ahead with stage 2 means that
500 construction jobs will continue while the plant continues and it will
increase the number of permanent jobs by an additional 60 to 175.
Lithium will be an important part of
the world's energy mix in the future and Western Australia will be one
of the world's largest producers, so we are very keen to encourage
that. It is indeed one of the things I was mentioning before; I am a supporter
of renewable energy and lithium allows renewable energy to flourish. The
opposition do not seem to support that. The general manager of Tianqi indicated
that the plant will be 85 per cent-plus local content, which will mean that
local businesses receive much work out of it. It follows on from the Sensis
Business Index for the September quarter that showed that Western Australia is
the most optimistic state when it comes to the economy. It also showed that 52 per
cent of WA's smaller medium-sized businesses were confident in their
own business prospects in the next 12 months. A year ago it was 40 per cent.
What has changed in the meantime? We have a cohesive, active and engaged
government that is keen to create jobs and opportunities, unlike the bunch of
amateurs opposite.
the question.
(1)–(2) It
is true that confidence is returning to the Western Australian community under
this government. It is returning to the government as well, Mr Speaker. We are
a very confident government. I am very confident. More jobs continue to be
created in Western Australia. The decision by Tianqi Lithium to invest another
$300 million to expand its processing plant in Kwinana is an example of the
confidence in the Western Australian government that is underway at the moment.
That takes the total investment in Tianqi to $700 million. That will mean that,
once complete, this plant will produce 48 000 tonnes of battery grade lithium
hydroxide each and every year. The decision to go ahead with stage 2 means that
500 construction jobs will continue while the plant continues and it will
increase the number of permanent jobs by an additional 60 to 175.
Lithium will be an important part of
the world's energy mix in the future and Western Australia will be one
of the world's largest producers, so we are very keen to encourage
that. It is indeed one of the things I was mentioning before; I am a supporter
of renewable energy and lithium allows renewable energy to flourish. The
opposition do not seem to support that. The general manager of Tianqi indicated
that the plant will be 85 per cent-plus local content, which will mean that
local businesses receive much work out of it. It follows on from the Sensis
Business Index for the September quarter that showed that Western Australia is
the most optimistic state when it comes to the economy. It also showed that 52 per
cent of WA's smaller medium-sized businesses were confident in their
own business prospects in the next 12 months. A year ago it was 40 per cent.
What has changed in the meantime? We have a cohesive, active and engaged
government that is keen to create jobs and opportunities, unlike the bunch of
amateurs opposite.
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