❓ Ms. Sanderson questions the Premier on the McGowan government's job creation and local business support initiatives and their impact on WA's economic confidence. The Premier responds with positive economic indicators and government initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 1034Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY
1034. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Premier:
Can
the Premier update the house on how the McGowan Labor government's
investment in creating Western Australian jobs and supporting local
business is leading to growing confidence in the Western Australian economy?
1034. Ms A. SANDERSON to the Premier:
Can
the Premier update the house on how the McGowan Labor government's
investment in creating Western Australian jobs and supporting local
business is leading to growing confidence in the Western Australian economy?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Morley for
the question. We are seeing more and more positive signs about the Western Australian
economy. Since we have been in office, more than 50 000 new jobs have been
created in Western Australia over the course
of the last two and a half years. According to the Australian Bureau of
Statistics —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I know the
member for Bateman is out there looking for a job, but no-one will give him
one, unsurprisingly.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
You will be part-time soon.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The number of
people in Western Australia who are unemployed has fallen from the record high,
the nationwide high, that we inherited from the Liberals and Nationals when we
came to office. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in September,
retail growth in Western Australia was amongst the highest in the country,
growing by 0.7 per cent—higher than New South Wales, Victoria,
Queensland and South Australia. Spending on clothing and personal accessories
is up 2.4 per cent, amongst the highest in the country. Spending on
recreational goods is up 11 per cent, the highest single growth in six years,
and the highest in the country. Annual growth
in spending at cafes and restaurants and on takeaway is 2.4 per cent, again
amongst the highest in the country.
In lending to home buyers, we have
just seen the highest monthly growth in a decade at 6.1 per cent, higher than
that in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
Yesterday, I was able to outline
business confidence. NAB has indicated that this state has the highest business
confidence levels of any state in Australia.
We are determined to reinforce this
economic good news. That is why we recently cut payroll tax. For the first time
in a long time, payroll tax has been cut. Twelve thousand small and
medium-sized businesses will benefit as a consequence
of that, and 1 000 businesses that were paying payroll tax will not pay any
payroll tax as a consequence of that. We have brought in stamp duty
rebates of up to $50 000 for off-the-plan apartments —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Members
opposite hate tax cuts.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on both
sides, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : He is so wild; he is so unhappy!
The SPEAKER : The Premier is
on his feet.
Mr M. McGOWAN : If he is so
unhappy, he should leave and get a job in the private sector, if anyone would
give him one!
We have slashed TAFE fees by 50 per cent
on 34 important courses. We recently launched a $280 million school maintenance
and hospital maintenance stimulus package as a consequence of our good
financial management, which has the state back in surplus, our credit rating
lifted and debt tracking down—the only state in Australia to achieve
that. On top of that, we secured billions out of the commonwealth for road and
rail packages all over Western Australia,
with roads from the regions to the city, rail lines shortly to commence work—all
of these projects under this government. This government has been able
to balance good financial management and good economic management with securing
a better share from the commonwealth, all designed to get jobs and activity
back into Western Australia.
The
SPEAKER : The young lady who is
sitting second from the right in the back of the Speaker's gallery, you
have just taken a photo. You cannot take photos in the chamber, so could
you please delete that for me? I do not want to see my face on Facebook! Thank
you.
Ms J.J. Shaw : Neither do we!
Mr D.A. Templeman : We won't
get too many ''likes''!
The SPEAKER : Members, it will
only be the back of your heads, which is probably your best side!
the question. We are seeing more and more positive signs about the Western Australian
economy. Since we have been in office, more than 50 000 new jobs have been
created in Western Australia over the course
of the last two and a half years. According to the Australian Bureau of
Statistics —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I know the
member for Bateman is out there looking for a job, but no-one will give him
one, unsurprisingly.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman!
You will be part-time soon.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The number of
people in Western Australia who are unemployed has fallen from the record high,
the nationwide high, that we inherited from the Liberals and Nationals when we
came to office. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in September,
retail growth in Western Australia was amongst the highest in the country,
growing by 0.7 per cent—higher than New South Wales, Victoria,
Queensland and South Australia. Spending on clothing and personal accessories
is up 2.4 per cent, amongst the highest in the country. Spending on
recreational goods is up 11 per cent, the highest single growth in six years,
and the highest in the country. Annual growth
in spending at cafes and restaurants and on takeaway is 2.4 per cent, again
amongst the highest in the country.
In lending to home buyers, we have
just seen the highest monthly growth in a decade at 6.1 per cent, higher than
that in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
Yesterday, I was able to outline
business confidence. NAB has indicated that this state has the highest business
confidence levels of any state in Australia.
We are determined to reinforce this
economic good news. That is why we recently cut payroll tax. For the first time
in a long time, payroll tax has been cut. Twelve thousand small and
medium-sized businesses will benefit as a consequence
of that, and 1 000 businesses that were paying payroll tax will not pay any
payroll tax as a consequence of that. We have brought in stamp duty
rebates of up to $50 000 for off-the-plan apartments —
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Members
opposite hate tax cuts.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on both
sides, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : He is so wild; he is so unhappy!
The SPEAKER : The Premier is
on his feet.
Mr M. McGOWAN : If he is so
unhappy, he should leave and get a job in the private sector, if anyone would
give him one!
We have slashed TAFE fees by 50 per cent
on 34 important courses. We recently launched a $280 million school maintenance
and hospital maintenance stimulus package as a consequence of our good
financial management, which has the state back in surplus, our credit rating
lifted and debt tracking down—the only state in Australia to achieve
that. On top of that, we secured billions out of the commonwealth for road and
rail packages all over Western Australia,
with roads from the regions to the city, rail lines shortly to commence work—all
of these projects under this government. This government has been able
to balance good financial management and good economic management with securing
a better share from the commonwealth, all designed to get jobs and activity
back into Western Australia.
The
SPEAKER : The young lady who is
sitting second from the right in the back of the Speaker's gallery, you
have just taken a photo. You cannot take photos in the chamber, so could
you please delete that for me? I do not want to see my face on Facebook! Thank
you.
Ms J.J. Shaw : Neither do we!
Mr D.A. Templeman : We won't
get too many ''likes''!
The SPEAKER : Members, it will
only be the back of your heads, which is probably your best side!
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