❓ The Premier addresses the return of railcar manufacturing to WA, highlighting job creation, local content targets, and federal funding secured for the Bellevue facility and Midland TAFE. He contrasts this with the previous government's low local content and emphasises the positive impact on WA's economy and workforce.
AnsweredQoN 188Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRONET —
RAILCARS —BELLEVUE FACILITY
188. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Premier:
(1) Can the
Premier update the house on how the McGowan Labor government is bringing local
railcar manufacturing jobs back to WA through its new railcar manufacturing
facility in Bellevue?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how the government will ensure that young Western Australians
have the skills necessary to not only build these railcars, but also deliver
Metronet?
RAILCARS —BELLEVUE FACILITY
188. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Premier:
(1) Can the
Premier update the house on how the McGowan Labor government is bringing local
railcar manufacturing jobs back to WA through its new railcar manufacturing
facility in Bellevue?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how the government will ensure that young Western Australians
have the skills necessary to not only build these railcars, but also deliver
Metronet?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Belmont for
the question.
(1)–(2) It
is true that this government is bringing railcar manufacturing jobs back to Western
Australia and back to the Midland area where they used to be. I welcome today
the federal Labor team's commitment of $50 million towards the railcar
manufacturing facility in Bellevue. The railcar manufacturing facility will be
at the heart of our $1.6 billion plan to manufacture in Western Australia the
246 railcars needed for replacements and also for our Metronet program. We have
set a target of at least 50 per cent local content on these railcars. Over the
course of recent contracts under the former administration, there was only two per
cent local content. It is an enhancement of at least 25 times the amount of
local content in this railcar manufacturing. We expect that this will be a long-term
program and obviously there will be ongoing maintenance. We would also like to
see additional railcar manufacturing in Western Australia by the mining and
agricultural industries.
As part of our training commitment,
we have worked with the federal opposition, which has committed $3 million
towards Midland TAFE as a specialist Metronet training centre. That will assist
in training Western Australians for these jobs. I am very pleased today to see
the federal Labor team add a further commitment to the Morley–Ellenbrook
line, which will take the total commitment to $850 million. If federal Labor is
elected, it will put $850 million towards the Morley–Ellenbrook line.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Members
on my left!
Mr M. McGOWAN : If there is
one criticism of this government, it is that we are great at getting money out
of the commonwealth. If members opposite want to throw that at us—I
know they hate it—we are great at getting money out of the commonwealth
government and opposition. An amount of $850 million from federal Labor for the
Morley–Ellenbrook rail line is a terrific contribution. I would like to
thank Bill Shorten and his team for their confidence in Western Australia.
Today,
we saw unemployment figures come out. They are naturally volatile, but one
thing that is clear is that over the past
two years since this government was elected, more than 35 000 new jobs have
been created in Western Australia . We are very pleased that those
additional jobs are there. We are pleased that the unemployment rate has
declined, but we know that the figures are volatile because of the high
participation rate in Western Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman! This is not a chat show.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Bringing
railcar manufacturing back to Western Australia is a great thing. It provides
jobs and training, and it ensures that all the blue-collar workers and their
children have the opportunities for those jobs and that training. It is a great
thing for Western Australia, and only this Labor government has done it.
the question.
(1)–(2) It
is true that this government is bringing railcar manufacturing jobs back to Western
Australia and back to the Midland area where they used to be. I welcome today
the federal Labor team's commitment of $50 million towards the railcar
manufacturing facility in Bellevue. The railcar manufacturing facility will be
at the heart of our $1.6 billion plan to manufacture in Western Australia the
246 railcars needed for replacements and also for our Metronet program. We have
set a target of at least 50 per cent local content on these railcars. Over the
course of recent contracts under the former administration, there was only two per
cent local content. It is an enhancement of at least 25 times the amount of
local content in this railcar manufacturing. We expect that this will be a long-term
program and obviously there will be ongoing maintenance. We would also like to
see additional railcar manufacturing in Western Australia by the mining and
agricultural industries.
As part of our training commitment,
we have worked with the federal opposition, which has committed $3 million
towards Midland TAFE as a specialist Metronet training centre. That will assist
in training Western Australians for these jobs. I am very pleased today to see
the federal Labor team add a further commitment to the Morley–Ellenbrook
line, which will take the total commitment to $850 million. If federal Labor is
elected, it will put $850 million towards the Morley–Ellenbrook line.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Members
on my left!
Mr M. McGOWAN : If there is
one criticism of this government, it is that we are great at getting money out
of the commonwealth. If members opposite want to throw that at us—I
know they hate it—we are great at getting money out of the commonwealth
government and opposition. An amount of $850 million from federal Labor for the
Morley–Ellenbrook rail line is a terrific contribution. I would like to
thank Bill Shorten and his team for their confidence in Western Australia.
Today,
we saw unemployment figures come out. They are naturally volatile, but one
thing that is clear is that over the past
two years since this government was elected, more than 35 000 new jobs have
been created in Western Australia . We are very pleased that those
additional jobs are there. We are pleased that the unemployment rate has
declined, but we know that the figures are volatile because of the high
participation rate in Western Australia.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman! This is not a chat show.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Bringing
railcar manufacturing back to Western Australia is a great thing. It provides
jobs and training, and it ensures that all the blue-collar workers and their
children have the opportunities for those jobs and that training. It is a great
thing for Western Australia, and only this Labor government has done it.
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