❓ Opposition questions the Premier's plan to relax skilled migrant visas for Chinese workers in mining and construction, given rising WA unemployment. Premier defends the plan, citing the need for expertise in magnetite iron ore processing.
AnsweredQoN 578Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EMPLOYMENT — SKILLED MIGRANT VISAS
They are running scared in Canning already! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week that revealed an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, the worst unemployment rate recorded in Western Australia for five and a half years, representing at least 68 000 Western Australians now out of work. (1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT
They are running scared in Canning already! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week that revealed an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, the worst unemployment rate recorded in Western Australia for five and a half years, representing at least 68 000 Western Australians now out of work. (1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week that revealed an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, the worst unemployment rate recorded in Western Australia for five and a half years, representing at least 68 000 Western Australians now out of work. (1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week that revealed an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, the worst unemployment rate recorded in Western Australia for five and a half years, representing at least 68 000 Western Australians now out of work. (1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week that revealed an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, the worst unemployment rate recorded in Western Australia for five and a half years, representing at least 68 000 Western Australians now out of work. (1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
(1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
(2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
(3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week that revealed an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, the worst unemployment rate recorded in Western Australia for five and a half years, representing at least 68 000 Western Australians now out of work. (1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week that revealed an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, the worst unemployment rate recorded in Western Australia for five and a half years, representing at least 68 000 Western Australians now out of work. (1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week that revealed an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, the worst unemployment rate recorded in Western Australia for five and a half years, representing at least 68 000 Western Australians now out of work. (1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
(1) How will the Premier’s plan to get more relaxed rules on skilled migrant visas to allow specialist Chinese workers and managers to take up employment in engineering, construction and mining in Western Australia impact on the plight of Western Australians looking for work? (2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
(2) Why is the Premier planning to invest time and taxpayers’ resources into importing Chinese skilled labour when he could be investing in long-term sustainable solutions to possible future skills shortages through training and education? Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr M.J. Cowper : We do not have Chinese nuclear specialists. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : The government will have Chinese nuclear specialists; is that what it is doing? That will be interesting! My question continues — (3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
(3) What new training programs and employment opportunities, if any, are planned to address these disastrous figures and to help employ Western Australians across the state who need help and support today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
First, on the unemployment figures, there was a jump — Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The sharpest spike of any state. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. I would take some care in interpreting the unemployment series on a month-to-month, state-by-state basis. The figures are inherently volatile. Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Unemployment is rising, is it not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unemployment is rising across the country. Nationally, I would expect — Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. Ripper : And sharply in Western Australia? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Does the Leader of the Opposition want to answer his own question? If he wants to jump over here and answer it, I am fine with that. Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That’s my objective! Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The numbers keep growing on this side. I do not know what is going on! I do not know whether swine flu is spreading over there, but they are all coming over here! We are going to run out of seating here soon. We will have to build a balcony! Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr J.R. Quigley : You can have custard guts; we don’t want him! The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mindarie, whether that was unparliamentary or not I am yet to determine, but I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have consistently said that in my view the worst of the economic news for Western Australia would be in the first half of 2009. I think that is proving to be the case and I expect to see some very positive news for this state over the coming weeks and months. Unemployment as an economic indicator is always a lag indicator, so even though the economy will improve, we will still probably see a trend of rising unemployment. I believe that that will be limited in Western Australia; I have a genuine concern about the level of unemployment nationally. I think at the national level there is a fair bit of bad news to come on the unemployment front. Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Getting back to the question of Chinese technical people and the like, I do not know what it is—that there is almost an anti-Chinese sentiment in elements of our community. I can actually recall as a very young boy in the 1950s my parents lamenting the fact that America would take over Australia and we would just become another state of America. I can then remember in the 1960s and 1970s the fear that Japan would take us over and then a fear now that somehow China is going to take us over. I suggest that none of them have happened or will happen. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : How can I compete with the intellectual giants opposite? I can only try to carry on. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let us take one scenario: we have a project being developed in the Cape Preston area—Sino Iron—which is interesting because it is processing not haematite but magnetite iron ore; lower grade, quite different chemical and physical properties. We have not processed magnetite ores in this state in our 150-odd years of mining. We have not done that and yet there are very large magnetite iron ore resources. There are large magnetite iron ore resources in the mid-west region. Most of the iron ore to be developed ultimately will be magnetite in conjunction with the Oakajee port and rail project. Therefore, we are hopefully not just going to export relatively lower grade but very abundant magnetite iron ore; there is an economic imperative that that be upgraded. To upgrade magnetites, and bear in mind we have never dealt with magnetites in this state before, requires a very different type of iron ore processing. If we can get a group like Ansteel to come here and set up a processing operation in the mid-west using magnetite not haematite iron ore, whether it is producing a pellet, a hot briquetted iron, a pig iron or ultimately steel, we would need its expertise. Ansteel has been processing magnetite ores in China for more than 100 years. This is technology and experience that we simply do not have. What does it mean? It means that we might get not only some technical skilled people from China to come over for the design and operation of the plant, but in addition literally thousands of jobs for Australians. The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
The other point I make to the question is that I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition was doing when the Treasurer delivered the budget—a payroll tax exemption for small to medium business for 12 months. The implicit deal is keep people employed and businesses will get a refund, a rebate on workers’ compensation for first-year apprentices and also an offer for not only young people unemployed, which was the national deal, but in this state an offer for all unemployed people in Western Australia to have a free training place. Therefore, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong to suggest that we are not addressing the training needs of young people, of anyone unemployed and the economic prospects for future employment.
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