❓ Opposition Leader Harvey questions the Premier on stagnant wages and household fees. Premier McGowan defends his government's economic performance, citing surplus, credit rating improvements, infrastructure projects, and job creation initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 68Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE ECONOMY — WAGES GROWTH
68. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. The Premier is into his
fourth year of government, and given the suffering of Western Australian
households that are trying to cope with this government's household
fees and charges increases, when is he going to give the economy and stagnant
wages growth the priorities they deserve?
68. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. The Premier is into his
fourth year of government, and given the suffering of Western Australian
households that are trying to cope with this government's household
fees and charges increases, when is he going to give the economy and stagnant
wages growth the priorities they deserve?
AnswerView source ↗
What a ridiculous question. Giving the economy the attention
it deserves is something that I and the ministers across the government do
every single day. I will just run the Leader of the Opposition through a few
things, considering she asked me. We got the state back to surplus and we got a
lift in the credit rating. The former government had us at $3 billion deficits.
It had debt growing to $44 billion when it was in office.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is instructive that the shadow
Treasurer said that that is finances, not the economy. Did members hear that?
Apparently, there is no link. That is Liberal Party economics—it can
blow debt as high as it likes and there is no impact on the economy.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, do not get sucked in.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Obviously, a lift in the credit rating
influences the interest payments. Obviously, getting the finances on track
allows us to cut payroll tax and stamp duty, which is what we did.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of the Opposition asked the
question and I am answering it. We also passed the Western Australian Jobs Act,
designed to ensure, from government work, more work for Western Australians. We
have record road spending across the state that is creating jobs. We are
building Metronet.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : My God, Mr Speaker; members opposite do
not seem to know anything!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Last night, we passed all the
Ellenbrook line legislation through Parliament. We got Yanchep underway and
Thornlie–Cockburn underway. Last night, we got Morley–Ellenbrook
through. We are about to start railcar manufacturing in Western Australia. We
slashed TAFE fees for 34 priority courses, with a 20 per cent increase in
enrolments in TAFE as a consequence. We have increased the income limits for
Keystart and expanded the loan book to provide confidence for the housing
sector. We put the stamp duty rebate in place for multistorey apartment
dwellings. There is the school and hospital maintenance blitz. We are cutting
payroll tax. There has been a record effort in tourism and destination
marketing. The Minister for Tourism has achieved great things when it comes to
tourism numbers in the state with things such as direct flights. There is the
employer incentive scheme to get more people into training. We have a social
and affordable housing package of $222 million—again, a job creator. We
have had the biggest liquor reforms, strata reforms and taxi reforms. This
government has established Invest and Trade WA and boosted the Department of
Agriculture and Food back to where it was before the National Party cut it.
There has been the lowest increase in fees and charges in 13 years under us.
South Flank, Koodaideri, Eliwana and market-led proposals. We now have
Infrastructure WA and a defence strategy, and we are hopeful of good news
shortly when it comes to submarines. There is the LNG task force and the
lithium round table. That is just a snapshot.
The Leader of the Opposition asked for it, and she now knows. She now knows
that this is a government that is focused on the economy and finances.
We know the two are linked. This is a government that is focused on providing
jobs and opportunities for Western Australians.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of the Opposition now has the list to
refer to, so, in future, she will be well informed before she asks her
questions.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to
order for the first time. You had a question answered and you still want to
have a go.
it deserves is something that I and the ministers across the government do
every single day. I will just run the Leader of the Opposition through a few
things, considering she asked me. We got the state back to surplus and we got a
lift in the credit rating. The former government had us at $3 billion deficits.
It had debt growing to $44 billion when it was in office.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is instructive that the shadow
Treasurer said that that is finances, not the economy. Did members hear that?
Apparently, there is no link. That is Liberal Party economics—it can
blow debt as high as it likes and there is no impact on the economy.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bateman, do not get sucked in.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Obviously, a lift in the credit rating
influences the interest payments. Obviously, getting the finances on track
allows us to cut payroll tax and stamp duty, which is what we did.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of the Opposition asked the
question and I am answering it. We also passed the Western Australian Jobs Act,
designed to ensure, from government work, more work for Western Australians. We
have record road spending across the state that is creating jobs. We are
building Metronet.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : My God, Mr Speaker; members opposite do
not seem to know anything!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Last night, we passed all the
Ellenbrook line legislation through Parliament. We got Yanchep underway and
Thornlie–Cockburn underway. Last night, we got Morley–Ellenbrook
through. We are about to start railcar manufacturing in Western Australia. We
slashed TAFE fees for 34 priority courses, with a 20 per cent increase in
enrolments in TAFE as a consequence. We have increased the income limits for
Keystart and expanded the loan book to provide confidence for the housing
sector. We put the stamp duty rebate in place for multistorey apartment
dwellings. There is the school and hospital maintenance blitz. We are cutting
payroll tax. There has been a record effort in tourism and destination
marketing. The Minister for Tourism has achieved great things when it comes to
tourism numbers in the state with things such as direct flights. There is the
employer incentive scheme to get more people into training. We have a social
and affordable housing package of $222 million—again, a job creator. We
have had the biggest liquor reforms, strata reforms and taxi reforms. This
government has established Invest and Trade WA and boosted the Department of
Agriculture and Food back to where it was before the National Party cut it.
There has been the lowest increase in fees and charges in 13 years under us.
South Flank, Koodaideri, Eliwana and market-led proposals. We now have
Infrastructure WA and a defence strategy, and we are hopeful of good news
shortly when it comes to submarines. There is the LNG task force and the
lithium round table. That is just a snapshot.
The Leader of the Opposition asked for it, and she now knows. She now knows
that this is a government that is focused on the economy and finances.
We know the two are linked. This is a government that is focused on providing
jobs and opportunities for Western Australians.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of the Opposition now has the list to
refer to, so, in future, she will be well informed before she asks her
questions.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to
order for the first time. You had a question answered and you still want to
have a go.
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