❓ The Minister for State Development outlines details of the Wheelara joint venture with China, highlighting its significance for WA's economy and job creation, while also contrasting the Gallop Government's performance with that of the previous government.
AnsweredQoN 24Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to his media release of Monday, 1 March announcing another record export agreement between Western Australia and China. (1) Will the minister please outline details of the deal? (2) Will the minister please outline how Western Australia’s trading relations with China have developed under the Gallop Government? (3) Will the minister please outline how this relationship is driving the creation of jobs and opportunities in Western Australia? Mr C.M. BROWN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
(1) Will the minister please outline details of the deal? (2) Will the minister please outline how Western Australia’s trading relations with China have developed under the Gallop Government? (3) Will the minister please outline how this relationship is driving the creation of jobs and opportunities in Western Australia? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
(2) Will the minister please outline how Western Australia’s trading relations with China have developed under the Gallop Government? (3) Will the minister please outline how this relationship is driving the creation of jobs and opportunities in Western Australia? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
(3) Will the minister please outline how this relationship is driving the creation of jobs and opportunities in Western Australia? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
(1) Will the minister please outline details of the deal? (2) Will the minister please outline how Western Australia’s trading relations with China have developed under the Gallop Government? (3) Will the minister please outline how this relationship is driving the creation of jobs and opportunities in Western Australia? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
(2) Will the minister please outline how Western Australia’s trading relations with China have developed under the Gallop Government? (3) Will the minister please outline how this relationship is driving the creation of jobs and opportunities in Western Australia? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
(3) Will the minister please outline how this relationship is driving the creation of jobs and opportunities in Western Australia? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for Eyre for the question. On Monday of this week I had the pleasure of being in Beijing, China to witness the signing of the Wheelara joint venture. This is the largest joint venture and sales agreement with China; it is in fact a joint venture between BHP Billiton with 51 per cent, four major Chinese steel mills each with 10 per cent, and two Japanese joint venture parties. It will provide for in the order of 12 million tonnes of iron ore to go to the four Chinese joint venture parties over a period of 25 years. It is estimated by BHP Billiton to be worth $US9 billion over that period. It is a very significant contract that will lead to new opportunities for Western Australia. This type of growth from China and the growth in Western Australia are significant. Indeed, it is to be recalled that the Premier’s first overseas visit was to the People’s Republic of China, which indicates the importance of that significantly growing market. The Premier and I have both had the pleasure of visiting China to promote Western Australian exports and to ensure that we do our part to assist Western Australian companies increase sales of their commodities to China. I will report to the House, either tomorrow or next week, about some of the expectations for the Chinese economy. It is also interesting to note the economic growth in Western Australia in this regard. This will be interesting for those members who were not here between 1993 and 1996. During that time the Labor Party Opposition was constantly told by the Court Government that a measure of the Government’s economic credentials was the degree to which the private sector was prepared to invest in the State. People constantly drew figures to our attention. Ministers at that time highlighted the private investment that occurred in the last four years of the previous Labor Government’s reign and the private investment that was occurring under the Court Government. We have used the same analogy and looked at those figures for the past three years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics last week released figures that show that new private capital investment in Western Australia is almost twice as high as it was when the Gallop Labor Government came to power. If members believe what the Opposition had to say when it was in government between 1993 and 1996, they will realise that that shows a measure of confidence in the State and a high measure of confidence in the Government. Of course, it is interesting to note that those opposite did not talk about that in the four years of their second term, and that they particularly did not talk about it prior to the last state election. That is because in the last year of their term of government, the State’s private sector new investment shrank by 1.2 per cent. That was the degree of business confidence in the now Opposition, and particularly the now Leader of the Opposition. When looking at new jobs and opportunities in Western Australia, people should study the test members opposite said was appropriate to see how the coalition Government failed the test and how we are now succeeding.
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