❓ Opposition Leader questions the Premier about declining retail trade and cost-of-living increases. Premier deflects, highlighting business confidence and government initiatives like Keystart and Elizabeth Quay development.
AnsweredQoN 307Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSEHOLD FEES AND CHARGES
307. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I refer to Australian Bureau of
Statistics data released today that shows that retail trade in Western Australia
declined on a seasonally adjusted basis by 0.7 per cent for the month of March,
and was also down for the March quarter, making Western Australia the only
state to experience a decline.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
I want to hear this.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Does the
Premier now accept that Western Australia's economy is suffering under
the burden of his policies, which have slugged householders $700 a year in
cost-of-living increases; and will the Premier now commit to freezing increases
to fees and charges to help households struggling under the burden of the
Premier's mean-spirited and misguided approach to government?
307. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I refer to Australian Bureau of
Statistics data released today that shows that retail trade in Western Australia
declined on a seasonally adjusted basis by 0.7 per cent for the month of March,
and was also down for the March quarter, making Western Australia the only
state to experience a decline.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
I want to hear this.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Does the
Premier now accept that Western Australia's economy is suffering under
the burden of his policies, which have slugged householders $700 a year in
cost-of-living increases; and will the Premier now commit to freezing increases
to fees and charges to help households struggling under the burden of the
Premier's mean-spirited and misguided approach to government?
AnswerView source ↗
Can I firstly say to the house that
it is great to see you again, Leader of the Opposition! For the benefit of The
West Australian , we have found him—he is in here! The Leader of the
Opposition reminds me a little bit of the character that Tom Hanks played in
the movie Castaway . For a period of time over the last month, I thought
the Leader of the Opposition might have been on a deserted island somewhere —
Mr J.N. Carey : Missing in
action!
The SPEAKER : You are not,
member for Perth. I call you to order for the first time. I was on my feet.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I thought the
Leader of the Opposition would come into the house with a long beard and a volleyball
called Wilson!
Firstly, the premise of the
question, as the Treasurer outlined to the house, is incorrect. A range of
states—in fact, virtually all the states—have experienced some
impact on retail spend. Obviously, in the lead-up to a federal election, there
is always a bit of uncertainty in the broader Australian community. That is
just natural—that is what happens in election campaigns. It is true
that this government has had to balance two things. One is creating jobs and
confidence across Western Australia. The other component is fiscal repair,
considering the more than $40 billion of debt we inherited.
I
have here the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia survey of
business confidence. I also have the table on the front cover, which the
Leader of the Opposition might not have seen. It shows that in March 2019,
short-term business confidence in Western Australia is multiples of what it was
in March 2016 and March 2017. Who was in office during that period? Compared
with March 2016, it is roughly four or five times greater. In March 2017, the business confidence level in Western
Australia was more than double. Therefore, for the Leader of the
Opposition to come in here and go on about these issues, considering his
record, is frankly nothing less than —
Mr D.J. Kelly : Embarrassing.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Embarrassing.
That is the word I am looking for.
During our term in office, as
numerous projects get underway, we have seen an increase in business confidence
that has not been seen before.
I must say that the other day, the
Treasurer and I attended lunch with the Master Builders Association of Western Australia.
They were very confident about some of the things this government is doing.
Mr D.C. Nalder : Keystart!
Mr M. McGOWAN : That includes
our Keystart initiative. They love our Keystart initiative. I note that the
opposition does not much like it. I know the member for Bateman does not like
it. But the people who actually build houses like it. I know the shadow
Treasurer does kitchen repairs. But the people who actually build houses love
what we are doing.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : So the
Leader of the Opposition does not support boosting Keystart's capacity
to lend money?
Dr M.D. Nahan : The MBA does
not support you and your government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Wait until you see tomorrow's
paper! There might be a dorothy in this tomorrow!
I want to close on this note.
Yesterday, I did an event with the Minister for Planning. She has succeeded in
bringing together Chevron and Brookfield to build a magnificent new building
down at Elizabeth Quay.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I want
to hear the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We heard a lot
about that during the course of the last government, but, every time I looked,
there was a soccer field there, with nothing on it. Under this government, a magnificent
new development will take place there, all because of the work of this good
minister.
it is great to see you again, Leader of the Opposition! For the benefit of The
West Australian , we have found him—he is in here! The Leader of the
Opposition reminds me a little bit of the character that Tom Hanks played in
the movie Castaway . For a period of time over the last month, I thought
the Leader of the Opposition might have been on a deserted island somewhere —
Mr J.N. Carey : Missing in
action!
The SPEAKER : You are not,
member for Perth. I call you to order for the first time. I was on my feet.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I thought the
Leader of the Opposition would come into the house with a long beard and a volleyball
called Wilson!
Firstly, the premise of the
question, as the Treasurer outlined to the house, is incorrect. A range of
states—in fact, virtually all the states—have experienced some
impact on retail spend. Obviously, in the lead-up to a federal election, there
is always a bit of uncertainty in the broader Australian community. That is
just natural—that is what happens in election campaigns. It is true
that this government has had to balance two things. One is creating jobs and
confidence across Western Australia. The other component is fiscal repair,
considering the more than $40 billion of debt we inherited.
I
have here the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia survey of
business confidence. I also have the table on the front cover, which the
Leader of the Opposition might not have seen. It shows that in March 2019,
short-term business confidence in Western Australia is multiples of what it was
in March 2016 and March 2017. Who was in office during that period? Compared
with March 2016, it is roughly four or five times greater. In March 2017, the business confidence level in Western
Australia was more than double. Therefore, for the Leader of the
Opposition to come in here and go on about these issues, considering his
record, is frankly nothing less than —
Mr D.J. Kelly : Embarrassing.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Embarrassing.
That is the word I am looking for.
During our term in office, as
numerous projects get underway, we have seen an increase in business confidence
that has not been seen before.
I must say that the other day, the
Treasurer and I attended lunch with the Master Builders Association of Western Australia.
They were very confident about some of the things this government is doing.
Mr D.C. Nalder : Keystart!
Mr M. McGOWAN : That includes
our Keystart initiative. They love our Keystart initiative. I note that the
opposition does not much like it. I know the member for Bateman does not like
it. But the people who actually build houses like it. I know the shadow
Treasurer does kitchen repairs. But the people who actually build houses love
what we are doing.
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : So the
Leader of the Opposition does not support boosting Keystart's capacity
to lend money?
Dr M.D. Nahan : The MBA does
not support you and your government.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Wait until you see tomorrow's
paper! There might be a dorothy in this tomorrow!
I want to close on this note.
Yesterday, I did an event with the Minister for Planning. She has succeeded in
bringing together Chevron and Brookfield to build a magnificent new building
down at Elizabeth Quay.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I want
to hear the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We heard a lot
about that during the course of the last government, but, every time I looked,
there was a soccer field there, with nothing on it. Under this government, a magnificent
new development will take place there, all because of the work of this good
minister.
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