❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Small Business about weak business demand, attributing it to the government's cost-of-living increases. The Minister deflects, blaming the previous Liberal government and highlighting current government initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 317Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WA SUPER–CCI SURVEY OF BUSINESS CONFIDENCE
317. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Small Business:
I have a supplementary question. The Chamber of Commerce and
Industry of Western Australia business confidence survey notes that 38 per cent
of respondents identified weak demand as a barrier to growing their business.
Does the minister accept that his government's cost-of-living increases
have hurt the household sector and decreased business demand; and, if not, how
does he explain the weak demand being experienced —
Several members interjected.
Ms L. METTAM : Shall I start again?
The SPEAKER : No, just the last bit, please.
Ms L. METTAM : How does the minister explain the weak
demand being experienced by WA businesses?
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for Sport and Recreation, I call
you to order for the first time.
317. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Small Business:
I have a supplementary question. The Chamber of Commerce and
Industry of Western Australia business confidence survey notes that 38 per cent
of respondents identified weak demand as a barrier to growing their business.
Does the minister accept that his government's cost-of-living increases
have hurt the household sector and decreased business demand; and, if not, how
does he explain the weak demand being experienced —
Several members interjected.
Ms L. METTAM : Shall I start again?
The SPEAKER : No, just the last bit, please.
Ms L. METTAM : How does the minister explain the weak
demand being experienced by WA businesses?
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for Sport and Recreation, I call
you to order for the first time.
AnswerView source ↗
Western Australians in
every walk of life, including small business, are thankful that the Liberal
Party is no longer in government. They are so relieved that there is
good financial management in place to rectify the damage incurred under the
Liberal Party regime. They are so thankful for all of this government's
initiatives. The Minister for Transport just spoke about road projects right
across the state; she did not talk about all the rail projects. Last year, we
passed the biggest reform to the Liquor Control Act to support hospitality and
small business right across the state.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, I call you to order for
the first time.
Mr P. PAPALIA : We have taken action on a raft of
initiatives and recommendations that the former government sat on for three
years, recommendations from inquiries that the former government commissioned
and then did nothing about. We took action last year and, of course, in the
portfolio of tourism to which I referred only a moment ago, there has been a massive
increase in investment with great outcomes and we have seen the single biggest
year in tourism history in Western Australia in 2018. There is a lot of reason
for optimism in all sectors of the community, particularly small business, and
they are just grateful that the Liberal Party is not anywhere near the
government benches.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, I call you to order for
the second time.
every walk of life, including small business, are thankful that the Liberal
Party is no longer in government. They are so relieved that there is
good financial management in place to rectify the damage incurred under the
Liberal Party regime. They are so thankful for all of this government's
initiatives. The Minister for Transport just spoke about road projects right
across the state; she did not talk about all the rail projects. Last year, we
passed the biggest reform to the Liquor Control Act to support hospitality and
small business right across the state.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, I call you to order for
the first time.
Mr P. PAPALIA : We have taken action on a raft of
initiatives and recommendations that the former government sat on for three
years, recommendations from inquiries that the former government commissioned
and then did nothing about. We took action last year and, of course, in the
portfolio of tourism to which I referred only a moment ago, there has been a massive
increase in investment with great outcomes and we have seen the single biggest
year in tourism history in Western Australia in 2018. There is a lot of reason
for optimism in all sectors of the community, particularly small business, and
they are just grateful that the Liberal Party is not anywhere near the
government benches.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse, I call you to order for
the second time.
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