CORONAVIRUS
— RESTRICTIONS — EASING
90. Ms M.J. HAMMAT to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's strong response to
COVID-19 that has protected the health of Western Australians and delivered a world
leading economy. Can the Premier update the house on what the return to
pre-lockdown conditions will mean for Western
Australians, including Western Australian business, and advise how the snapback
will help continue to drive the WA economy?
Mr M. McGOWAN
replied:
I thank the member for
Mirrabooka for her first question. I congratulate her on her significant
victory in the electorate of Mirrabooka at the state election.
I announced a few moments ago that on Saturday Perth and Peel
will return to pre-lockdown life. This snapback is only possible because of the
good and hard work of all Western Australians, and because people have listened
to the health advice. Since Saturday, 1 May there have been no new community
cases of COVID-19, despite 101 000 tests having been undertaken since 25 April.
Based on health advice, as at 12.01 this Saturday morning, masks will no longer
be mandatory except at the airport; there will be no capacity limits at
weddings and funerals; events will be able to operate at 100 per cent capacity;
visitor limits for patients in hospitals, aged-care or disability facilities
will be lifted; and limits of 100 on home gatherings will be lifted. That will
allow people to go back to life as we knew it prior to the lockdown over the
Anzac Day long weekend. However, it is very important that people continue to
use the SafeWA app or a written contact register, because that allows our
contact tracers to do their important work.
Of course, Madam Speaker, Western Australia's amazing
job over this period has delivered a strong state economy, with the lowest
unemployment rate and the best financial management in the nation. The federal
budget released this week was an endorsement of our COVID-19 management
strategy. The recent economic indicators show that. Australian Bureau of
Statistics weekly payroll data released this week shows that jobs over the
fortnight to 21 April increased by 0.1 per cent. That was the first fortnight
since the end of JobKeeper. It shows growth in jobs despite the end of
JobKeeper. It also shows that Western Australia has the strongest jobs recovery
of all states. According to this metric, the number of jobs is 4.5 per cent
above pre-COVID levels. Internet job vacancies in April were at the
second-highest level in nine years. That reflects the confidence in our
business community and consumer confidence.
This government's economic, financial and health management of COVID-19
has created the strongest business,
consumer and economic conditions in Western Australia since the height of the
last boom, despite large parts of the world going through significant
economic contractions. We have done that whilst maintaining the best financial
management of any government in Australia. Indeed, Standard and Poor's
indicates it is the best financial management of any government in the world.