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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 90 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 13 May 2021 by Ms M.J. Hammat

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

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.