CORONAVIRUS —
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN JOBS ACT — UNEMPLOYMENT
542. Mrs A.K. HAYDEN to the Premier:
I
refer to Western Australia having the second highest unemployment rate in the
nation. Why is the Premier awarding government contracts to eastern
states companies instead of Western Australian small businesses, including the
$2 million Wander Out Yonder campaign going to a Sydney company, his own
department giving a $3 million media monitoring contract to a Victorian company
and another being awarded to Victoria to supply barbecues for a park in Collie?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
As I indicated before, Western Australia
recorded the strongest employment growth of all mainland states and territories in July. Nearly 20 000 Western Australians
found work in July. We recovered more than 41 000 jobs lost since the
start of the pandemic. We now have by far the highest participation rate, which
obviously impacts the unemployment rate adversely, but it means that more
people are in the jobs market in Western Australia.
I
will make a few points about what the member said then. We have passed the Western
Australian Jobs Act. That is ensuring that far more contracts go to Western Australian
businesses across our state. It is ensuring that the participation plans that
are put in place are written into contracts. The member raised the case of
barbecues—a $62 000 contract
for a Victorian company to supply barbecues for Lake Kepwari. Just so she
knows, 99 per cent of the contracts for Lake Kepwari went to local regional
businesses—99 per cent of contracts. In relation to the barbecues,
apparently it is a company expert at installing barbecues, but the member will
be interested to know something. In 2016, the former government spent $300 000
with a South Australian company to provide 102 barbecues on Rottnest Island.
Mr P. Papalia: Who was the
parliamentary secretary?
Mr M. McGOWAN: Yes. So, $62 000 went on barbecues from
a Victorian company, while 99 per cent of the contracts went to local and
regional businesses. When the member was in office, $300 000—in fact,
$296 000—went to a South Australian company to put in 102 barbecues on
Rottnest Island.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN: Considering that the
member was the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Tourism,
she should check her facts before she asks questions.