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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 955 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 19 November 2020 by Ms S.E. Winton

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — ECONOMIC RECOVERY — JOBS

955. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Premier:

I refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to supporting local jobs and ensuring that the Western Australian economy is kept safe and strong. Can the Premier update the house on how the unprecedented efforts of the McGowan Labor government during the past three years and eight months have delivered more local jobs and helped get more Western Australians back into work?

Mr M. McGOWAN replied:

I thank the member for the question. The figures that came out today are incredibly encouraging and very strong for Western Australia. In the month of October, 15 300 jobs were created. That was the second strongest employment growth of all the states. Our unemployment rate is down again to 6.6 per cent, which is the second lowest unemployment rate in the country. We have the highest participation rate of anywhere in Australia by a number of points. Had we had the national average for the participation rate, we would easily have the lowest unemployment rate in the country. The figures today show that 89 300 jobs have been recovered since May, since COVID hit. That means around 87 per cent of all jobs lost have been recovered. Of course, as part of our WA recovery plan, investment is taking place all over Western Australia to get jobs back. We were the first government in Australia to launch a recovery plan.

We have done numerous things across the state, but this morning I was able to address a major industry forum and outline the fact that we are going to have a $27 billion look-forward for our pipeline of work. For the first time ever, all over the state industry will be able to see, for years ahead, a pipeline of work that government agencies and instrumentalities will have tenders for. It will be terrific for business all over Western Australia, including in the city and the regions.

We will deliver over this term and, hopefully, if we are re-elected, over next term Metronet, railcar manufacturing and nearly $1 billion of social and affordable housing. We have cut TAFE fees. We have undertaken economic reform, planning reform, environmental law reform and liquor reform. We have slashed payroll tax, taken up the defence industry and made the biggest investment in roads ever seen, especially in the regions. We have created greater job security for Western Australian workers, Infrastructure WA, Invest and Trade WA, and the LNG jobs taskforce. We brought Matagarup Bridge back from Malaysia, where the last government was having it built. We secured the Perth City Deal and the GST deal, which we are defending very, very vigorously.

But I want to talk about one thing. As part of the recovery plan, we have launched a $492 million investment in school infrastructure across Western Australia. It is very, very significant. Today we announced that we are adding to that. We are going to spend $16.7 million to rebuild Hillarys Primary School.

Several members interjected.

Mr M. McGOWAN: It will be a magnificent project for the people of Hillarys. It will have 16 new general learning classrooms and two kindergarten classrooms. Obviously, it will require a re-elected Labor government to do this. The school has been there for 50 years, untouched by successive conservative governments over all that time.

Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for Hillarys! It is good news for you; be quiet.

Mr M. McGOWAN: I knew I would get that reaction, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the community of Hillarys. I would like to thank the Labor candidate for Hillarys, Caitlin Collins.

Several members interjected.

Mr M. McGOWAN: I would like to thank her. She has met with parents and staff. I knew the member for Hillarys would get upset, but I say to him —

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for Perth!

Mr M. McGOWAN: If I can just have a bit of silence, member for Hillarys. Member for Hillarys, my office is just down the corridor. If the member cared so much about it, he could have come and knocked on my door. He could have said, ''Premier, Hillarys Primary School needs rebuilding.'' Do you know what, Mr Speaker? The member for Hillarys never did that. He never raised the issue in here with me.

Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for Hillarys, I call you to order for the first time.

Mr M. McGOWAN: He never asked a question. He never showed any interest. It took Caitlin Collins, working with the school community and the people of Hillarys, to ensure that that project comes to fruition. Under a McGowan government, it will.

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Everyone take a deep breath.