Shadow Minister for Tourism and Small Business Alyssa Hayden has hit out at the Labor Government’s decision to continue to abandon West Australian businesses when they are most vulnerable, with nearly $9 million in contracts awarded to interstate companies.
“At a time when we are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic every cent counts for West Australian businesses,” Ms Hayden said.
“But sadly, this Labor Government continues to snub them. Not only are they refusing to assist struggling small businesses, with grants of up to $10,000 – the only state government in the nation that hasn’t stumped up any money – they continue to award tenders to companies interstate.
“We have tracked nearly $9 million in government contracts that the Premier has let through his self-proclaimed hard border in the last few months alone.
“It is appalling and comes hot on the heels of Labor partnering with an American-owned online giant, instead of our local WA travel agents, as part of a $500,000 marketing blitz to encourage West Australians to book a staycation in Perth.
“The government should be doing more for local small and family run businesses. Many are battling for survival.
“WA has the second-worst unemployment rate in the nation. You would think Labor would be trying to reduce that rate, not add to it by snubbing West Australian businesses owned by mums and dads.
“I was gobsmacked when I saw that the government awarded a $39,492 contract for drop down curtains at HBF Arena in Mount Claremont to a company in South Australia, and a $62,719 contract to supply barbecues to a park in Collie to a Victorian business.
“And earlier in the year the $2 million ‘Wander out Yonder’ marketing campaign to promote West Australians travelling in their own State was handed to a Sydney company.
“West Australians should be outraged that these jobs are being given to interstate companies.”
“As the Premier is counting out his surplus, our family-run small businesses are desperate for their government to show them support.”
Here are nearly $9 million worth of jobs that have gone to Eastern States companies, not West Australian businesses:
- $3 million for media monitoring – awarded to a company in Victoria
- $2 million ‘Wander out Yonder’ marketing campaign – NSW
- $2 million for media impact research for events – NSW
- $385,000 for mural art project – Qld
- $125,615 for solar panel supply and installation – NSW
- $164,877 for solar panel supply and installation – NSW
- $62,719 to supply barbecues – Victoria
- $83,000 to look into feasibility of more carbon farming opportunities – Victoria
- $89,265 for creative and event concept testing research – Victoria
- $90,200 consultancy services for WA businesses in the wind farm market – Victoria
- $250,000 for personal protective workwear – Qld
- $76,450 for Uninterruptible Power Supply replacement – NSW
- $66,000 for technical advisory services – Canberra
- $72,600 for security assessment for new museum project – NSW
- $90,200 for consultancy services for WA wind farm businesses – Victoria
- $126,050 for video conferencing equipment – Sydney
- $73,628 for collective impact consultancy services – Tasmania
- $39,492 for drop down curtains at HBF Arena basketball courts – SA
- $68,000 for partnership requests appraisal and reporting CRM System – Victoria
- $100,000 for visual brand identity for Tourism WA – NSW