Shadow Treasurer Dean Nalder has called on the McGowan Labor Government to reveal how they are going to deliver jobs growth and security for Western Australians.
“More than 100 per cent of the operating surplus announced by the State Government today comes from Federal Government’s GST fix and global iron ore prices,” Mr Nalder said.
“The extent of expense growth prior to the COVID-19 virus is of a concern.
“Western Australia was already experiencing troubling domestic economic conditions prior to the outbreak of Coronavirus.
“The latest data before the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that in WA there were:
- Six straight years of business investment decline.
- Record levels of mortgage stress.
- A mortgage default rate nearly double the national average.
- Unemployment levels higher than the national average.
- Retail trade numbers the worst in three years.
“Mr McGowan and the WA Labor Government have been failing our domestic economy for the past three years,” Mr Nalder said.
“There has been a lot of smoke and mirrors from the Government regarding their $1.8 billion support measures.
“A lot of struggling households and businesses have been unable to access support from the State Government.
“The Government have been relying on the windfall gains from the Federal Government’s fix of the GST and high iron ore prices to paint the picture of successful financial management, yet they haven’t developed a plan on how they are going to deliver jobs growth and job security for West Australians to sustain future Budget surpluses.
“The Premier must shift his focus to delivering an economic plan while still keeping WA safe from COVID-19.“At the moment Mr McGowan is not addressing WA’s jobs crisis. Last month 62,000 WA people lost their job, and we now have more than 200,000 underemployed.
“The WA Labor Government needs to announce a jobs plan – and how he will deliver it – now.”