April 19, 2018 More looking for work in WA since records began Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today show that, in seasonally adjusted terms, more West Australian were looking for work in March 2018 than in any time since records began in 1978. Shadow Treasurer Dean Nalder said the data was a damning indictment on the policies of the McGowan Government. “Western Australia has the highest unemployment rate in the country, with almost 100,000 Western Australians unemployed, 10,000 more than when Mr McGowan came into office promising more jobs and greater job security,” Mr Nalder said. “There are no surprises here. “The policies of this Government have resulted in the destruction of WA’s international mining reputation, the gutting of our tourism sector, international student numbers in freefall and the number of new home starts falling off a cliff. “What WA needs is policies that create jobs, not destroy them.” The new data showed unemployment, in seasonally adjusted terms, in Western Australia had soared to its highest rate in 16 years, from 6.1 to 6.9 per cent. The national average is 5.5 per cent. “This Premier swept into office just over a year ago promising 50,000 more jobs, debt reduction, no new taxes or increases in taxes, and no cuts to frontlines services,” Mr Nalder said. “Mr McGowan has failed to deliver not only on a plan for jobs but on all of these promises. “What he has delivered is new and increased taxes and significant increases in household fees and charges, hurting household discretionary expenditure which ultimately hurts the retail sector, the economy and WA families.” Media Contact |
