Celia Hammond (Curtin, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I second the motion and I thank the member for Perth for his motion recognising the importance of Western Australia to the national economy.

WA's importance to this country is greater than its contribution to the national economy, a point with which I'm sure the member for Perth agrees, but time limits prevent us from waxing lyrical about our great state. Western Australia is the country's largest state in physical size, covering the entire western third of the country and with a total land area of approximately 2.6 million square kilometres. It's surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, the Northern Territory and South Australia. There is over 20,000 kilometres of coastline.

As we Western Australians know, Western Australia is far away from the rest of Australia. This is a fact that any sandgroper is well aware of every time they hop on a plane. That isolation and distance have some disadvantages but they also have enormous advantages, including how they shape our identity and our culture. Western Australians are a down-to-earth bunch of people—hardworking, innovative and entrepreneurial. It's a no-nonsense state, where people just want to get on with doing things. We are doers; there is no pretence.

We are also enormously philanthropic and generous. Any doubt about that is put to rest every year by the Channel 7 telethon, an institution in WA for more than 50 years, raising in excess of $200 million in its lifetime. It's the highest-donating telethon per capita in the entire world.

Approximately 2.6 million people live in WA, around 11 per cent of the national total, and I happen to agree with the member for Perth that WA punches above its weight in the national economy. Almost 50 per cent of Australia's total overseas exports come from WA. We are a third of the land mass and only 11 per cent of the population, but almost 50 per cent of the exports come from WA. WA is the second-largest iron ore producer in the world.

The Morrison government gets the importance of WA and, moreover, it gets the vibe of Western Australians as hardworking, can-do, get-it-done people. This government is investing in WA to continue to ensure it supports small business, creates jobs, fosters entrepreneurship and funds essential services like schools, hospitals and infrastructure; to ensure that our great state remains the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family. For the period of over 15 years from 2013-14 to 2028-29, over $13.5 billion is being sent to WA to fund land transport infrastructure projects. More than $5.5 billion was spent in WA between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2019. A further commitment of $1.7 billion towards infrastructure projects in WA was made in the 2019-20 budget.

The government has delivered tax relief to a projected 1.24 million Western Australians for the 2018-19 financial year. This includes 72,000 people living in my electorate of Curtin. This government is backing small businesses to help them get ahead and create jobs. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, particularly in my electorate of Curtin. There are over 26,000 small and medium businesses in Curtin which are benefiting from legislated tax relief and the government's instant asset write-off scheme.

This government has been investing in industry and innovation in our state. For the period 1 July 2016 to June 2019 the government has supported and invested in our local industries and local innovators, including $8.5 million to the Square Kilometre Array, $74 million in total to 10 cooperative research centres, close to $20 million in funding to 417 businesses under the Entrepreneurs' Program, and $2.4 million in funding from the Business Research and Innovation Initiative.

Funding for health has increased. All local hospitals have had significant increases in funding. It has increased by approximately 70 per cent since this government came to office in 2013. Funding in education and skills has increased and will increase further, from $2 billion in 2019 to $3.2 billion in 2029. That is equivalent to a per student funding increase of 71 per cent for government schools and 43 per cent for non-government schools.

As I said, I agree with the member for Perth that WA is a fantastic place. I will argue and advocate passionately and unashamedly for WA, but I also know that this government, the Morrison government, not only hears but listens and acts. (Time expired)

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