Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to take this opportunity to speak about the WA economy, its contribution to the national economy and the relevance to the Senate election coming up in one week's time. During the worst times of the global financial crisis, there was a 12-month period where 70 per cent of all the new jobs created in Australia were created in Western Australia. That occurred at the peak of the global financial crisis. It is no exaggeration to say that, had it not been for the performance of the Western Australian economy during the global financial crisis, this country would have suffered quite devastating effects.

In fact, the Western Australian economy exports more to China and their economy than the entire United States, with a population not much more than the prison population of the United States—a remarkable feat for such a small place, representing only 10 per cent of the Australia population. Forty-seven per cent of all of the export income for the entire nation is generated by Western Australia.

Two things started to bring this to an unfortunate and premature end. The first was the carbon tax, and the second was the mining tax. During the height of a global financial crisis, when Western Australia was saving the Australian economy, it had imposed upon it two taxes that now should absolutely be removed in the Senate. If that does not happen before this state election, there is no doubt that the people of Western Australia will pass their judgement upon that.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.