Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Joondalup Business Association held the North West Metro 2015 Small Business Awards, showcasing the achievements of local entrepreneurs at a gala dinner held at the Joondalup Resort Hotel on 20 November. Our region can be described as an emerging economic powerhouse. In the June 2015 quarter, the unemployment rate in the city of Joondalup was 2.9 per cent, less than half of that of the national average of six per cent. Our gross regional product grew 6.2 per cent in the past year to $5.88 billion. Total tourism and hospitality sales amounted to $850.7 million. Retail trade is the largest employer in our region, generating 9,270 local jobs, whilst the local construction industry generated $3.19 billion last year.

I offer my congratulations to the following category winners, who embody the spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship. I make special mention of Debbie Lanario from The Good Guys Joondalup for winning Business of the Year with over 15 employees. The Business of the Year with fewer than 15 employees was won by Outback Initiatives. The winner of the Best Educational Services award was Talent Co. Dance & Entertainment. The Best Home-Based Business was won by Love Letters. The Aroma Cafe, based at the West Coast Institute of Training campus, won Best Retail Business. The Best Online Business category was awarded to CommunityToGo. The Customer Service award was won by John Mason Real Estate. The People's Choice award went to West Coast Cabling Solutions. Calvin Flatters was named Entrepreneur of the Year, and his business, Calvin's Plumbing and Gas, also won the Best New Business category. The Best Trade Services award was awarded to A Man at Hand.

The regional economic outlook looks positive, with major investment in several landmark commercial projects in the pipeline and increasing business and consumer confidence. Thank you to the executive officer, Kay Solanki; the president, Russell Poliwka; and the JBA board members for running a superb event and advocating so strongly for the interests of the business committee in Joondalup.