Business News
WA’s $1.3B pipeline of infrastructure projects
May 7, 2021
Western Australia has been allocated a budget of $1.3 billion for major infrastructure projects. Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that investments into infrastructure projects would make WA roads safer, improve public transport and reduce travel times while creating more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs across WA. Some of the main projects funded include: $347.5 million for METRONET: Hamilton Street-Wharf Street Grade Separations and Elevation of Associated Stations, including Queens Park Station and Cannington Station and an enhanced METRONET Byford Rail Extension project, with new grade separated rail crossing at Armadale Road and an elevated station at Armadale; $200 million …
$215M Mitchell Freeway extension underway in WA
April 28, 2021
The $215 million Mitchell Freeway extension is underway with investigative works, geotechnical investigations and surveying being conducted. The project is expected to extend the Mitchell Freeway 5.6 kilometers north from Hester Avenue to Romeo Road and will have two lanes running in each direction. This aims to reduce congestion and improve connectivity in Perth’s north-west corridor. The project is also aiming to see a cycle network and Principal Shared Path built on the western side of the freeway. The Mitchell Extension Joint Venture (MEJV), on behalf of Main Roads, has been appointed to design and construct the extension project with …
Mark McGowan’s government has been granted a second term, but what will they do with it?
March 16, 2021
With the re-election of Premier Mark McGowan for a second term, the Treasury Department is expecting to see an increase of WA’s net debt to $3.1 billion. The Premier and WA’s Labor has promised several projects to launch during his term. This includes the $361 million dollar health package and a $355 million program to build and upgrade school infrastructure. The mental health project is expected to build 2 specialised emergency centres, in Rockingham and Armadale, an expansion of WA’s eating disorder treatment programs and initiatives to support the mental health of young people. A further $79 million will go …
WA economy named best in the world by S&P credit rating agency
March 10, 2021
It’s music to Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan’s ears as the state is praised for having the best economy in the entire world. Global credit rating agency S&P deemed WA’s economy the best in the world over the past 12 months, outsmarting North Rhine Westphalia in Germany which came second place and Queensland which was the next-best state in Australia. WA Premier Mark McGowan is beaming as his state is championed as the best economy in the world, this comes just days before locals in WA head to the polls on Saturday to cast their vote in the state election, which …
WA Labor launches election campaign with pledge to create 125,000 jobs
February 23, 2021
Western Australia’s Labor party has promised to create 125,000 new local jobs if it is re-elected for a second term of government on March 13. Premier Mark McGowan made the commitment during the party’s election campaign launch, telling supporters it would build on the 63,000 jobs Labor had created in its first term. Mr McGowan said the jobs would be created by 2025-26, saying the target was “reasonable, achievable and affordable”. Ahead of the 2017 state election, Labor promised to fix WA’s “unemployment crisis” and create 50,000 new jobs, saying it would get there by diversifying the economy and bringing …
WA surplus pumped up by iron ore
February 9, 2021
Booming iron ore prices driven by Chinese demand will swell Western Australia’s budget coffers by $2.3 billion over the next four years, pointing to a likely federal government windfall that would speed up budget repair and drive down record debt faster than anticipated. Figures released by WA’s Department of Treasury on Monday show popular state Premier Mark McGowan will head to the polls on March 13 with a budget surplus of $3.1 billion this year, nearly $1 billion more than a forecast made in December. It leaves Mr McGowan as one of few cashed-up leaders on the planet. The windfall …
Joint media statement – Contract awarded for road gateway in Perth’s Eastern Suburbs
February 4, 2021
The Greater Connect consortium comprising Laing O’Rourke, AECOM, and Arcadis has been awarded the contract to deliver the Great Eastern Highway Bypass Interchanges project. The project is expected to bust congestion and improve safety for traffic across the Hazelmere and Forrestfield industrial and freight distribution centres. The Morrison Government is allocating $247.25 million funding from its $110 billion, ten year infrastructure pipeline. Hon Rita Saffioti MLA, said procurement for the upgrades had been streamlined to boost the State’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and would support up to 2,700 jobs. This would also help provide critical new connections for …
Joint media statement – Biggest ever South-West road project now underway, unlocking thousands of local jobs
February 1, 2021
Work on the Bunbury Outer Ring Road has kicked off today, which is expected to provide thousands of local jobs and economic benefits for the Greater Bunbury region. The South West Gateway Alliance, comprising Acciona, NRW Contracting, MACA Civil, AECOM and Aurecon, together with Main Roads, will build the 27-kilometre, four-lane, high-standard road from Forrest Highway near Australind to the Bussell Highway, south of Bunbury. According to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, upon completion the project would improve freight capacity, efficiency and productivity across the region. The project which has gone through planning for several years, recognizes the significance of …
WA jobs market booming as Recovery and Jobs plan delivers
January 25, 2021
Western Australia’s job market is the best performing of all States WA unemployment rate continues to fall, now the lowest of all States at 6.2 per cent 98.8 per cent of jobs lost during COVID-19 pandemic now recovered Latest statistics reflect the McGowan Government’s safe and strong management of COVID-19 and the State’s economy Based on the December 2020 data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it shows that Western Australia has the strongest performing jobs market of all states in the nation. Underemployment has fell to its lowest level since June 2015 down to 7.7 percent with 33,200 …
WA jobs market continues to go from strength to strength
December 17, 2020
Another 11,400 Western Australians gain employment in November, with strong growth in full-time jobs, as the McGowan Labor Government’s Recovery and Jobs Plan continues drive the State’s recovery, revealed by ABS data released today. The increase equates to a further 0.8 per cent rise in employment, the second strongest growth of any State, and only behind Victoria, which continued to recover from a second wave of COVID-19. Significantly, the rise in employment was entirely due to an increase in full-time employment, which rose by 13,400 in November, while the number of people working part-time declined by 2,000. In WA, employment has …
