Mr GARETH WARD ( Kiama ) ( 15:40 ): I move:
That this House:
(1) Acknowledges the Government's support for small, fast-growing companies that will drive jobs growth in New South Wales and help meet the Government's target to create one million additional jobs by 2036.
(2)Calls on the Opposition to support Jobs for NSW and focus on employment opportunities for the people of New South Wales, and not employment opportunities for the Federal member for Blaxland.
It is exciting that the New South Wales Government is launching a comprehensive long-term jobs action plan, called Jobs for the Future. Jobs for the Future has been developed by Jobs for NSW, a private sector led, New South Wales Government backed initiative to deliver on the Government’s number one priority of creating jobs. Jobs for NSW is chaired by one of Australia’s innovation leaders—former Telstra chief executive and current CSIRO chair David Thodey. Recently in Wollongong I met Mr Thodey and members of the board, and I am aware that they toured a number of other areas of opportunity in the Illawarra, including the university. I was very impressed with their engagement, their poise and their preparedness to consider all ideas in order to generate jobs in this great State to make sure New South Wales remains number one and to make it even greater. The report contains the most detailed research ever undertaken in the State's history to map out jobs growth in New South Wales over the next two decades. We want to ensure that New South Wales residents have the opportunity for a meaningful working life between now and 2036. Good governments do not just think about the next election; they think about the long-term future of this State.
Mr Greg Warren: Think about jobs.
Mr GARETH WARD: New South Wales has a great recent employment track record, unlike the member for Campbelltown. This State is leading Australia when it comes to job creation and also has experienced recent wages growth well above inflation. Regional New South Wales has shared in this strong employment growth. However, Jobs for the Future outlines a number of future challenges to our impressive jobs story and we have no choice but to respond to them. This includes our ageing population, which has the potential to reduce our potential talent pool by some 370,000 people by 2036. Another challenge is the increased automation of our workforce—particularly routine and physical jobs—by digital technology.
There are also many opportunities, particularly when it comes to refocusing our industries to take advantage of growing export markets, such as the market we will see when Singapore Airlines flies into Canberra from September, allowing products such as oysters to land on plates in Asia more quickly than ever before. Other statewide funding programs will help fast-growing, small to medium-size companies—known as "gazelles"—to access the funds they need to grow jobs through a $50 million loan guarantee program and a $3.5 million direct loan pilot program; assist start-up companies to flourish into the gazelles of tomorrow by setting aside $10 million to grow the State's network of incubators and accelerators, and $3 million in 2016-17 for direct grants to start‑ups; and attract large and international companies to base their headquarters in New South Wales through the use of a $30 million fund.
In relation to accelerators, we recently opened iAccelerate, a business incubator, at the University of Wollongong. The first of its type in Australia, it is based on the unit at the University of Waterloo that generated 28,000 jobs, including in BlackBerry. We are very proud of the unit at the University of Wollongong, and innovation leaders are driving that agenda. At the innovation campus where iAccelerate is situated NEC recently located 200 personnel associated with a government contract. This action plan provides a way forward on how to harness opportunities and respond to challenges. This is not a theoretical document—it is an action plan for government.
We will, for instance, provide better support for the number of small but fast-growing companies that are responsible for creating most of the net jobs growth in New South Wales. We will use the $190 million Jobs for NSW fund to support those companies. Small business so often does not have the time or the capacity to agitate or to organise. It is incumbent upon governments such as this one to reduce red tape, to cut taxes, to move out of the way and to provide the environment that we have in New South Wales, which has seen this State come from number eight to be number one—jobs, prosperity and business confidence have returned. We need look at the skylines of not only Sydney but also regional cities such as Wollongong to see the cranes that adorn them. People are prepared to invest again because they know that they will receive a return in New South Wales.
Mr Michael Daley: It is called low interest rates.
Mr GARETH WARD: I acknowledge the interjection from the dumped shadow Treasurer.
Mr Michael Daley: It is called pent-up demand.
Mr GARETH WARD: "It is called low interest rates", for the record. I did not know we had a different Reserve Bank in New South Wales from that in South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. To suggest that it has to do with interest rates when, for the member's information, there is just one, national Reserve Bank is absolute lunacy. He should go back to his economic books and, while he is there, he should teach the shadow Treasurer the difference between supply and demand, because he is really struggling with that. This motion is about supporting jobs. We support future jobs in New South Wales.
Mr DAVID HARRIS ( Wyong ) ( 15:46 ): I move:
That the motion be amended by leaving out paragraph (2) with a view to inserting instead:
(2)Calls on the Government to support regional communities in New South Wales by building new intercity trains in New South Wales, and thereby creating much-needed employment.
It is a great irony for a member of this Government to talk about creating a million jobs over two decades when his Government is killing jobs. Tonight we will debate legislation that will kill off an entire industry in this State. Make no mistake, I am talking about thousands of jobs in regional communities that will disappear at the whim of the Premier and his colleagues. They talk about creating jobs in regional communities but they should ask someone involved in the greyhound industry or the commercial fishing industry in this State how the Government is helping them. The Government is not supporting their futures by ensuring that their jobs continue to exist. It is also ironic that the Government plans to use the Jobs for NSW fund. The 2014-15 budget estimates showed that service group Economic and Regional Development, which is supposed to support the rollout of Jobs for NSW, employed 534 people. However, the 2015-16 budget estimates reveal that now only 303 people are employed in that service group.
Those opposite have cut 231 jobs at a time when they claim Jobs for NSW is so important. How will they roll it out effectively when they are cutting hundreds of jobs from the department that is supposed to manage it? In regional communities we know that the Government is creating part-time not full-time jobs. It is extremely hard to get a loan or have a life when you have only a part-time job. Most people in part-time work are underemployed. Tonight the Government is set to kill off a whole industry and thousands of jobs. The Government is making it so hard for commercial fishers that most of them will go out of business. It is also cutting jobs from the service group that is supposed to roll out the grand plan that the Premier announced last week.
Not only that, but 24 hours after the Premier announced those one million jobs the Government hypocritically moved a potential 1,200 jobs offshore to South Korea. Young people in New South Wales will not be able to tap into any of those jobs. The youth unemployment rate in the Hunter is 17.8 per cent. When Labor was in government it was 12.4 per cent. On the Central Coast the youth unemployment rate is 15.5 per cent. When we were last in government it was 11.6 per cent. Things are getting worse and this Government's solution is to move jobs to South Korea and not give opportunities to apprentices in New South Wales. The Government has sent 100 per cent of those jobs offshore. We can only wonder how on earth it will deliver the million jobs when existing, thriving jobs are being put under threat.
This Government talks about innovation but then the Minister says the proposal from South Korea is more innovative than any other. The Government wants to promote innovation but sends opportunities to be innovative overseas. This Government is full of hypocrisy. Government members do not understand the trouble people have on a day-to-day basis trying to live their lives. A Liberal government is supposed to get out of people's road and let them thrive. Instead, this Government is cracking down and making things harder for the good people of New South Wales who are trying to do the right thing and make a living. This Government should be ashamed of itself. It should be building the trains in New South Wales.
Mr MATT KEAN ( Hornsby ) ( 15:52 ): I thank the member for Wyong for his confected outrage. He decries jobs going overseas but he sat around a Cabinet table with the now shadow Treasurer and outsourced the building of trains to China. Hypocrisy thy name is Labor. We all know that those opposite are interested in only one job—the job of the Leader of the Opposition. It is fitting that the member for Maroubra is in the Chamber. We would like the member for Maroubra to realise his ambition, but unfortunately his friend Kaila Murnain does not seem to want that to happen. Such is her confidence in the member for Maroubra and the Leader of the Opposition that she has sounded out Jason Clare about taking on the role of leader. Australian Workers' Union secretary Russ Collison has said of the idea to recruit Mr Clare to State politics, "I think he'd be perfect." That is a ringing third-party endorsement for the performance of the Leader of the Opposition.
Today we are here to talk about the one million new jobs that members on this side of the House are determined to create by 2036. Members opposite do not want to create jobs, but we do. We want to create opportunities for every New South Wales citizen. We will do that by growing our economy and creating the jobs of the future. There will be opportunities for every resident in this State. We will create jobs of the new economy, not the old economy that the member for Wyong is interested in. Jobs for NSW is a private sector led, New South Wales Government backed initiative to deliver on the Government's number one priority of creating jobs. Jobs for NSW is chaired by Australia's innovation leaders including former Telstra chief executive and current CSIRO chair David Thodey. Its report contains the most detailed research ever undertaken in the State's history to map out jobs growth in New South Wales over the next two decades.
We want to ensure that New South Wales residents have the opportunity for a meaningful working life between now and 2036. New South Wales has a great recent employment track record. In fact, we lead the nation on employment growth. Think of where we came from when elected to office in 2011. We were last on every key economic indicator. New South Wales was the laggard State thanks to Labor. We are committed to creating jobs and delivering on the Government's priority of providing opportunities in this State.
Mr ANOULACK C HANTHIVONG ( Macquarie Fields ) ( 15:55 ): I listened to the member for Kiama, who moved the motion calling on us to support Jobs for NSW and employment opportunities. He spent the first three minutes of his contribution talking about neither of those things. The member for Kiama did not have to drive 120 kilometres from his electorate office at Terralong Street to the New South Wales Parliament to speak about his concerns for jobs. He could have driven to the Dapto Dogs at the greyhound racetrack not 25 minutes from his electorate office. He could have then driven another seven minutes to BlueScope Steel at Unanderra. Then he could have driven another eight minutes to the sacred institution of Wollongong TAFE, which the Baird Liberal Government is destroying.
Government members talk about jobs and employment opportunities but they never back them up with action. The member for Kiama cries foul and says that we are the ones who are destroying jobs. If only he had checked the facts. The member for Hornsby spoke about where we came from. When Labor was in office the unemployment rate was 5.1 per cent. That is a fact on the record. The unemployment rate is now 6.1 per cent. If the member wants to talk about supporting jobs and jobseekers he should take a lesson from Labor's record on the issue.
If the member for Kiama wants to support jobs he could front up to the BlueScope Steel workers and talk about the jobs that were exported based on rail contracts that could have given the kids of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven an opportunity to gain experience and skills and contribute to nation's workforce. The Government thinks those workers are not good enough for those jobs but somebody else is. If the member wants to talk about jobs he could face everybody at BlueScope Steel and explain why they are not worthy of the opportunity and the experience of making the trains for our State. How about he talks about that?
The member for Kiama wants to talk about jobs. We can talk about all the opportunities the Government could have given to the people of this State instead of sending the jobs elsewhere. The member for Kiama has driven more than 120 kilometres to this House but he could not be bothered to drive a few minutes in his electorate to support the jobs of people in New South Wales. Furthermore, he could talk to all the young unemployed people in his region. The youth unemployment rate is 17 per cent in the Shoalhaven and 15 per cent in the Illawarra. Perhaps they might also need his support to get a job.
Mr GARETH WARD ( Kiama ) ( 15:58 ): In reply: I thank members representing the electorates of Hornsby, Macquarie Fields and Wyong for their contributions to the debate. I note that the only number the member for Wyong got right in his contribution was the distance between this Parliament and my electorate. I am glad to hear that he is coming to Kiama. He obviously knows where the best part of this State is—which is probably why he got the distance right. My mum and dad met at BlueScope Steel in 1973 so I know well the story of so many Illawarra families when it comes to BlueScope Steel. Indeed, that is why as the Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast I was proud to argue for a $60 million payroll tax deferral that assisted in keeping the works alive—those opposite failed to acknowledge that.
I have sat opposite workers in my electorate office and told them what I would do in relation to this matter. I fought hard to make sure that deferral came into place because without it those steelworks would have closed. What have those opposite done? They supported carbon taxes that would have seen the closure of the steelworks when they were in government. So concerned are they for those jobs that they do exactly the opposite of what is required when they are in government. One of the greatest absences from this debate was the shadow Treasurer. This debate is about jobs and the economy so I would have thought the Opposition's chief economic spokesperson would be in the Chamber to enunciate his views.
Mr Michael Daley: He has already done that once today. He did it 10 minutes ago. If you had been listening you would have heard him.
Mr GARETH WARD: You be quiet. People have referred to you as a low-altitude flyer before; I do not even think you have left the Qantas Club. Just pipe down and you might learn something.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GARETH WARD: The shadow Treasurer was out the front of BlueScope with the Leader of the Opposition saying that if the contract for Stadler, one of the shortlisted train companies, had come to the Illawarra—a commitment that it never actually made—then steel from the BlueScope Steel would have been used. The problem for the shadow Treasurer was that they would have used aluminium, not steel produced by BlueScope Steel. He did not do his research. This is the bloke who wants to be the alternative manager of our economy. He was embarrassed by his admission in relation to those matters.
Opposition members also talked about TAFE. This State has never seen a bigger TAFE budget. We have more than 60,000 additional vocational TAFE places than when those opposite were in office. This Government is driving not only the education agenda by investing record sums in education—from preschool to primary school, to high school and beyond—but also investing in infrastructure. What do those opposite do? They oppose every single attempt we make to reform our economy—for instance, our asset recycling program, which sees $20 billion going to our economy, more infrastructure and more jobs. We on this side of the House are building the economy, those opposite were the ones who destroyed it.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the words stand.
The House divided .
Ayes50
Noes33
Majority17
| AYES | ||
| Anderson, Mr K | Aplin, Mr G | Ayres, Mr S |
| Barilaro, Mr J | Berejiklian, Ms G | Bromhead, Mr S (teller) |
| Brookes, Mr G | Conolly, Mr K | Constance, Mr A |
| Coure, Mr M | Crouch, Mr A | Davies, Ms T |
| Dominello, Mr V | Elliott, Mr D | Evans, Mr L |
| Fraser, Mr A | Gibbons, Ms M | Goward, Ms P |
| Grant, Mr T | Gulaptis, Mr C | Hazzard, Mr B |
| Henskens, Mr A | Hodgkinson, Ms K | Humphries, Mr K |
| Johnsen, Mr M | Kean, Mr M | Lee, Dr G |
| Maguire, Mr D | Marshall, Mr A | Notley-Smith, Mr B |
| O'Dea, Mr J | Patterson, Mr C (teller) | Pavey, Ms M |
| Perrottet, Mr D | Petinos, Ms E | Piccoli, Mr A |
| Provest, Mr G | Roberts, Mr A | Rowell, Mr J |
| Sidoti, Mr J | Skinner, Ms J | Speakman, Mr M |
| Stokes, Mr R | Taylor, Mr M | Toole, Mr P |
| Tudehope, Mr D | Upton, Ms G | Ward, Mr G |
| Williams, Mr R | Williams, Ms L | |
| NOES | ||
| Aitchison, Ms J | Atalla, Mr E | Car, Ms P |
| Catley, Ms Y | Chanthivong, Mr A | Crakanthorp, Mr T |
| Daley, Mr M | Dib, Mr J | Doyle, Ms T |
| Finn, Ms J | Foley, Mr L | Harris, Mr D |
| Harrison, Ms J | Haylen, Ms J | Hoenig, Mr R |
| Hornery, Ms S | Kamper, Mr S | Lalich, Mr N (teller) |
| Lynch, Mr P | McDermott, Dr H | McKay, Ms J |
| Mehan, Mr D | Mihailuk, Ms T | Minns, Mr C |
| Park, Mr R | Parker, Mr J | Piper, Mr G |
| Robertson, Mr J | Smith, Ms T | Warren, Mr G (teller) |
| Washington, Ms K | Watson, Ms A | Zangari, Mr G |
| PAIRS | |
| Baird, Mr M | Barr, Mr C |
| Hancock, Ms S | Smith, Ms K |
Amendment negatived.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the motion as moved by the member for Kiama be agreed to.
The House divided.
Ayes50
Noes33
Majority17
| AYES | ||
| Anderson, Mr K | Aplin, Mr G | Ayres, Mr S |
| Barilaro, Mr J | Berejiklian, Ms G | Bromhead, Mr S (teller) |
| Brookes, Mr G | Conolly, Mr K | Constance, Mr A |
| Coure, Mr M | Crouch, Mr A | Davies, Ms T |
| Dominello, Mr V | Elliott, Mr D | Evans, Mr L |
| Fraser, Mr A | Gibbons, Ms M | Goward, Ms P |
| Grant, Mr T | Gulaptis, Mr C | Hazzard, Mr B |
| Henskens, Mr A | Hodgkinson, Ms K | Humphries, Mr K |
| Johnsen, Mr M | Kean, Mr M | Lee, Dr G |
| Maguire, Mr D | Marshall, Mr A | Notley-Smith, Mr B |
| O'Dea, Mr J | Patterson, Mr C (teller) | Pavey, Ms M |
| Perrottet, Mr D | Petinos, Ms E | Piccoli, Mr A |
| Provest, Mr G | Roberts, Mr A | Rowell, Mr J |
| Sidoti, Mr J | Skinner, Ms J | Speakman, Mr M |
| Stokes, Mr R | Taylor, Mr M | Toole, Mr P |
| Tudehope, Mr D | Upton, Ms G | Ward, Mr G |
| Williams, Mr R | Williams, Ms L | |
| NOES | ||
| Aitchison, Ms J | Atalla, Mr E | Car, Ms P |
| Catley, Ms Y | Chanthivong, Mr A | Crakanthorp, Mr T |
| Daley, Mr M | Dib, Mr J | Doyle, Ms T |
| Finn, Ms J | Foley, Mr L | Harris, Mr D |
| Harrison, Ms J | Haylen, Ms J | Hoenig, Mr R |
| Hornery, Ms S | Kamper, Mr S | Lalich, Mr N (teller) |
| Lynch, Mr P | McDermott, Dr H | McKay, Ms J |
| Mehan, Mr D | Mihailuk, Ms T | Minns, Mr C |
| Park, Mr R | Parker, Mr J | Piper, Mr G |
| Robertson, Mr J | Smith, Ms T | Warren, Mr G (teller) |
| Washington, Ms K | Watson, Ms A | Zangari, Mr G |
| PAIRS | |
| Baird, Mr M | Barr, Mr C |
| Hancock, Ms S | Smith, Ms K |
Motion agreed to.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Thomas George ): The motion accorded priority having concluded the House will now proceed with government business.
Hansard link here.
