Our plans to grow Western Australia’s manufacturing industry are designed to work over the medium to long term, but we also need initiatives to get our trades workforce working now.
We’re calling on the State Government to fast-track the building of shovel-ready projects, such as rail lines, roads and public housing, as well as economic infrastructure to support the development of industry.
To get things moving, we’re supportive of the government increasing borrowing to achieve this. With record-low interest rates, the cost of borrowing has never been lower, particularly to government. When the economy is back on track, we’re supportive of the State Government returning its focus to paying down debt.
New building projects will get construction and fabrication trades workers on the tools, then spending their money in the community, which will help get hospitality and other service trades workers back on their feet.
Borrowing to build is not a long-term solution to the COVID-19 economic crisis, but it is necessary to kickstart the economy and create jobs while our other strategic initiatives are put in place.