Liberals put point-scoring ahead of the State's interests

21/10/03
Misleading industrial disputation figures peddled by the Liberal Party are designed to sabotage economic development in Western Australia, according to Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke.
Mr Kobelke said Opposition spokeswoman Cheryl Edwardes' selective use of data on the number of industrial disputes in WA was a shallow attempt to score a cheap political point at the expense of the WA economy.
"The Opposition cannot accept the fact that the Gallop Government has delivered a stronger economy, the lowest level of unemployment in 14 years and less industrial disruption," Mr Kobelke said.
"Instead, the Liberal Party continues to peddle misleading figures and talk down the State's ability to attract project investment."
ABS figures showed the Gallop Government recorded a moving 12-month average of 37 lost working days per thousand employees - less than half the average of 77 days lost in the eight years of the Liberal Government.
The highest single monthly figure for days lost through industrial action under the Gallop Government was 15,900 days for July this year.
By comparison, the highest single monthly figure for days lost through industrial action under the previous Liberal government was 47,600 days in October 1995.
"With 12-month figures on industrial disputes half those of the Liberals and the worst month being a third of that of the Liberals, there is no factual basis for asserting disputation levels are increasing," Mr Kobelke said.
In Parliament today, Mr Kobelke accused Mrs Edwardes and Opposition Leader Colin Barnett of selling out WA for short-term political gain.
"Any decent Liberal would be absolutely ashamed of that sort of behaviour," Mr Kobelke told the Legislative Assembly.
Minister's office: 9222 9211