Opposition seeking to obstruct job-creating projects

Heritage Minister Jim McGinty says the State Government's plans to create jobs are continually being frustrated by the Opposition. 

Mr McGinty said the Opposition was 'hell-bent' on criticising job-creating projects and attempting to place barriers in their way. 

"For example, this week the Opposition will move in State Parliament to frustrate progress and stop employment opportunities on the Old Swan Brewery redevelopment project," Mr McGinty said. 

"This project involves an estimated $40 million investment by the private sector which will create 250 jobs on site and up to five times that number indirectly.

"Multiplex has already invested an estimated $600,000 to date and work is proceeding well with sections of the building already re-roofed.

"The Liberal Party simply want to frustrate the development for their own short term political gain and at the expense of the State's workforce.

"This is the latest in a long line of projects that the Opposition has tried to tamper with in recent years." 

Mr McGinty said that while claiming to preach pro-development, the Opposition had delayed or shown no support for a number of projects including: 

·         the Port Kennedy development; 

·         the upgrade of Fremantle Port; 

·         the Beenup Mineral Sands project; 

·         the National Rail Freight Corporation;

·         the new Geraldton Industry site. 

"This is just a small sample of the Opposition's negativity and obstruction in the area of job creation," Mr McGinty said. 

"At the same time, they are criticising the Government on employment, doing their best to create an atmosphere of gloom and doom about the future, and undermining confidence in the State with wild claims about our financial security."