Imagine you could be premier of Western Australia for a day; what policies would you put forward to ensure the state’s future prosperity?
That question was put to the panellists at the recent ‘Dynamic Entrepreneurs in the Boom’ breakfast and, not surprisingly, it drew a mixed reaction.
Improving the state’s infrastructure was the key policy for Argonaut’s Edward Rigg, who said the profits made in the resources sector should be spent to develop port facilities, roads, railway lines, gas pipelines and water access.
For iiNet’s Michael Malone, infrastructure was also important, especially considering the current focus in the telecommunications sector.
“One of the big problems Perth has got is its isolation and communications, like fibre assets and others,” he said.
“I believe that the market will solve the problem of high-speed broadband for Perth and probably the South West, but once you get North of Yanchep you are stuffed and the distances are too large and the population centres are too small; so there is an opportunity to take some of those funds and try and find a solution.”
The policy of most interest to Gooding Pervan partner, Suzan Pervan, concerned women’s role in the workforce.
“…whenever a skilled female walks out of her office or a factory, that is a skilled person who is leaving that we need to entice back in,” she said. “That costs the business mainly, but it is also a wasted resource and there is really no incentive to get women back once they have had children.
“I just think it’s a huge issue for this country.”
Asked what he would do in the role of premier, Trailcraft’s Brett Martin said the role was of little interest to him as the private sector was a much more attractive sector to work in.
