Mark McGowan didn’t waste his unique status as the first premier to open the Diggers & Dealers forum in Kalgoorlie earlier today, delivering a keynote speech that could have been mistaken for the launch of his campaign ahead of next year’s state election.
Heavy on comparisons between the success of Western Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and the setbacks suffered by other states, Mr McGowan’s address stuck to his politically popular position of maintaining WA’s hard border until at least April 2021.
Delegates with long memories will consider the premier’s speech a novel experience, because it wasn’t that long ago the organisers of Diggers & Dealers banned all politicians from attending the forum, preferring to focus on mining and investment (and limit political debate).
Mr McGowan acknowledged his status as the first premier to open the three-day forum, which was shifted from its regular August timetable to October because of concern about COVID-19 and the risks associated with large gatherings.
The pandemic and hard border has restricted delegate numbers at this year’s forum to 1,700, down 29 per cent on last year’s 2,400.
“It’s been refreshing to once again see the rest of the nation being reminded of just how much of Australian prosperity is dependent on WA, and in particular the mining and energy sectors,” Mr McGowan said.
“WA carries the country. The other premiers don’t like to hear that, but it’s true.”
He said WA was leading the country in terms of economic recovery, listing a number of records delivered by the mining industry over the past 12 months.
Mineral sales hit a record $172 billion. Iron ore reached $103 billion. Gold sales rose to an all-time high of $16 billion. Exploration expenditure was up 17 per cent, and a record 135,000 people were employed by the resources sector.
