The Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Small Business Dr Steve Thomas says reports in the media today that the Western Australia community “will only get a few days warning when Mark McGowan finally decides to open the State’s borders” have reinforced that the Premier is either ignorant of the needs of the business community or completely contemptuous of them.
The report indicates that “it is understood Mr McGowan will provide as little as one week’s notice.”
“One week’s notice for the business community is a joke; it would not even provide time for businesses to set the next week’s work roster or adjust next week’s supply orders” Dr Thomas said.
“The business community has been crying out for both certainty and consistency, neither of which the Government seems interested in providing if this report of the Government’s position is accurate.”
“The Premier keeps changing the rules, and he seems to delight in keeping the businesses community it the dark.”
“To suggest that a week would be sufficient time for business to be prepared for the opening of the state would also suggest that the Government has no understanding of how business works.”
Dr Thomas said that the Government seems intent on keeping the plan for transition a secret and refusing to share the detail with the public or the businesses and industries that are forced to implement it.
“Both the Premier and Health Minister have repeatedly refused to detail what the transition plan is, or even tell us what level of “high caseload” has apparently triggered the latest changes.
“Does the Premier think that we the community can’t be trusted with transition information?
“Or does he simply enjoy having us all on tenterhooks waiting for his next pronouncement as he trickles information out as he likes.
Dr Thomas said that the Western Australian business community and the WA public are mature enough to be told the whole truth.
“It is not acceptable for Mr McGowan to act as though he has to keep us all in the dark for our own good.