Visionless Cook blunders WA’s productivity

MEDIA RELEASE | 7 February 2026

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Sandra Brewer MLA
Shadow Treasurer

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While Premier Roger Cook was busy exchanging the word “productivity” for “2050”, his productivity failures could not have become any clearer.

The latest productivity data, released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, shows Western Australia in a productivity free-fall.

Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer blasted the Premier for prioritising public relations over action.
“While overseeing a cost-of-living crisis and the largest fall in labour productivity on record, our PR Premier embarrassed the state by choosing spin over accountability,” Ms Brewer said.

In 2024-25, capital productivity fell 1.1 per cent, multifactor productivity fell 2.3 per cent and labour productivity fell 4.4 per cent – which for the latter, leaves WA as the only state to go backwards since 2016-17.

“WA Labor can’t fix the issues they’ve created for nearly 9 years, so they’re asking for 24 more – it’s visionless and absurd,” Ms Brewer said.

The new 2050 Commission, replacing Infrastructure WA, will operate entirely under the Government’s direction, only deviating with their permission.

“WA Labor didn’t like Infrastructure WA’s advice, so the Cook Labor Government are stifling their replacement by revoking their independence,” Ms Brewer said.

“Citing the need to keep pace with market conditions, Treasurer Rita Saffioti has announced infrastructure proposals under $200 million won’t be assessed – double the current threshold.

“The Cook Labor Government refuse to index payroll tax or stamp duty brackets despite the rapidly changing market conditions, but they’re happy to use them as an excuse to avoid scrutiny.”

“With real wages falling 4.7 per cent since March 2017, Western Australians are paying the price of the Cook Labor Government’s productivity failings.

“West Australians are worse off under WA Labor.”

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