What is the latest information on the promotion of high-tech and export industries in Western Sydney?
Ms DIANE BEAMER: Western Sydney is Australia’s fastest-growing economy; it is Australia’s third-largest economy after Sydney and Melbourne. The Western Sydney Economic Development Board reports that more than 70,000 businesses are now based in the region. Western Sydney business and industry are the State’s leading generators of jobs. Major projects will deliver more than 290,000 jobs to Western Sydney over the next 15 years. Traditionally, those businesses were dominated by blue-collar manufacturing and heavy industry. But over the last decade Western Sydney industry has become more diversified. Innovation and high technology are now the driving forces behind the economic growth in the region. Additionally, businesses in Western Sydney are increasingly looking at markets overseas. These three economic drivers—innovation, high technology and exporting—were highlighted in the 2004 Western Sydney Industry Awards, which I had the privilege to host last Friday night. The major awards prese
