Howdy TretchYour response about unemployment and the economy...

Howdy Tretch

Your response about unemployment and the economy interests me. We obviously see things from different perspectives.

The economy in the east is dragging and its effect on spending and investment over here is palpable. But,you see things from the point of view of there being a shortage of labour over there and that the economy is rosy - at least in WA.

We are both right it seems. The GDP figures out today has WA, with its 10% of the population, accounting for almost 50% of the annual growth in the nation's GDP. This is the RBA's dilemma. It's got to fix up the east but not inflame wage demand at the same time. You must be tickled pink over there - or is the cost of living high?

Slow day for Pek, but a healthy little rise nevertheless.