❓ Question regarding the progress of the Royalties for Regions program and its impact on regional development, particularly in the Pilbara. The Minister details funding allocations and project benefits.
AnsweredQoN 20Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROYALTIES FOR REGIONS allocations
For more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party does not support — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I call you formally for the first time, and if you continue to talk, I will call you formally for the second time. Generally in this place there is somewhat of a tradition that even if you do not like the question being asked, you listen to it; I would hope that that might continue to apply. Mr V.A. CATANIA : For the benefit of the opposition, I will read the question again: for more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party — Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Mr Speaker, a question should not have a long preamble, and clearly this is a long preamble. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
For more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party does not support — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I call you formally for the first time, and if you continue to talk, I will call you formally for the second time. Generally in this place there is somewhat of a tradition that even if you do not like the question being asked, you listen to it; I would hope that that might continue to apply. Mr V.A. CATANIA : For the benefit of the opposition, I will read the question again: for more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party — Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Mr Speaker, a question should not have a long preamble, and clearly this is a long preamble. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I call you formally for the first time, and if you continue to talk, I will call you formally for the second time. Generally in this place there is somewhat of a tradition that even if you do not like the question being asked, you listen to it; I would hope that that might continue to apply. Mr V.A. CATANIA : For the benefit of the opposition, I will read the question again: for more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party — Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Mr Speaker, a question should not have a long preamble, and clearly this is a long preamble. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I call you formally for the first time, and if you continue to talk, I will call you formally for the second time. Generally in this place there is somewhat of a tradition that even if you do not like the question being asked, you listen to it; I would hope that that might continue to apply. Mr V.A. CATANIA : For the benefit of the opposition, I will read the question again: for more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party — Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Mr Speaker, a question should not have a long preamble, and clearly this is a long preamble. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Mr V.A. CATANIA : For the benefit of the opposition, I will read the question again: for more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party — Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Mr Speaker, a question should not have a long preamble, and clearly this is a long preamble. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I call you formally for the first time, and if you continue to talk, I will call you formally for the second time. Generally in this place there is somewhat of a tradition that even if you do not like the question being asked, you listen to it; I would hope that that might continue to apply. Mr V.A. CATANIA : For the benefit of the opposition, I will read the question again: for more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party — Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Mr Speaker, a question should not have a long preamble, and clearly this is a long preamble. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I call you formally for the first time, and if you continue to talk, I will call you formally for the second time. Generally in this place there is somewhat of a tradition that even if you do not like the question being asked, you listen to it; I would hope that that might continue to apply. Mr V.A. CATANIA : For the benefit of the opposition, I will read the question again: for more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party — Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Mr Speaker, a question should not have a long preamble, and clearly this is a long preamble. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Mr V.A. CATANIA : For the benefit of the opposition, I will read the question again: for more than a year the royalties for regions program has reflected the Liberal–National government’s focus on regional Western Australia, and has helped to deliver significant benefits across the state due to the royalties for regions program, a program that the Labor Party — Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Mr Speaker, a question should not have a long preamble, and clearly this is a long preamble. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
The SPEAKER : Members, there is no point of order. I would urge the minister who has been asked the question to answer it. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr V.A. CATANIA : Mr Speaker, if I might finish the question. Like I said, the Labor Party does not support the royalties for regions program. Will the minister please inform the house of the progress of the program? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
I thank the member for North West for the question and for his great interest in actually delivering regional development programs, rather than just talking about it, which is what his previous four years of political life actually delivered. Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : First, I wish to take the opportunity to put on the record some of the actual events of the midyear review that have been under some spotlight in the past couple of days in the media and in political comment. I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
I begin by saying that the good thing about the design of the royalties for regions program is that it ebbs and flows on the back of government revenue flows. In the midyear review, which showed that royalty income to the state had been significantly reduced, the royalties for regions fund was significantly reduced; in fact, I think it was the single biggest reduction in expenditure in the midyear review, and $130 million of the royalties for regions fund was deferred into the out years on the back of the fact that the royalty income had diminished greatly. The programs affected by that deferral were the country local government fund, $90 million; the regional grants scheme, $38 million; and the bush change housing grant, $10 million. Royalties for regions, just like every other part of government, is making sure that we respond to the changing financial circumstances of the state—as we should. The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
The other thing that was noted in the midyear review was the spending profile of the Ord River project and the Housing our Workforce house-building program, and it was indicated to me by the agencies responsible that they believed that part of the spending on those programs would carry over into the next financial year. That allowed us to reprioritise government capital works expenditure into priority projects that are ready to go. I am very, very excited that the member for North West asked me this question, because the vast majority of that money will go into a project that is very close to the Premier’s heart and my heart; that is, the Pilbara Cities project. The Pilbara Cities project, off the back of that money that has gone into the out years, has benefited — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members, just wait; I have the list here! Extra funding of $65 million has gone into the underground power project in the Pilbara Cities project to ensure that the capacity is there to grow those communities that were neglected for so long into cities of the future. Is it not a great thing that, at last, we have gone to the Pilbara and said that its contribution to the state and national economy warrants action by government to get on with the job of delivering to the community? Already underway is an $80 million allocation to the four local governments. Members opposite should take the opportunity to go to Tom Price and Mt Newman, which are fundamentally rebuilding their town centres, and are at last putting in place the type of amenity that will attract and retain essential government workers and a workforce for those projects. Those are projects already undertaken by local government. They are already up and running, and showing a real benefit to the community. I suggest that members opposite take a look at this. As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
As I mentioned, $100 million has gone into upgrading the power system in the Pilbara, across towns like Karratha, South Hedland, Onslow and Roebourne, and $10 million to the Nickol Bay Hospital, to more housing for nurses, to an obstetrics service—which was never provided under the previous government! There will be 140 new houses under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, which is $70 million of investment into housing for government officers in the Pilbara. There is a $2.5 million equipment upgrade for Pilbara hospitals; $23 million to the South Hedland project, where a whole new level of amenity has been brought to the market in South Hedland. In Karratha, $31 million has been allocated to at last address the situation with the astronomical rents that were put in place by the member for Armadale, the previous Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, who thought it was okay to have $2 000 a week rents in the Pilbara. At last a government has gone to the small business sector, and we are putting in place a program to deliver affordable rents to those workers who do not live on a mining wage but are vitally important to the social fabric of that community. There is a $38 million partnership with industry in the Pilbara to deliver on health outcomes across the Pilbara—paramedics in those towns and extra FTEs into those services. The government is also moving forward on a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto signed between the Premier and Sam Walsh, the boss of Rio Tinto, to look at a fundamental redevelopment of Dampier to take advantage of some of the views and amenity of the townsite and to increase the population in the Dampier community. At last a government is partnering with the sector that delivers the jobs and the economic growth. We are now planning a new marina for Port Hedland. At last, Port Hedland will have the type of amenity that can attract and retain people in that community. The government is also about to come forward with the results of its call for expressions of interest from the private development sector and encouraged them to put apartment-style living into the Pilbara. In the coming months we will see a transformation in the Pilbara that was never envisaged—or even dreamt about—under the previous government. That is nearly $400 million worth of investment in the Pilbara, the engine room of the Australian economy, brought about with the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party, the cabinet, and the whole of the Western Australian population, but the opposition is still saying that it would not match it. Royalties for regions continues to drive real growth and real opportunity in regional Western Australia and the government will continue to support it.
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