❓ Mr. Catania questions the Minister for Emergency Services about the delay in providing temporary workers' accommodation in Kalbarri following Cyclone Seroja. The Minister defends the government's response, citing extensive recovery efforts and collaboration with federal counterparts.
AnsweredQoN 569Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CYCLONE SEROJA — TEMPORARY WORKERS'
ACCOMMODATION
569. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I
refer to the government's failure to support the community of Kalbarri
in its rebuilding efforts in the wake of tropical cyclone Seroja, which
was more than six months ago. Why, after the government committed funds
specifically for the construction of
temporary workers' accommodation in July, has it not delivered on its
promise, which is severely hampering Kalbarri's recovery
efforts?
ACCOMMODATION
569. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I
refer to the government's failure to support the community of Kalbarri
in its rebuilding efforts in the wake of tropical cyclone Seroja, which
was more than six months ago. Why, after the government committed funds
specifically for the construction of
temporary workers' accommodation in July, has it not delivered on its
promise, which is severely hampering Kalbarri's recovery
efforts?
AnswerView source ↗
I think the member's
question is based on a false promise.
Mr V.A. Catania : I agree. You
are right!
Mr R.R. WHITBY : Sorry—a
false premise. It is based on a false premise.
The
member knows as well as I do the extensive work this government has done with
local communities and, indeed, the federal government, to bring recovery
to the midwest. Cyclone Seroja was one of the most severe and expensive natural
disasters in Western Australia in decades. We have secured the biggest recovery
funding arrangement in history, of well over $100 million, and with more to
come. In addition to that, there will be further funds to provide for workers' accommodation. This was a massive
incident and it requires a massive recovery effort. There were more than
$300 million worth of insurance claims. Last month alone, in the month of
September, there was $50 million in insurance payouts for repair works to
properties. That tells me that work is progressing and that repairs are being
carried out.
We
know that, even long before Seroja, there were accommodation and labour issues
facing regional Western Australia and, indeed, the whole state and the
whole nation. That is another complicating factor that we are dealing with. The
insurance companies have been delayed because of the pressure of the sheer
volume of claims. In addition to Seroja and
multiple emergency incidents across the state, in the month of July this year
the insurance industry received six months'
worth of insurance claims because of the storms that occurred that month, so
there is pressure all round.
Workers' accommodation is a key
priority of this government. It is also a key priority for local governments in
the area, and a key priority for the federal government, believe it or not. I am
working very closely with the federal Minister for Emergency Management and
National Recovery and Resilience, Senator Bridget McKenzie, who I believe is a political
colleague of the member. I work very well with her; I am in constant contact
with her. We have a great relationship, working together for the people of the
midwest. I do not understand why members of the Nationals WA in this place want
to continually undermine these joint efforts and cause anxiety in the community
for cheap political gain; I do not understand that.
In relation to workers' accommodation, we have
secured, with the cooperation of the president and CEO of the Shire of
Northampton, an area of land in Kalbarri for a workers' accommodation
camp. We are currently working with the federal government to ensure the
provision of that workers' camp. It will be a sizeable camp, and will
be scalable so that we can increase
accommodation as the need arises. What is more, we will also secure extra
workers' accommodation throughout the midwest because, member,
as bad as the issue is in Kalbarri, it is not an issue for Kalbarri alone; it
affects places right across the midwest and into the regional areas: Mingenew,
Northampton, Morawa, Perenjori and beyond. This is an issue that affects the
whole midwest, and we should never lose sight of that, because people across
the greater midwest are also suffering.
We are looking to provide
accommodation for the workers involved in the clean-up efforts in Perenjori,
Morawa, Mingenew and Northampton. I remind the member that his own federal
colleague is working with me, and I am working with 16 local governments in that
area, to do the very best we can to deliver a positive outcome and to rebuild
that area. This is a long road. This is one of the most substantial disasters
to hit Western Australia in a long time. It was never going to be done
overnight, but we are making substantial progress, and the member should not
try to undermine that.
question is based on a false promise.
Mr V.A. Catania : I agree. You
are right!
Mr R.R. WHITBY : Sorry—a
false premise. It is based on a false premise.
The
member knows as well as I do the extensive work this government has done with
local communities and, indeed, the federal government, to bring recovery
to the midwest. Cyclone Seroja was one of the most severe and expensive natural
disasters in Western Australia in decades. We have secured the biggest recovery
funding arrangement in history, of well over $100 million, and with more to
come. In addition to that, there will be further funds to provide for workers' accommodation. This was a massive
incident and it requires a massive recovery effort. There were more than
$300 million worth of insurance claims. Last month alone, in the month of
September, there was $50 million in insurance payouts for repair works to
properties. That tells me that work is progressing and that repairs are being
carried out.
We
know that, even long before Seroja, there were accommodation and labour issues
facing regional Western Australia and, indeed, the whole state and the
whole nation. That is another complicating factor that we are dealing with. The
insurance companies have been delayed because of the pressure of the sheer
volume of claims. In addition to Seroja and
multiple emergency incidents across the state, in the month of July this year
the insurance industry received six months'
worth of insurance claims because of the storms that occurred that month, so
there is pressure all round.
Workers' accommodation is a key
priority of this government. It is also a key priority for local governments in
the area, and a key priority for the federal government, believe it or not. I am
working very closely with the federal Minister for Emergency Management and
National Recovery and Resilience, Senator Bridget McKenzie, who I believe is a political
colleague of the member. I work very well with her; I am in constant contact
with her. We have a great relationship, working together for the people of the
midwest. I do not understand why members of the Nationals WA in this place want
to continually undermine these joint efforts and cause anxiety in the community
for cheap political gain; I do not understand that.
In relation to workers' accommodation, we have
secured, with the cooperation of the president and CEO of the Shire of
Northampton, an area of land in Kalbarri for a workers' accommodation
camp. We are currently working with the federal government to ensure the
provision of that workers' camp. It will be a sizeable camp, and will
be scalable so that we can increase
accommodation as the need arises. What is more, we will also secure extra
workers' accommodation throughout the midwest because, member,
as bad as the issue is in Kalbarri, it is not an issue for Kalbarri alone; it
affects places right across the midwest and into the regional areas: Mingenew,
Northampton, Morawa, Perenjori and beyond. This is an issue that affects the
whole midwest, and we should never lose sight of that, because people across
the greater midwest are also suffering.
We are looking to provide
accommodation for the workers involved in the clean-up efforts in Perenjori,
Morawa, Mingenew and Northampton. I remind the member that his own federal
colleague is working with me, and I am working with 16 local governments in that
area, to do the very best we can to deliver a positive outcome and to rebuild
that area. This is a long road. This is one of the most substantial disasters
to hit Western Australia in a long time. It was never going to be done
overnight, but we are making substantial progress, and the member should not
try to undermine that.
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