❓ The Minister for Regional Development defends the government's commitment to regional development, highlighting initiatives like regional development commissions and the regional infrastructure fund, while criticizing the opposition's approach.
AnsweredQoN 617Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister please detail the government’s approach to regional development? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I will start with a statement; that is, the Gallop government is the most regionally focused government in the history of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the member for the question. I will start with a statement; that is, the Gallop government is the most regionally focused government in the history of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
I thank the member for the question. I will start with a statement; that is, the Gallop government is the most regionally focused government in the history of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: I thank the member for the question. I will start with a statement; that is, the Gallop government is the most regionally focused government in the history of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
I thank the member for the question. I will start with a statement; that is, the Gallop government is the most regionally focused government in the history of Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : I will back up that statement with the facts because they alone will support that statement. Western Australia has nine regional development commissions located in each region of the state, from Albany in the south to Kununurra in the north. When I first became a minister and started travelling around the state, even old ladies would come up to me and say, “Minister, please don’t do this”. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : Many people came up to me and said, “Minister, please don’t close down our development commissions”. I asked them where they got the idea we would close down the development commissions. They said, “Wasn’t it your party that said that during the election campaign?” I said, “No, that was the other side. It was going to close down your development commission.” I would ask them why they were concerned and they would say, “Because our development commission does a great job and we want to keep it. Minister, can you assure us it is your government that wants to close it down or is it the other side?” I said, “We are going to keep them open and they were going to close them down”. Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Earlier this year state cabinet went to Mandurah, It also went to Esperance, in the member for Roe’s electorate, and he enjoyed our presence and got a lot out of that visit. Recently it went to Albany, the member of Albany’s electorate. Very soon it will go to Busselton, in the member for Vasse’s electorate, and I am sure he will welcome us with open arms and behave better in his own electorate than he does in this house. Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr T.R. Buswell : I will take you for a walk out on the jetty. Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Several members interjected. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER : If we go for a walk, members opposite can be assured we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk as members opposite do. On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
On top of that, we have the regional infrastructure fund - $75 million in this government’s first four years in office and $80 million in this term of government. By the way, that money has so far produced 600 different projects and created 4 000 jobs, and has leveraged another $200 million in regional investment. On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
On the opposite side, Mr Nigel Hallett, MLC, who I understand is a member representing the South West Region - I have not met him - is the shadow spokesperson for regional development. I was going to say he is in the shadow cabinet; however, the shadow spokesperson for regional development is not even in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. At the Liberal Party state conference held just recently it was announced that Mr Simon O’Brien - the one with the mutton chops who gave us about 4 000 votes every time he stood behind Colin Barnett during the last election campaign - is the shadow minister for the aged and economic development. He is in the shadow cabinet, but the opposition spokesperson for regional development, an area which involves our own state, is not in it. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to correct that and put the regional development spokesperson in his shadow cabinet, and stand up for regional Western Australia. Instead of talking the talk, he should start walking the walk.
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