❓ Question regarding the Cook Labor government's infrastructure and service delivery in regional communities, particularly the South West. The Minister responds by highlighting investments in various sectors and criticizes the opposition's approach.
AnsweredQoN 417Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Infrastructure—Regions
417. Mrs Lisa Munday to
the Minister for South West:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering quality infrastructure and services
across Western Australia. Can the minister please outline to the house how this
government is delivering for regional communities, particularly those in the
South West?
417. Mrs Lisa Munday to
the Minister for South West:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering quality infrastructure and services
across Western Australia. Can the minister please outline to the house how this
government is delivering for regional communities, particularly those in the
South West?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker—
Several members
interjected.
Mr Don Punch: I
always like to be greeted by members of the opposition. I thank the member for
the question. It is a very, very important question. We live in a world full of
uncertainty. That is why I was very pleased that Community Cabinet came to
Bunbury on 31 August, which, incidentally, was my birthday, and on 1 September.
It shared with our community a strong vision for the future based on a strong
track record of delivery. That is exactly what the community of Bunbury and the
South West is looking for—that strong commitment, that strong sense of
purpose based around building jobs for the future. We are at a crossroad in the
state and we need to make sure we are well positioned for the future—building
jobs for the future, creating the best health service possible and building
houses. That is what the community down there heard. They were incredibly
positive; the feedback I received was incredibly positive. A number of
ministers stayed, listened and talked with community groups, and a number of
follow-up meetings were held with the community around the region, talking about
issues of importance and the future.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Basil Zempilas: How many was there?
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, if you want to
get up and ask a question—minister.
Mr Don Punch: A lot more than when the Leader of the
Opposition came, and I will talk to him about that. I was talking about jobs.
Bunbury's RCR Advanced Technologies sets a great example, positioning itself
for the future and positioning itself for the energy transition. We were able
to support that with a $2 million contribution under the partnership program,
generating a $5.3 million project with 48 jobs and $36 million in revenue and,
importantly, contributing to the future. The building blocks of AMTECH, the
advanced manufacturing technology facility to be based in the South West, is generating
new manufacturing opportunities, looking at the cutting edge of manufacturing
and how we position ourselves with both the renewables agenda and the broader
advanced manufacturing sector. We are contributing $55 million towards the
first major transmission manufacturing plant for the energy conversion that we
are experiencing.
Through the Collie
transition, $700 million is going into a major transition of the Collie economy.
We have heard about the incredible investment in the Bunbury Regional Hospital;
$471.5 million is going into upgrading and expanding health services. That is
on the back of the work that is being done in Collie to upgrade its facilities
and build a network of health infrastructure right around the South West to
build a positive future.
We are delivering on
the 2025 election housing commitment by expanding Housing First support
services, building new houses and releasing land for future residential
development. I have to say, the feedback was incredible. The feedback was
incredible. I am pretty well known in the South West.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr Don Punch: When the Leader of the Opposition, that
self-proclaimed messiah of the Liberal Party, as the Minister for Transport
called him, did his listening tour, people were ringing me up about it and
telling me where he was going. But, more importantly, they were telling me
about all the negativity, the whingeing and the disappointment over the lack of
vision. Contrast that with our community cabinet. Then I read the media reports
and, yes, there it was, the usual round of visionless rubbish, criticism and whingeing—nothing
positive.
However, one member
who made a positive comment—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I call you for
the first time.
Mr Don Punch: There was one member of his entourage
who said something positive. They referred to the outstanding facilities at the
Harvey WA College of Agriculture. They waxed lyrical about education facilities
in the Harvey area and also talked about the South West community spirit.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, your
interjections are not required.
Mr Don Punch: That was not the Leader of the
Opposition—the messiah of the Liberal Party. It was one of his
offsiders.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Self-proclaimed!
Mr Don Punch: He is self-proclaimed, yes. It was one
of his offsiders who had to give a glimmer of positivity. That is a contrast
between us and those opposite. We go down to the South West with a strong
vision, backed up by a strong record of delivery and clear direction for the
future. They go down and whinge and moan and complain so much that one of their
local members—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Members of the opposition, you might get one more question. If you keep
interjecting, you will not.
Mr Don Punch: One of their local members had to find
something to say that was positive. That is the difference.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Don Punch: I
always like to be greeted by members of the opposition. I thank the member for
the question. It is a very, very important question. We live in a world full of
uncertainty. That is why I was very pleased that Community Cabinet came to
Bunbury on 31 August, which, incidentally, was my birthday, and on 1 September.
It shared with our community a strong vision for the future based on a strong
track record of delivery. That is exactly what the community of Bunbury and the
South West is looking for—that strong commitment, that strong sense of
purpose based around building jobs for the future. We are at a crossroad in the
state and we need to make sure we are well positioned for the future—building
jobs for the future, creating the best health service possible and building
houses. That is what the community down there heard. They were incredibly
positive; the feedback I received was incredibly positive. A number of
ministers stayed, listened and talked with community groups, and a number of
follow-up meetings were held with the community around the region, talking about
issues of importance and the future.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Basil Zempilas: How many was there?
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, if you want to
get up and ask a question—minister.
Mr Don Punch: A lot more than when the Leader of the
Opposition came, and I will talk to him about that. I was talking about jobs.
Bunbury's RCR Advanced Technologies sets a great example, positioning itself
for the future and positioning itself for the energy transition. We were able
to support that with a $2 million contribution under the partnership program,
generating a $5.3 million project with 48 jobs and $36 million in revenue and,
importantly, contributing to the future. The building blocks of AMTECH, the
advanced manufacturing technology facility to be based in the South West, is generating
new manufacturing opportunities, looking at the cutting edge of manufacturing
and how we position ourselves with both the renewables agenda and the broader
advanced manufacturing sector. We are contributing $55 million towards the
first major transmission manufacturing plant for the energy conversion that we
are experiencing.
Through the Collie
transition, $700 million is going into a major transition of the Collie economy.
We have heard about the incredible investment in the Bunbury Regional Hospital;
$471.5 million is going into upgrading and expanding health services. That is
on the back of the work that is being done in Collie to upgrade its facilities
and build a network of health infrastructure right around the South West to
build a positive future.
We are delivering on
the 2025 election housing commitment by expanding Housing First support
services, building new houses and releasing land for future residential
development. I have to say, the feedback was incredible. The feedback was
incredible. I am pretty well known in the South West.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr Don Punch: When the Leader of the Opposition, that
self-proclaimed messiah of the Liberal Party, as the Minister for Transport
called him, did his listening tour, people were ringing me up about it and
telling me where he was going. But, more importantly, they were telling me
about all the negativity, the whingeing and the disappointment over the lack of
vision. Contrast that with our community cabinet. Then I read the media reports
and, yes, there it was, the usual round of visionless rubbish, criticism and whingeing—nothing
positive.
However, one member
who made a positive comment—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I call you for
the first time.
Mr Don Punch: There was one member of his entourage
who said something positive. They referred to the outstanding facilities at the
Harvey WA College of Agriculture. They waxed lyrical about education facilities
in the Harvey area and also talked about the South West community spirit.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, your
interjections are not required.
Mr Don Punch: That was not the Leader of the
Opposition—the messiah of the Liberal Party. It was one of his
offsiders.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Self-proclaimed!
Mr Don Punch: He is self-proclaimed, yes. It was one
of his offsiders who had to give a glimmer of positivity. That is a contrast
between us and those opposite. We go down to the South West with a strong
vision, backed up by a strong record of delivery and clear direction for the
future. They go down and whinge and moan and complain so much that one of their
local members—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Members of the opposition, you might get one more question. If you keep
interjecting, you will not.
Mr Don Punch: One of their local members had to find
something to say that was positive. That is the difference.
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