❓ Mr. Mubarakai asks about the measures local governments can take to support communities and businesses recovering from COVID-19. The Minister outlines various actions already taken and encourages further support, highlighting collaboration and adherence to health advice.
AnsweredQoN 296Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
296. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the important role local
governments will play in helping local businesses recover from the impact of
COVID-19. Can the minister outline to the house what measures local governments
can take to not only support their communities but also assist local
businesses?
LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
296. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the important role local
governments will play in helping local businesses recover from the impact of
COVID-19. Can the minister outline to the house what measures local governments
can take to not only support their communities but also assist local
businesses?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Jandakot for
the question. I appreciate his interest in local government and in small
businesses, and the importance of small businesses to employment creation and
maintenance in all the communities throughout Western Australia. As we are all
aware, the COVID-19 crisis has impacted on all sectors and all parts of our
communities. Indeed, it has impacted on all our communities across Western Australia,
from our rural and remote areas through to the metropolitan area. Local
governments exist throughout all those communities and are important
collaborators and an important layer of government with regard to response. I am
pleased that a huge number of local governments have already responded in a variety
of ways with regard to the pandemic's impacts.
Indeed, the state government has,
through directives from my office and through legislation that we have passed
in this place, required local governments to respond, and I am pleased that the
vast majority have. Many of them now have in place a variety of schemes and
programs through which to respond. Many of them were asked early on by the
Premier to look at their capital works programs, their reserves and
reprioritising and unlocking money that might be held in reserve for this
particular crisis, and I am pleased that many of them responded to that
request. Many local governments responded by implementing business continuity
plans and looking at issues associated with
how they could assist businesses. Many of them have moved to freeze their
rates, fees and charges, while others are
looking at reducing them, with a particular focus on supporting small
businesses. Many of them have understood that by supporting small
businesses, that will ensure employment continuity as we emerge from this
crisis and, indeed, move to the recovery.
We know that on Monday, 18 May, some
of the restrictions will be relaxed, which will have an impact on business
capacity and capabilities, particularly in the hospitality area for cafes,
restaurants and so on. Local governments will play a key role in liaising with
businesses to support them to respond to the relaxation of those restrictions.
I am pleased to hear that a number of councils are already working closely with
businesses to allow them to smoothly transition under the new arrangements that
will come into place on Monday.
Of course, as we continue to refer
to the health advice, the Minister for Health continually reminds us that as
restrictions are further relaxed, local governments will need to continue to
work with local businesses. I encourage them all to ensure that on Monday, they
open as many of their facilities as possible—their libraries and
community centres—while again adhering to the principle of having 20 or
fewer patrons. It should be about opening everything that is possible under
these new arrangements on Monday. Some of them will take a little bit longer. I
have talked to some local governments that
are responding and they might open some of their facilities a few days after
Monday , but I am pleased that most of them understand the importance of
that. I also refer to the earlier question about the assistance that local
governments can and should give to the Commissioner of Police and others in the
oversight of these new arrangements. I am very confident that local governments
will rise to the challenge and I support them
in their endeavours to get their communities back to work and support local
businesses so that people can restart the economy in their community,
because we know that benefits the people who live, work and run a business in
that community.
the question. I appreciate his interest in local government and in small
businesses, and the importance of small businesses to employment creation and
maintenance in all the communities throughout Western Australia. As we are all
aware, the COVID-19 crisis has impacted on all sectors and all parts of our
communities. Indeed, it has impacted on all our communities across Western Australia,
from our rural and remote areas through to the metropolitan area. Local
governments exist throughout all those communities and are important
collaborators and an important layer of government with regard to response. I am
pleased that a huge number of local governments have already responded in a variety
of ways with regard to the pandemic's impacts.
Indeed, the state government has,
through directives from my office and through legislation that we have passed
in this place, required local governments to respond, and I am pleased that the
vast majority have. Many of them now have in place a variety of schemes and
programs through which to respond. Many of them were asked early on by the
Premier to look at their capital works programs, their reserves and
reprioritising and unlocking money that might be held in reserve for this
particular crisis, and I am pleased that many of them responded to that
request. Many local governments responded by implementing business continuity
plans and looking at issues associated with
how they could assist businesses. Many of them have moved to freeze their
rates, fees and charges, while others are
looking at reducing them, with a particular focus on supporting small
businesses. Many of them have understood that by supporting small
businesses, that will ensure employment continuity as we emerge from this
crisis and, indeed, move to the recovery.
We know that on Monday, 18 May, some
of the restrictions will be relaxed, which will have an impact on business
capacity and capabilities, particularly in the hospitality area for cafes,
restaurants and so on. Local governments will play a key role in liaising with
businesses to support them to respond to the relaxation of those restrictions.
I am pleased to hear that a number of councils are already working closely with
businesses to allow them to smoothly transition under the new arrangements that
will come into place on Monday.
Of course, as we continue to refer
to the health advice, the Minister for Health continually reminds us that as
restrictions are further relaxed, local governments will need to continue to
work with local businesses. I encourage them all to ensure that on Monday, they
open as many of their facilities as possible—their libraries and
community centres—while again adhering to the principle of having 20 or
fewer patrons. It should be about opening everything that is possible under
these new arrangements on Monday. Some of them will take a little bit longer. I
have talked to some local governments that
are responding and they might open some of their facilities a few days after
Monday , but I am pleased that most of them understand the importance of
that. I also refer to the earlier question about the assistance that local
governments can and should give to the Commissioner of Police and others in the
oversight of these new arrangements. I am very confident that local governments
will rise to the challenge and I support them
in their endeavours to get their communities back to work and support local
businesses so that people can restart the economy in their community,
because we know that benefits the people who live, work and run a business in
that community.
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