The question concerns the closure of the Department of Commerce and Trade's Bunbury office and the future of regional development work in the South West. The Minister clarifies the office closed due to departmental restructuring but a replacement office remains open.

AnsweredQoN 327Legislative Assembly
Asked
30 August 2001
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Government’s policy statement that restoring the State Government’s role in regional WA will provide a significant boost of confidence for local business, local jobs and local communities. (1) Will the Bunbury office of the Department of Commerce and Trade be closed this year? (2) If so, from where will the south west’s regional development work be conducted? Mr BROWN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Department of Commerce and Trade’s Bunbury office, along with all its offices in the State, closed on 30 June because the Department of Commerce and Trade no longer operates.  It has been replaced by the Department of Industry and Technology.  It is the new department that came into operation on 1 July.  The Department of Industry and Technology operates an office in Bunbury and that office will continue to operate in Bunbury, contrary to a media statement by the federal member for Forrest.  An election must be getting closer, as the member has woken up.  He has been in a slumber for two and a half years.  The old sleepy bear is waking up but he has not caught on that there has been a restructure of the public sector.  He has not read the report and he is still back in the days of the Department of Commerce and Trade.  He has not read the newspapers for a while.  We will send him some information so he can catch up on the latest news. The Bunbury office will continue to operate.  Will the Deputy Leader of the Opposition please tell his federal member that the Department of Commerce and Trade ceased operating on 30 June, and in its place is the new Department of Industry and Technology.
(1) Will the Bunbury office of the Department of Commerce and Trade be closed this year? (2) If so, from where will the south west’s regional development work be conducted? Mr BROWN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Department of Commerce and Trade’s Bunbury office, along with all its offices in the State, closed on 30 June because the Department of Commerce and Trade no longer operates.  It has been replaced by the Department of Industry and Technology.  It is the new department that came into operation on 1 July.  The Department of Industry and Technology operates an office in Bunbury and that office will continue to operate in Bunbury, contrary to a media statement by the federal member for Forrest.  An election must be getting closer, as the member has woken up.  He has been in a slumber for two and a half years.  The old sleepy bear is waking up but he has not caught on that there has been a restructure of the public sector.  He has not read the report and he is still back in the days of the Department of Commerce and Trade.  He has not read the newspapers for a while.  We will send him some information so he can catch up on the latest news. The Bunbury office will continue to operate.  Will the Deputy Leader of the Opposition please tell his federal member that the Department of Commerce and Trade ceased operating on 30 June, and in its place is the new Department of Industry and Technology.
(2) If so, from where will the south west’s regional development work be conducted? Mr BROWN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Department of Commerce and Trade’s Bunbury office, along with all its offices in the State, closed on 30 June because the Department of Commerce and Trade no longer operates.  It has been replaced by the Department of Industry and Technology.  It is the new department that came into operation on 1 July.  The Department of Industry and Technology operates an office in Bunbury and that office will continue to operate in Bunbury, contrary to a media statement by the federal member for Forrest.  An election must be getting closer, as the member has woken up.  He has been in a slumber for two and a half years.  The old sleepy bear is waking up but he has not caught on that there has been a restructure of the public sector.  He has not read the report and he is still back in the days of the Department of Commerce and Trade.  He has not read the newspapers for a while.  We will send him some information so he can catch up on the latest news. The Bunbury office will continue to operate.  Will the Deputy Leader of the Opposition please tell his federal member that the Department of Commerce and Trade ceased operating on 30 June, and in its place is the new Department of Industry and Technology.
Mr BROWN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Department of Commerce and Trade’s Bunbury office, along with all its offices in the State, closed on 30 June because the Department of Commerce and Trade no longer operates.  It has been replaced by the Department of Industry and Technology.  It is the new department that came into operation on 1 July.  The Department of Industry and Technology operates an office in Bunbury and that office will continue to operate in Bunbury, contrary to a media statement by the federal member for Forrest.  An election must be getting closer, as the member has woken up.  He has been in a slumber for two and a half years.  The old sleepy bear is waking up but he has not caught on that there has been a restructure of the public sector.  He has not read the report and he is still back in the days of the Department of Commerce and Trade.  He has not read the newspapers for a while.  We will send him some information so he can catch up on the latest news. The Bunbury office will continue to operate.  Will the Deputy Leader of the Opposition please tell his federal member that the Department of Commerce and Trade ceased operating on 30 June, and in its place is the new Department of Industry and Technology.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The Department of Commerce and Trade’s Bunbury office, along with all its offices in the State, closed on 30 June because the Department of Commerce and Trade no longer operates.  It has been replaced by the Department of Industry and Technology.  It is the new department that came into operation on 1 July.  The Department of Industry and Technology operates an office in Bunbury and that office will continue to operate in Bunbury, contrary to a media statement by the federal member for Forrest.  An election must be getting closer, as the member has woken up.  He has been in a slumber for two and a half years.  The old sleepy bear is waking up but he has not caught on that there has been a restructure of the public sector.  He has not read the report and he is still back in the days of the Department of Commerce and Trade.  He has not read the newspapers for a while.  We will send him some information so he can catch up on the latest news. The Bunbury office will continue to operate.  Will the Deputy Leader of the Opposition please tell his federal member that the Department of Commerce and Trade ceased operating on 30 June, and in its place is the new Department of Industry and Technology.
(1)-(2) The Department of Commerce and Trade’s Bunbury office, along with all its offices in the State, closed on 30 June because the Department of Commerce and Trade no longer operates.  It has been replaced by the Department of Industry and Technology.  It is the new department that came into operation on 1 July.  The Department of Industry and Technology operates an office in Bunbury and that office will continue to operate in Bunbury, contrary to a media statement by the federal member for Forrest.  An election must be getting closer, as the member has woken up.  He has been in a slumber for two and a half years.  The old sleepy bear is waking up but he has not caught on that there has been a restructure of the public sector.  He has not read the report and he is still back in the days of the Department of Commerce and Trade.  He has not read the newspapers for a while.  We will send him some information so he can catch up on the latest news. The Bunbury office will continue to operate.  Will the Deputy Leader of the Opposition please tell his federal member that the Department of Commerce and Trade ceased operating on 30 June, and in its place is the new Department of Industry and Technology.

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