❓ Mr. Bowler asks about the future of the Royalties for Regions program under the Liberal-National government. Mr. Grylls responds by highlighting past achievements and contrasting them with the opposition's stance, sparking a point of order regarding relevancy.
AnsweredQoN 727Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROYALTIES FOR REGIONS — LIBERAL–NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
727. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER to the Minister for Regional
Development:
Mr Speaker —
The
SPEAKER : Before I give the call to the member for Kalgoorlie—let me
assure you, I will give you the call—I indicate that the Minister for
Transport tabled a document. Member for Kalgoorlie!
Mr
J.J.M. BOWLER : What happened to the member for woodlands? That did not last
long!
Before I start, I wish you, Mr
Speaker, the staff and everyone here the best for Christmas and in the future.
As we reflect on the past four and a
half years of successful royalties for regions projects being rolled out across
regional Western Australia, can the minister please update the house on the
future in store for royalties for regions under a Liberal–National
government?
727. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER to the Minister for Regional
Development:
Mr Speaker —
The
SPEAKER : Before I give the call to the member for Kalgoorlie—let me
assure you, I will give you the call—I indicate that the Minister for
Transport tabled a document. Member for Kalgoorlie!
Mr
J.J.M. BOWLER : What happened to the member for woodlands? That did not last
long!
Before I start, I wish you, Mr
Speaker, the staff and everyone here the best for Christmas and in the future.
As we reflect on the past four and a
half years of successful royalties for regions projects being rolled out across
regional Western Australia, can the minister please update the house on the
future in store for royalties for regions under a Liberal–National
government?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker, I acknowledge your
strong leadership in the chamber over the last four and a half years. I wish
you all the best in whatever you decide to do after politics. I thank the
member for woodlands—the member for Kalgoorlie renamed his seat last
night in his valedictory speech!—for the question.
Mr
T.G. Stephens : You could give your valedictory too!
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : It could well be. But I do not think so! I thank the member
for Kalgoorlie for his wonderful contribution to the Liberal–National
government and the rollout of the royalties for regions program.
We started a huge number of projects
across regional Western Australia. I do not think anyone would deny it has been
an unprecedented period of regional development for Western Australia. That is
important given the many years of neglect of regional communities. The Liberal–National
government decided to turn that around, to right the wrong, and to get on with
the job of rebuilding regional Western Australia so that it can take its part
in the strong and growing economy of Western Australia.
Looking back at the record, I refer
to the Pilbara Cities transformational program; the Ord expansion; Country Age
Pension Fuel Cards to help those people with the cost of travel when they do
not have access to public transport; the southern inland health initiative,
which was spoken about by the Minister for Health earlier today, with
telehealth now providing important emergency care across the region; the near
completion of 400 new Government Regional Officers' Housing homes, with government employees in those homes;
hundreds of service worker accommodation houses as rents continue to cause
housing pressure in the community; a massive investment in our schools and TAFE
system; and, a massive investment in our country hospitals. There is a new
hospital in Albany and, indeed, member for Kalgoorlie, the hospital opened in
Kalgoorlie just a week or so ago. We already announced that, should we be
re-elected, we will undertake a goldfields revitalisation program in the member
for Kalgoorlie's community. It will be a $150 million program that will
help rebuild the goldfields and help that community continue to grow into the
future.
Mr
T.G. Stephens interjected.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : We already said that they would.
Member for Kalgoorlie, not everyone
in the chamber holds the same view. In framing this question, I thought the
Leader of the Opposition had just about said no to everything, but he added
something else to the list today during question time—today he said no
to an airport expansion. He has said no to the Ord scheme, no to Pilbara
Cities, no to regional health and education boosts, no to the stadium and no to
the waterfront. The only thing the Leader of the Opposition has not said no to
is potato reform. Potato reform has captured the Leader of the Opposition, and
although he cannot find it in himself to support any of those major
state-changing projects, potato reform has gone to the top of the list. He has
rolled that out, and the potato growers of Western Australia are quaking in
their boots at the thought that the Leader of the Opposition could have turned
his mind to such a degree to their issue.
Several members interjected.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : I am noting a degree of glumness on the opposition benches.
The opposition is a little bit flat. There seems to be a little bit of concern,
and I think what that concern is based on is the valedictory —
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to the relevancy of the
answer we are getting. The member on his feet is not answering the question he
was asked.
The
SPEAKER : A good point of order.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, I was asked what was in store for the royalties
for regions program, but I have noted the glumness on the opposition benches. I
think it is based on —
Mr
A.P. O'Gorman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I have heard you quite often today. At this
point I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. I want it to
be relevant. The member for Midland's point of order was a very
accurate one, Minister for Regional Development. Come back to the question you
were asked.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am concerned about what is in store
for the royalties for regions program. I think, given the valedictory speech
yesterday by the member for Belmont, when the member for Belmont rolled out a
comprehensive —
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : —
program of reform for Western Australia, it showed those opposite that they had
made the wrong decision.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS :
Member for Belmont, I would leave your phone not on silent during February; I
think you could be getting the call! I think the member for Belmont could be
getting the call in February because his program of reform yesterday was an
important contribution to Western Australian politics, and I acknowledge it. I
thought it was a great contribution and I wish him all the best. If I can turn back
to regional Western Australia —
Several members interjected.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : I will turn back to what is in store for regional Western
Australia. I am very concerned, because up north in the Pilbara —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : —
the Premier announced the opening of the Wanangkura Stadium in South Hedland,
and immediately the member for Pilbara attacked the outcome. He attacked the
outcome of a new stadium for Port Hedland. He did not want it. He did not want
that spending.
Several members interjected.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Hon Jon Ford in the other place opposed the
Pelago apartment tower in Karratha, and the opposition leader has just said
that he does not support it. The opposition has attacked the Hilton hotel
announcement of private sector investment in hotel accommodation. It has been
attacked by those opposite and they have attacked investment in the Hedland
marina.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the first time today,
the member for Perth for the second time and the member for Warnbro for the
third time. I do not know how much longer this is going to go on for, Minister
for Regional Development; not too much longer, I hope.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. If I could just get an uninterrupted chance to finish my
answer, I am sure I will be able to sit down.
The royalties for regions program has been a focus of both
the government and the opposition during this term of government. There is a
debate going on at the moment about who is more likely to do it well and who is
more likely to do it into the future. I always say that if people want to
understand the Labor Party approach to the royalties for regions program, they
should see what their city members of
Parliament say about it. I will provide a couple of quotes to the Parliament.
The first is what the member for Mindarie said about royalties for regions on
17 November 2009.
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Mr
Speaker, I doubt that I have to draw your attention to the length of this
answer, but I understand that you asked the minister to draw his answer to a
close.
The SPEAKER : It is
not a point of order, but, minister —
Mr A.P. O'Gorman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister,
take a seat; even though you have not stood, take a seat. I agree with the
member for Midland on the point of order. Minister for Regional Development, it
is now a quarter to three. We have managed to get through six and a half
questions. It is subtle, Minister for Regional Development.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr
Speaker, I do not want to defy your ruling on your last day. I thank you for
your contribution to the Western Australian Parliament.
strong leadership in the chamber over the last four and a half years. I wish
you all the best in whatever you decide to do after politics. I thank the
member for woodlands—the member for Kalgoorlie renamed his seat last
night in his valedictory speech!—for the question.
Mr
T.G. Stephens : You could give your valedictory too!
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : It could well be. But I do not think so! I thank the member
for Kalgoorlie for his wonderful contribution to the Liberal–National
government and the rollout of the royalties for regions program.
We started a huge number of projects
across regional Western Australia. I do not think anyone would deny it has been
an unprecedented period of regional development for Western Australia. That is
important given the many years of neglect of regional communities. The Liberal–National
government decided to turn that around, to right the wrong, and to get on with
the job of rebuilding regional Western Australia so that it can take its part
in the strong and growing economy of Western Australia.
Looking back at the record, I refer
to the Pilbara Cities transformational program; the Ord expansion; Country Age
Pension Fuel Cards to help those people with the cost of travel when they do
not have access to public transport; the southern inland health initiative,
which was spoken about by the Minister for Health earlier today, with
telehealth now providing important emergency care across the region; the near
completion of 400 new Government Regional Officers' Housing homes, with government employees in those homes;
hundreds of service worker accommodation houses as rents continue to cause
housing pressure in the community; a massive investment in our schools and TAFE
system; and, a massive investment in our country hospitals. There is a new
hospital in Albany and, indeed, member for Kalgoorlie, the hospital opened in
Kalgoorlie just a week or so ago. We already announced that, should we be
re-elected, we will undertake a goldfields revitalisation program in the member
for Kalgoorlie's community. It will be a $150 million program that will
help rebuild the goldfields and help that community continue to grow into the
future.
Mr
T.G. Stephens interjected.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : We already said that they would.
Member for Kalgoorlie, not everyone
in the chamber holds the same view. In framing this question, I thought the
Leader of the Opposition had just about said no to everything, but he added
something else to the list today during question time—today he said no
to an airport expansion. He has said no to the Ord scheme, no to Pilbara
Cities, no to regional health and education boosts, no to the stadium and no to
the waterfront. The only thing the Leader of the Opposition has not said no to
is potato reform. Potato reform has captured the Leader of the Opposition, and
although he cannot find it in himself to support any of those major
state-changing projects, potato reform has gone to the top of the list. He has
rolled that out, and the potato growers of Western Australia are quaking in
their boots at the thought that the Leader of the Opposition could have turned
his mind to such a degree to their issue.
Several members interjected.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : I am noting a degree of glumness on the opposition benches.
The opposition is a little bit flat. There seems to be a little bit of concern,
and I think what that concern is based on is the valedictory —
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to the relevancy of the
answer we are getting. The member on his feet is not answering the question he
was asked.
The
SPEAKER : A good point of order.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : Mr Speaker, I was asked what was in store for the royalties
for regions program, but I have noted the glumness on the opposition benches. I
think it is based on —
Mr
A.P. O'Gorman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I have heard you quite often today. At this
point I am going to formally call you to order for the first time. I want it to
be relevant. The member for Midland's point of order was a very
accurate one, Minister for Regional Development. Come back to the question you
were asked.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am concerned about what is in store
for the royalties for regions program. I think, given the valedictory speech
yesterday by the member for Belmont, when the member for Belmont rolled out a
comprehensive —
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : —
program of reform for Western Australia, it showed those opposite that they had
made the wrong decision.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS :
Member for Belmont, I would leave your phone not on silent during February; I
think you could be getting the call! I think the member for Belmont could be
getting the call in February because his program of reform yesterday was an
important contribution to Western Australian politics, and I acknowledge it. I
thought it was a great contribution and I wish him all the best. If I can turn back
to regional Western Australia —
Several members interjected.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : I will turn back to what is in store for regional Western
Australia. I am very concerned, because up north in the Pilbara —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : —
the Premier announced the opening of the Wanangkura Stadium in South Hedland,
and immediately the member for Pilbara attacked the outcome. He attacked the
outcome of a new stadium for Port Hedland. He did not want it. He did not want
that spending.
Several members interjected.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Hon Jon Ford in the other place opposed the
Pelago apartment tower in Karratha, and the opposition leader has just said
that he does not support it. The opposition has attacked the Hilton hotel
announcement of private sector investment in hotel accommodation. It has been
attacked by those opposite and they have attacked investment in the Hedland
marina.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I formally call you to order for the first time today,
the member for Perth for the second time and the member for Warnbro for the
third time. I do not know how much longer this is going to go on for, Minister
for Regional Development; not too much longer, I hope.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. If I could just get an uninterrupted chance to finish my
answer, I am sure I will be able to sit down.
The royalties for regions program has been a focus of both
the government and the opposition during this term of government. There is a
debate going on at the moment about who is more likely to do it well and who is
more likely to do it into the future. I always say that if people want to
understand the Labor Party approach to the royalties for regions program, they
should see what their city members of
Parliament say about it. I will provide a couple of quotes to the Parliament.
The first is what the member for Mindarie said about royalties for regions on
17 November 2009.
Point of Order
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Mr
Speaker, I doubt that I have to draw your attention to the length of this
answer, but I understand that you asked the minister to draw his answer to a
close.
The SPEAKER : It is
not a point of order, but, minister —
Mr A.P. O'Gorman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister,
take a seat; even though you have not stood, take a seat. I agree with the
member for Midland on the point of order. Minister for Regional Development, it
is now a quarter to three. We have managed to get through six and a half
questions. It is subtle, Minister for Regional Development.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Mr
Speaker, I do not want to defy your ruling on your last day. I thank you for
your contribution to the Western Australian Parliament.
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