❓ Question regarding the progress of the government's commitment to build a swimming pool in Kalumburu, and the consultation process with the community. The Minister's answer defends the government's actions and criticises the previous government's record on Indigenous affairs and infrastructure projects.
AnsweredQoN 799Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KALUMBURU COMMUNITY —
SWIMMING POOL
799. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Housing:
Can the minister update the house on
how the government is working with the people of Kalumburu to deliver its
commitment of a new swimming pool and achieve the best outcome for the
community?
SWIMMING POOL
799. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Housing:
Can the minister update the house on
how the government is working with the people of Kalumburu to deliver its
commitment of a new swimming pool and achieve the best outcome for the
community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
She has long been an advocate for all of her electorate and, of course, for all
of the communities right across the Kimberley, particularly the remote
communities. For the benefit of the chamber, members opposite recently raised
the issue in relation to the Kalumburu pool and a commitment. I want to
reaffirm to the chamber that the McGowan government, prior to the last
election, committed $14 million to two pools—one at Balgo and the other
at Kalumburu. I can happily inform the house that construction of the pool at
Balgo is imminent. Kalumburu is of particular interest to us because it has
taken some time through the process to make sure that we are delivering exactly
what the community wants and/or needs.
Consultation has been ongoing. An issue was raised from some
members opposite and previously about this idea that a water park might be
contemplated. I would like to mention to the house that that is in fact not the
case. It was raised at one point in the process. It is a very well researched
area around remote communities, particularly the benefits of swimming pools
right across Australia now, around the social and health benefits of a swimming
pool to remote communities, particularly for young children, and the
requirement from that to have full immersion in chlorinated water is one of the
best outcomes for all of the various issues that may arise from the
environmental arrangements in these communities. Of course, water parks are
difficult to manage. They take more power and they require more pumping. They
need more still water on the ground. Members opposite would remember how
difficult water parks are to manage, would they not? They would remember that
because of the illnesses that the former government caused young Western Australians
through many, many iterations of its failure to commit to Elizabeth Quay in a meaningful
way rather than just another headline!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I thought I was going
to get through question time today without calling anyone to order. I still
might.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : I am working
on it, Mr Speaker.
Of course, the management of a water
park is really difficult. The former government created a toxic environment that
actually even killed dolphins. They killed Flipper, man! That is what they did.
I can reassure the house and all members opposite who may be activated on this
issue that consultation with the community has been ongoing, detailed and in-depth.
In fact, since coming to government my department has engaged with the
community not less than 10 times for something they have been asking for since
2014. Who was in government in 2014? They have been asking for that long, yet
the commitment from those opposite, when they were in government, to remote
communities is evident. Their disdain for the needs of First Nation Western Australians
is really on display through this arrangement.
I also want to note for the member
for Roe, who asked the question, that if he had bothered to do any sort of
research in relation to this question to the Premier over the member for
Kimberley's assertion that no formal consultation had occurred, a very
short google search would get him to a media report on 27 October that talks—with
a nice photo—about the member for Kimberley consulting the actual
community. Ms Farrer reaffirmed Labor's election commitments. The
article stated —
''The community asked about a swimming
pool way back in 2014,'' Ms Farrer said. ''They talked about a (need
for a) pool then and their concerns for little ones, who'd been lost in
drownings.
''We've got to give
these people what they need. A swimming pool provides a whole lot of health
benefits for kids.''
She has been advocating for years,
both before Parliament and in Parliament, for this swimming pool. If the member
for Roe wants more information, no problem—just write to me. I will
give him as much as he needs to make sure he understands.
Unfortunately, members, it seems
that the Liberal–National Parties' concern for remote housing
extends as far as Moora. After that, it seems to taper off in great
distinction. I read with some interest that the former member for Pilbara,
Brendon Grylls, has signalled he is exiting the entire arena and no longer
wants to be part of the political environment because he has started another
group, the Brendon Grylls Group. The old Brendon Grylls group is over, kids. It
has finished. Brendon Grylls has moved on. The opposition should move on, too.
Pick up the slack and start leaning well forward in supporting the remote
communities.
Point of Order
Dr D.J.
HONEY : This is completely irrelevant to the question that was asked.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : What standing
order?
Dr D.J. HONEY : Section 94, Mr
Speaker.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr P.C. TINLEY : Members of
the National and Liberal Parties, all I would say is that Brendon Grylls has
moved on. Brendon is gone. He has dropped members like Friday's
schoolbag. It is over. Let it go.
She has long been an advocate for all of her electorate and, of course, for all
of the communities right across the Kimberley, particularly the remote
communities. For the benefit of the chamber, members opposite recently raised
the issue in relation to the Kalumburu pool and a commitment. I want to
reaffirm to the chamber that the McGowan government, prior to the last
election, committed $14 million to two pools—one at Balgo and the other
at Kalumburu. I can happily inform the house that construction of the pool at
Balgo is imminent. Kalumburu is of particular interest to us because it has
taken some time through the process to make sure that we are delivering exactly
what the community wants and/or needs.
Consultation has been ongoing. An issue was raised from some
members opposite and previously about this idea that a water park might be
contemplated. I would like to mention to the house that that is in fact not the
case. It was raised at one point in the process. It is a very well researched
area around remote communities, particularly the benefits of swimming pools
right across Australia now, around the social and health benefits of a swimming
pool to remote communities, particularly for young children, and the
requirement from that to have full immersion in chlorinated water is one of the
best outcomes for all of the various issues that may arise from the
environmental arrangements in these communities. Of course, water parks are
difficult to manage. They take more power and they require more pumping. They
need more still water on the ground. Members opposite would remember how
difficult water parks are to manage, would they not? They would remember that
because of the illnesses that the former government caused young Western Australians
through many, many iterations of its failure to commit to Elizabeth Quay in a meaningful
way rather than just another headline!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I thought I was going
to get through question time today without calling anyone to order. I still
might.
Mr P.C. TINLEY : I am working
on it, Mr Speaker.
Of course, the management of a water
park is really difficult. The former government created a toxic environment that
actually even killed dolphins. They killed Flipper, man! That is what they did.
I can reassure the house and all members opposite who may be activated on this
issue that consultation with the community has been ongoing, detailed and in-depth.
In fact, since coming to government my department has engaged with the
community not less than 10 times for something they have been asking for since
2014. Who was in government in 2014? They have been asking for that long, yet
the commitment from those opposite, when they were in government, to remote
communities is evident. Their disdain for the needs of First Nation Western Australians
is really on display through this arrangement.
I also want to note for the member
for Roe, who asked the question, that if he had bothered to do any sort of
research in relation to this question to the Premier over the member for
Kimberley's assertion that no formal consultation had occurred, a very
short google search would get him to a media report on 27 October that talks—with
a nice photo—about the member for Kimberley consulting the actual
community. Ms Farrer reaffirmed Labor's election commitments. The
article stated —
''The community asked about a swimming
pool way back in 2014,'' Ms Farrer said. ''They talked about a (need
for a) pool then and their concerns for little ones, who'd been lost in
drownings.
''We've got to give
these people what they need. A swimming pool provides a whole lot of health
benefits for kids.''
She has been advocating for years,
both before Parliament and in Parliament, for this swimming pool. If the member
for Roe wants more information, no problem—just write to me. I will
give him as much as he needs to make sure he understands.
Unfortunately, members, it seems
that the Liberal–National Parties' concern for remote housing
extends as far as Moora. After that, it seems to taper off in great
distinction. I read with some interest that the former member for Pilbara,
Brendon Grylls, has signalled he is exiting the entire arena and no longer
wants to be part of the political environment because he has started another
group, the Brendon Grylls Group. The old Brendon Grylls group is over, kids. It
has finished. Brendon Grylls has moved on. The opposition should move on, too.
Pick up the slack and start leaning well forward in supporting the remote
communities.
Point of Order
Dr D.J.
HONEY : This is completely irrelevant to the question that was asked.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : What standing
order?
Dr D.J. HONEY : Section 94, Mr
Speaker.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr P.C. TINLEY : Members of
the National and Liberal Parties, all I would say is that Brendon Grylls has
moved on. Brendon is gone. He has dropped members like Friday's
schoolbag. It is over. Let it go.
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