❓ The Minister for Environment confirms an additional $22.1 million in recurrent funding for the Kimberley science and conservation strategy, bringing the total investment to $103 million. The funding will support management outcomes for expanded conservation estates, including marine and national parks, and create economic opportunities for tourism and traditional owners.
AnsweredQoN 352Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KIMBERLEY SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION STRATEGY
352. Mr B.J. GRYLLS to the Minister for
Environment:
I understand that additional funding
has been made available for the government's Kimberley science and
conservation strategy as part of the state budget this year. Can the minister
please tell us what this money will help deliver?
352. Mr B.J. GRYLLS to the Minister for
Environment:
I understand that additional funding
has been made available for the government's Kimberley science and
conservation strategy as part of the state budget this year. Can the minister
please tell us what this money will help deliver?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Pilbara for
the question. I can confirm that in the 2016–17 budget, the Liberal–National
government has committed an extra $22.1 million in recurrent funding towards
the Kimberley science and conservation strategy. This is on top of a commitment
that has already exceeded $80 million. In fact, it brings the total spend under
the Kimberley science and conservation strategy through this government now to
some $103 million. The extra $22.1 million is in recurrent funding, as I have
said. It is focused towards management outcomes of the significant expansion of
the conservation estate up in the Kimberley which this government is putting in
place, particularly towards Kimberley marine and national parks, including
Roebuck Bay, Horizontal Falls and the great Kimberley marine park, and also
what will be Australia's largest terrestrial national park, which will
sit out over the Mitchell Plateau. As I have said, under this government, the
Kimberley science and conservation strategy is a conservation program in excess
of $103 million. The program started as a $9 million commitment in 2008. The
growth in investment, but, importantly, the growth in outcomes that is already
being seen through this program underscores the incredible commitment that this
government has placed on environment and conservation. It is a commitment not
only to expanding our conservation estate and seizing this moment in time and
this opportunity to significantly expand our marine parks and national parks in
that biodiverse and largely untouched Kimberley region, but also to backing up
that commitment with substantial investment not only in the creation but now
also in the ongoing management of those national parks.
This program is delivering not only
protection of these natural and cultural assets, but also economic opportunity
in the Kimberley region, particularly economic opportunity for tourism and
economic opportunity for traditional owners. I recently visited the Kimberley
region and had the opportunity to meet with the Jawuru board and with Jawuru
rangers while I was up there, and with a range of our tourism operators. I was
able to see firsthand the benefits that the Kimberley science and conservation
strategy is having on Aboriginal employment and Aboriginal jobs in the
Kimberley, as well as tourism opportunities. There was a lot of support from
tourism operators for what this government is doing in our Kimberley science
and conservation strategy. Of course I think the benefits in conservation for
the Kimberley are self-evident within the program. If we look at the impact
that the Kimberley science and conservation strategy is already having in terms
of Aboriginal employment —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : — when we came into government in 2008, some 15 Aboriginal
people were engaged in employment for conservation outcomes on country. Today,
that number sits at around 200—200 Aboriginal rangers and Aboriginal
people are employed delivering conservation outcomes on their own country in
the Kimberley region, with spin-off benefits for tourism, and other employment
opportunities.
Under this program, our marine park
estate within Western Australia will increase from 1.5 million hectares to more
than five million hectares, and, as I have said, the creation of what will be
Australia's largest national park over the Mitchell Plateau.
the question. I can confirm that in the 2016–17 budget, the Liberal–National
government has committed an extra $22.1 million in recurrent funding towards
the Kimberley science and conservation strategy. This is on top of a commitment
that has already exceeded $80 million. In fact, it brings the total spend under
the Kimberley science and conservation strategy through this government now to
some $103 million. The extra $22.1 million is in recurrent funding, as I have
said. It is focused towards management outcomes of the significant expansion of
the conservation estate up in the Kimberley which this government is putting in
place, particularly towards Kimberley marine and national parks, including
Roebuck Bay, Horizontal Falls and the great Kimberley marine park, and also
what will be Australia's largest terrestrial national park, which will
sit out over the Mitchell Plateau. As I have said, under this government, the
Kimberley science and conservation strategy is a conservation program in excess
of $103 million. The program started as a $9 million commitment in 2008. The
growth in investment, but, importantly, the growth in outcomes that is already
being seen through this program underscores the incredible commitment that this
government has placed on environment and conservation. It is a commitment not
only to expanding our conservation estate and seizing this moment in time and
this opportunity to significantly expand our marine parks and national parks in
that biodiverse and largely untouched Kimberley region, but also to backing up
that commitment with substantial investment not only in the creation but now
also in the ongoing management of those national parks.
This program is delivering not only
protection of these natural and cultural assets, but also economic opportunity
in the Kimberley region, particularly economic opportunity for tourism and
economic opportunity for traditional owners. I recently visited the Kimberley
region and had the opportunity to meet with the Jawuru board and with Jawuru
rangers while I was up there, and with a range of our tourism operators. I was
able to see firsthand the benefits that the Kimberley science and conservation
strategy is having on Aboriginal employment and Aboriginal jobs in the
Kimberley, as well as tourism opportunities. There was a lot of support from
tourism operators for what this government is doing in our Kimberley science
and conservation strategy. Of course I think the benefits in conservation for
the Kimberley are self-evident within the program. If we look at the impact
that the Kimberley science and conservation strategy is already having in terms
of Aboriginal employment —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : — when we came into government in 2008, some 15 Aboriginal
people were engaged in employment for conservation outcomes on country. Today,
that number sits at around 200—200 Aboriginal rangers and Aboriginal
people are employed delivering conservation outcomes on their own country in
the Kimberley region, with spin-off benefits for tourism, and other employment
opportunities.
Under this program, our marine park
estate within Western Australia will increase from 1.5 million hectares to more
than five million hectares, and, as I have said, the creation of what will be
Australia's largest national park over the Mitchell Plateau.
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