❓ The WA parliamentary question concerns the expiration of the subsidised shipping service to the north west and the government's plans for a replacement. The Minister's response acknowledges the issue and outlines ongoing considerations, while also criticizing the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 961Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NORTH WEST SHIPPING SERVICE
I refer to the subsidised shipping service in the north west of Western Australia. (1) Is the minister aware that the subsidised shipping service to the north west expires on 9 December 2009 and no replacement service has been approved by his government and it is too late to extend the existing service? (2) Is the minister aware that this service reduces freight rates into the north west by 20 to 30 per cent and the benefits flow to communities right across the Pilbara and the Kimberley? (3) What steps is the minister taking as regional development minister to restore this vital lifeline to the Pilbara and the Kimberley? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
I refer to the subsidised shipping service in the north west of Western Australia. (1) Is the minister aware that the subsidised shipping service to the north west expires on 9 December 2009 and no replacement service has been approved by his government and it is too late to extend the existing service? (2) Is the minister aware that this service reduces freight rates into the north west by 20 to 30 per cent and the benefits flow to communities right across the Pilbara and the Kimberley? (3) What steps is the minister taking as regional development minister to restore this vital lifeline to the Pilbara and the Kimberley? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
(1) Is the minister aware that the subsidised shipping service to the north west expires on 9 December 2009 and no replacement service has been approved by his government and it is too late to extend the existing service? (2) Is the minister aware that this service reduces freight rates into the north west by 20 to 30 per cent and the benefits flow to communities right across the Pilbara and the Kimberley? (3) What steps is the minister taking as regional development minister to restore this vital lifeline to the Pilbara and the Kimberley? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
(2) Is the minister aware that this service reduces freight rates into the north west by 20 to 30 per cent and the benefits flow to communities right across the Pilbara and the Kimberley? (3) What steps is the minister taking as regional development minister to restore this vital lifeline to the Pilbara and the Kimberley? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
(3) What steps is the minister taking as regional development minister to restore this vital lifeline to the Pilbara and the Kimberley? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
(1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
(1) Is the minister aware that the subsidised shipping service to the north west expires on 9 December 2009 and no replacement service has been approved by his government and it is too late to extend the existing service? (2) Is the minister aware that this service reduces freight rates into the north west by 20 to 30 per cent and the benefits flow to communities right across the Pilbara and the Kimberley? (3) What steps is the minister taking as regional development minister to restore this vital lifeline to the Pilbara and the Kimberley? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
(2) Is the minister aware that this service reduces freight rates into the north west by 20 to 30 per cent and the benefits flow to communities right across the Pilbara and the Kimberley? (3) What steps is the minister taking as regional development minister to restore this vital lifeline to the Pilbara and the Kimberley? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
(3) What steps is the minister taking as regional development minister to restore this vital lifeline to the Pilbara and the Kimberley? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
I thank the member for Armadale for the question and her renewed interest in the north west of Western Australia. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Come on! We ran this service. We did not discontinue the service; we kept it going. We didn’t sit on our hands as you’ve done. The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, I am formally going to call you for the third time. I am also going to indicate to you that you’ve just asked the question of the minister. You might not like the first few words that he said, but I presume that the minister will attempt to answer the question. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : In response — (1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
(1)-(3) I am very much aware that the contract for the north west coastal shipping service comes to an end in the coming weeks. The Minister for Transport and I and the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee have been discussing that issue. The government has that issue in hand. That announcement will be made by the minister in the course of his activities. The member for Armadale’s faux indignation again about the north west of Western Australia continues to rankle with the people of the Kimberley and the Pilbara who are the beneficiaries of that service. Under the former government’s jurisdiction, there was not much on those ships, because nothing was happening up there! What we are seeing now is great opportunities in the north west as the government rolls out — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
The SPEAKER : Order! There is a certain sense of celebration in this place. I can tell. Member for Kimberley and member for Pilbara, I am going to formally call both of you; the member for Kimberley for the first time, and the member for Pilbara for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The government is rolling out a major agenda in the east Kimberley, with the Ord expansion, a $400 million investment. Tomorrow, the Premier and I will be in Hedland and Karratha to launch — Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Alannah MacTiernan’s vision for the north! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I do not want to talk about the member for Armadale’s vision for the north. I want to talk about the reality of what the member for Armadale left in the north. That is rents of $2 000 a week. I just met someone in the wheatbelt. He had been a senior government officer in the Pilbara. He left the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt, because health provision in Karratha, where he worked, was simply not acceptable to him and his young family. He left his job in the Pilbara to come back to the wheatbelt. Shame on the previous government! That decision was based around his wife having a baby. I am very happy to say that the Minister for Health, in partnership with royalties for regions, and with the strong advocacy of the local member for North West, will be putting in a major program to provide better obstetric services in the Pilbara. That program, and more, will be announced tomorrow. In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
In terms of Stateships, the government is considering our options. We are looking at the cost-benefit analysis of supporting Stateships, and at other options, to make sure that we have viable transport and freight networks running into the north of the state, particularly up into the Kimberley. We will make our decision on that in due course.
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