❓ Mr Castrilli asks about the benefits of the Regional Grants Scheme in the South West. Mr Redman responds with project examples and economic impact data, facing interruptions from the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 674Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL GRANTS SCHEME — SOUTH WEST
674. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the Minister
for Regional Development:
Can the minister please update the
house on the benefits delivered to the south west through the Liberal–National
government's regional grants scheme?
674. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the Minister
for Regional Development:
Can the minister please update the
house on the benefits delivered to the south west through the Liberal–National
government's regional grants scheme?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bunbury for
the question. He knows all too well the benefits that this government has
brought to regional Western Australia through the royalties for regions
program.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Absolutely; we always have down in the south west.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : It is a high priority for this government. There are some
significant projects in this state —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, you can organise your own
barbecue somewhere!
Mr D.T. REDMAN :
Some significant projects in this state have been funded by royalties for
regions. I note the fantastic outcome up at the Ord River project. I also note
the Pilbara Cities project. Anyone who has been up in the Pilbara region can
see what we have done since 2008. It has been an outstanding project.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Also, substantial investments have been made in the south
west, as I am sure the member for Collie–Preston is aware. The
Busselton regional airport is one of these.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, that is enough! Thank you. I call
you to order for the first time. Give the minister a chance to talk.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : There are some substantial projects, but the little community groups
that get grants through the royalties for regions program are also important—the
regional grants scheme and the community chest fund. On the back of that, there
has been a bit of criticism from opposition members who talk about the
frivolous nature of these grants and, in some cases, them being ill-spent and
whatever else. The development commission —
Mr
R.H. Cook : When was that?
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : The member for Warnbro was one, the member for Collie–Preston
was another and the member for Cockburn was another, if the member wants to
have them named.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Mr Speaker, the Department of Regional Development commissioned
a report to look at the south west from 2008 to 2011. It looked at the regional
grants scheme projects that were approved —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : The regional grants scheme approved about $11 million of
funding across 93 organisations in the south west.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : The funding contributed to the implementation of 131 projects.
The evaluation looked at 56 of those projects, which had a total value of $5 million.
The projects included things such as the digital dolphinarium at the Dolphin
Discovery Centre in Bunbury; Wardandi Memorial Park providing a final resting
place for the ancestors of the local Aboriginal people down there; the FROGS
Early Learning Centre in Nannup; and, of course, the much-maligned CowParade
Margaret River —one of the projects criticised by members of the
opposition.
Several members interjected.
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : It was really interesting that —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : It was really interesting that for the three years of those
projects and their completion —
Mr
R.F. Johnson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Hillarys!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : — the related employment output and business spending
equated to approximately $124 million in economic activity. For a total of 56
projects, $5 million was spent, which provided $124 million in economic
activity. Concerning job creation—something that the opposition is trying
to platform itself on for this coming election—employment from regional
grants scheme projects directly created 132 new jobs during their
implementation.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Also, 105 new long-term jobs were created. These regional
grants scheme projects were also estimated to have contributed to the creation
of a further 433 indirect jobs. This is a government for jobs. It is not just
important to have big projects; it is important to look after the little
community projects. Clearly, they have been well leveraged. I will read out
just a couple of testimonials from the recipients of this resource whose lives
have been made better. According to my notes concerning Wardandi Memorial Park,
the comment was —
''People are more receptive
now than they were before to our culture.''
And —
''We feel proud about it as
Aboriginal people.''
According to my notes, the Nannup
FROGS group stated —
''it's like dropping
them off at their favourite Aunty's house.''
As far as the CowParade is
concerned, according to my notes, the comment was —
''It may seem like a stupid
idea, but look at what it has achieved!''
This government is for jobs and this
government is for looking after regional Western Australia. We stand on our
record, and that will continue.
the question. He knows all too well the benefits that this government has
brought to regional Western Australia through the royalties for regions
program.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Absolutely; we always have down in the south west.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : It is a high priority for this government. There are some
significant projects in this state —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, you can organise your own
barbecue somewhere!
Mr D.T. REDMAN :
Some significant projects in this state have been funded by royalties for
regions. I note the fantastic outcome up at the Ord River project. I also note
the Pilbara Cities project. Anyone who has been up in the Pilbara region can
see what we have done since 2008. It has been an outstanding project.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Also, substantial investments have been made in the south
west, as I am sure the member for Collie–Preston is aware. The
Busselton regional airport is one of these.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, that is enough! Thank you. I call
you to order for the first time. Give the minister a chance to talk.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : There are some substantial projects, but the little community groups
that get grants through the royalties for regions program are also important—the
regional grants scheme and the community chest fund. On the back of that, there
has been a bit of criticism from opposition members who talk about the
frivolous nature of these grants and, in some cases, them being ill-spent and
whatever else. The development commission —
Mr
R.H. Cook : When was that?
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : The member for Warnbro was one, the member for Collie–Preston
was another and the member for Cockburn was another, if the member wants to
have them named.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Mr Speaker, the Department of Regional Development commissioned
a report to look at the south west from 2008 to 2011. It looked at the regional
grants scheme projects that were approved —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : The regional grants scheme approved about $11 million of
funding across 93 organisations in the south west.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : The funding contributed to the implementation of 131 projects.
The evaluation looked at 56 of those projects, which had a total value of $5 million.
The projects included things such as the digital dolphinarium at the Dolphin
Discovery Centre in Bunbury; Wardandi Memorial Park providing a final resting
place for the ancestors of the local Aboriginal people down there; the FROGS
Early Learning Centre in Nannup; and, of course, the much-maligned CowParade
Margaret River —one of the projects criticised by members of the
opposition.
Several members interjected.
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : It was really interesting that —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : It was really interesting that for the three years of those
projects and their completion —
Mr
R.F. Johnson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Hillarys!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : — the related employment output and business spending
equated to approximately $124 million in economic activity. For a total of 56
projects, $5 million was spent, which provided $124 million in economic
activity. Concerning job creation—something that the opposition is trying
to platform itself on for this coming election—employment from regional
grants scheme projects directly created 132 new jobs during their
implementation.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston!
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Also, 105 new long-term jobs were created. These regional
grants scheme projects were also estimated to have contributed to the creation
of a further 433 indirect jobs. This is a government for jobs. It is not just
important to have big projects; it is important to look after the little
community projects. Clearly, they have been well leveraged. I will read out
just a couple of testimonials from the recipients of this resource whose lives
have been made better. According to my notes concerning Wardandi Memorial Park,
the comment was —
''People are more receptive
now than they were before to our culture.''
And —
''We feel proud about it as
Aboriginal people.''
According to my notes, the Nannup
FROGS group stated —
''it's like dropping
them off at their favourite Aunty's house.''
As far as the CowParade is
concerned, according to my notes, the comment was —
''It may seem like a stupid
idea, but look at what it has achieved!''
This government is for jobs and this
government is for looking after regional Western Australia. We stand on our
record, and that will continue.
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