❓ Mr. Stephens questions Mr. Grylls on a pre-election commitment to provide free housing for rural government workers. Mr. Grylls defends his government's actions, highlighting housing construction and planned incentives to retain workers amid a potential job boom.
AnsweredQoN 723Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RURAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS — FREE HOUSING COMMITMENT
Further to the minister’s pre-election commitment through his housing-our-workforce policy, which was to ensure that there was increased state government support to attract and retain government workers into the regional areas by providing free house rental, and his recent quite brazen remarks reported at the event in Karratha, which was construed as being the opening of a new National Party electorate office in Karratha, I ask — (1) Why has the minister backed away from his commitment to deliver free rental for government workers in the bush? (2) Why is the minister excusing his backdown by telling Pilbara people that it is no longer a priority? (3) Is the minister aware that the Premier is predicting that Western Australia is moving towards a further job boom over the next two years, during which new employees will be hard to find for both government services and industry? (4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
Further to the minister’s pre-election commitment through his housing-our-workforce policy, which was to ensure that there was increased state government support to attract and retain government workers into the regional areas by providing free house rental, and his recent quite brazen remarks reported at the event in Karratha, which was construed as being the opening of a new National Party electorate office in Karratha, I ask — (1) Why has the minister backed away from his commitment to deliver free rental for government workers in the bush? (2) Why is the minister excusing his backdown by telling Pilbara people that it is no longer a priority? (3) Is the minister aware that the Premier is predicting that Western Australia is moving towards a further job boom over the next two years, during which new employees will be hard to find for both government services and industry? (4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(1) Why has the minister backed away from his commitment to deliver free rental for government workers in the bush? (2) Why is the minister excusing his backdown by telling Pilbara people that it is no longer a priority? (3) Is the minister aware that the Premier is predicting that Western Australia is moving towards a further job boom over the next two years, during which new employees will be hard to find for both government services and industry? (4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(2) Why is the minister excusing his backdown by telling Pilbara people that it is no longer a priority? (3) Is the minister aware that the Premier is predicting that Western Australia is moving towards a further job boom over the next two years, during which new employees will be hard to find for both government services and industry? (4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(3) Is the minister aware that the Premier is predicting that Western Australia is moving towards a further job boom over the next two years, during which new employees will be hard to find for both government services and industry? (4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(1) Why has the minister backed away from his commitment to deliver free rental for government workers in the bush? (2) Why is the minister excusing his backdown by telling Pilbara people that it is no longer a priority? (3) Is the minister aware that the Premier is predicting that Western Australia is moving towards a further job boom over the next two years, during which new employees will be hard to find for both government services and industry? (4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(2) Why is the minister excusing his backdown by telling Pilbara people that it is no longer a priority? (3) Is the minister aware that the Premier is predicting that Western Australia is moving towards a further job boom over the next two years, during which new employees will be hard to find for both government services and industry? (4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(3) Is the minister aware that the Premier is predicting that Western Australia is moving towards a further job boom over the next two years, during which new employees will be hard to find for both government services and industry? (4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(4) Does the minister accept that this proposal was understood by regional voters to have been a pre-election commitment made by the minister on behalf of the National Party? Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: (1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
(1)-(4) I am very aware of the points raised by the member for Pilbara. What I find quite remarkable is that during the last very strong economic expansion in the Pilbara, when schoolteachers were leaving their jobs to work in the mining sector, when nurses were leaving their jobs and when police were leaving their jobs, the member for the Pilbara and the government did nothing. That would have been a very opportune time for the member for Pilbara, who was in government, with record $2 billion surpluses year after year after year, to actually do something about it, but once again the record stands true. I move on to the new government. There is a clear commitment to do more to address the concerns of government employees who make the decision to move to regional Western Australia and to provide that very important work that government agencies provide, which keeps the wheels of a community going and the social fabric strong and which provides the service delivery and the amenity that lead people to want to live in regional Western Australia. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I am very proud to be part of a government that put in place immediately after the election a plan to build more than 400 new homes in regional Western Australia for those employees—400 new homes in regional Western Australia going into the heart of the Pilbara, where the constituents of the member who asked the question live. As the Minister for Housing and Works, who has worked extremely hard on this matter, said, in record time we have got about 100 houses in place for those important government employees to move into. However, that is just one part of that plan. In the election campaign, the Nationals talked about trying to do more to retain those essential government employees in those government jobs when the economy is strong, as that was a clear problem that was identified. When we came to government the economy had dipped. There was a waiting list in place, I think, and there were teachers actually looking for jobs that were not then available. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Midland! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Therefore, the demand on the district allowance for extra incentives or rental incentives probably was not as high as it was during the course of the campaign. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital — Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Several members interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Let me finish. That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
That is why we made the decision to turn to the capital program in building the houses, which laid the platform going forward. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We now see, with the recent announcements of the brilliant work by the Premier, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Minister for Environment in fast-tracking the Gorgon project, which will provide so very much opportunity in Western Australia — Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr T.G. Stephens interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : I think the member for Pilbara is right: we are now on the cusp of another expansion that could lead to those important government workers looking at opportunities outside the public sector. It is because of that that my department and the Minister for Commerce, as we said in answer to a question yesterday, are putting in place a policy program that will address that. We have said publicly in the Parliament before that we will choose either rental assistance or district allowance increases to provide that incentive for those government workers. In the very near future the member for Pilbara will see that not only have we honoured our commitment on more houses for regional government employees in country areas, but also we will have moved to put incentives in place to ensure that they stay, and we will have provided that vital community amenity in regions in the north where the mining expansion will deliver so much benefit to the state. We have therefore done an enormous amount of work on this. I am happy to take the member for Pilbara’s criticism now because it will come with his bouquets when we get this right.
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