❓ The Premier outlines how the Cook Labor government is partnering with the resources sector, particularly in the Pilbara, to reinvest in communities and the economy, supporting the Seven Cities plan through infrastructure, housing, and new industry development.
AnsweredQoN 340Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Resources sector—Pilbara
340. Mr Kevin Michel to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to ensuring Western Australia's economy remains
the strongest in the nation.
(1) Can the Premier outline to the house
how this government is partnering with the resources sector to reinvest in
communities and the far north economy, including the Pilbara?
(2) Can the Premier advise the house how
this partnership and other investments are supporting the delivery of the
government's Seven Cities plan?
340. Mr Kevin Michel to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to ensuring Western Australia's economy remains
the strongest in the nation.
(1) Can the Premier outline to the house
how this government is partnering with the resources sector to reinvest in
communities and the far north economy, including the Pilbara?
(2) Can the Premier advise the house how
this partnership and other investments are supporting the delivery of the
government's Seven Cities plan?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question—the
question from the "King of the Pilbara". I was in the Pilbara just
last week and it is the economic powerhouse of WA. It is the powerhouse behind
our economy, which is the strongest in the nation. To ensure that the Pilbara
remains strong now and in the future, we continue to invest in local jobs,
local industries and local communities. Through the Resources Community Investment
Initiative, we have partnered with the resources sector to reinvest in the
communities that power our nation-leading economy. A clear example of that is
BHP's $160 investment in Port Hedland announced last week on my visit.
Member for Pilbara, the investment includes $80 million to upgrade your high
school, Hedland Senior High School; $20 million for a new aquatics centre for
local families; $10 million to support 56 dwellings for essential workers; and,
of course, $50 million to support the construction of 195 Government Regional
Officers' Housing homes in Port Hedland. BHP's investment in GROH forms part of
our broader plan to deliver more than 500 GROH houses across regional WA,
alongside Rio Tinto and Hancock Prospecting, which have invested
$100 million and $20 million respectively. As BHP's president, Geraldine
Slattery, said:
"Strong communities like
Hedland don't happen by chance. They're built by people and supported by
partnerships that last …
I might add that they are built
on the strong advocacy of members like the member for Pilbara. That is exactly
what our Seven Cities plan is about: making regional hubs like Port Hedland
greater places to live, work and raise a family.
At the same time, we are
ensuring that the Pilbara continues to evolve and lead to new industries, and
the launch of Pilbara Minerals' new plant last week does just that. It shows
that the Pilbara is diversifying, innovating and adding value to our economy.
This project will use cutting-edge technology to reduce emissions by more than
90%, and it is able to be done because of the partnership between our
Investment Attraction Fund and the Commonwealth government's Australian
Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) program to ensure that we get these investments
over the line, adding value to our resources and creating more jobs and more
prosperity for Western Australia.
When we talk about the Pilbara
as an economic powerhouse, we are talking about both its strength now and, of
course, in the future. We are investing in schools, housing and community
infrastructure for local people, and backing new industries that will power the
next generation of economic growth.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: That is how we keep Western Australia's
economy the strongest in the nation.
question from the "King of the Pilbara". I was in the Pilbara just
last week and it is the economic powerhouse of WA. It is the powerhouse behind
our economy, which is the strongest in the nation. To ensure that the Pilbara
remains strong now and in the future, we continue to invest in local jobs,
local industries and local communities. Through the Resources Community Investment
Initiative, we have partnered with the resources sector to reinvest in the
communities that power our nation-leading economy. A clear example of that is
BHP's $160 investment in Port Hedland announced last week on my visit.
Member for Pilbara, the investment includes $80 million to upgrade your high
school, Hedland Senior High School; $20 million for a new aquatics centre for
local families; $10 million to support 56 dwellings for essential workers; and,
of course, $50 million to support the construction of 195 Government Regional
Officers' Housing homes in Port Hedland. BHP's investment in GROH forms part of
our broader plan to deliver more than 500 GROH houses across regional WA,
alongside Rio Tinto and Hancock Prospecting, which have invested
$100 million and $20 million respectively. As BHP's president, Geraldine
Slattery, said:
"Strong communities like
Hedland don't happen by chance. They're built by people and supported by
partnerships that last …
I might add that they are built
on the strong advocacy of members like the member for Pilbara. That is exactly
what our Seven Cities plan is about: making regional hubs like Port Hedland
greater places to live, work and raise a family.
At the same time, we are
ensuring that the Pilbara continues to evolve and lead to new industries, and
the launch of Pilbara Minerals' new plant last week does just that. It shows
that the Pilbara is diversifying, innovating and adding value to our economy.
This project will use cutting-edge technology to reduce emissions by more than
90%, and it is able to be done because of the partnership between our
Investment Attraction Fund and the Commonwealth government's Australian
Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) program to ensure that we get these investments
over the line, adding value to our resources and creating more jobs and more
prosperity for Western Australia.
When we talk about the Pilbara
as an economic powerhouse, we are talking about both its strength now and, of
course, in the future. We are investing in schools, housing and community
infrastructure for local people, and backing new industries that will power the
next generation of economic growth.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: That is how we keep Western Australia's
economy the strongest in the nation.
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