❓ The Premier outlines the Resources Community Investment Initiative, a partnership with the resources industry to fund legacy projects like the Perth Zoo master plan, Perth Concert Hall redevelopment, Telethon, remote Aboriginal communities fund, and an Aboriginal cultural centre.
AnsweredQoN 733Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESOURCES COMMUNITY INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
733. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
success in delivering a strong, nation-leading economy, and its commitment to using this success to deliver
long-term benefits to the Western Australian community. Can the Premier outline to the house how this government's historic decision to
establish the resources community investment initiative will support the
delivery of long-lasting community projects that will benefit generations to
come?
733. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
success in delivering a strong, nation-leading economy, and its commitment to using this success to deliver
long-term benefits to the Western Australian community. Can the Premier outline to the house how this government's historic decision to
establish the resources community investment initiative will support the
delivery of long-lasting community projects that will benefit generations to
come?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wanneroo.
Today was a historic moment for Western Australia. The
partnership we announced today will use the strengths of our economy to build a
legacy for future generations of Western Australians. This government has
invested significant amounts in core services of government; has provided
record spending on health and mental health— the strongest in Australia, per capita, of all the states; has made
record investment in education and training; presided over an unprecedented boost in police numbers; and
is building roads and rail around the state, along with providing social
housing and homelessness services.
However, we do not have infinite
amounts of money, so the resources community investment initiative is a partnership
between government and the resources industry to provide additional funding for
important legacy projects for Western Australia. At this time, we have secured
$750 million for this project. I would like to thank the founding partners: Rio
Tinto, BHP, Hancock Prospecting, Roy Hill, Atlas Iron, Woodside, Chevron and
Mineral Resources. I will be writing to a further 30 companies today to seek
their participation in this initiative. We would like to reach more than $1
billion, which I suspect we will—hopefully, an amount in the vicinity
of $1.5 billion. I would like to thank all the participants for their
commitment to the state and their commitment to joining this unique project
that has not been seen in Australia before.
The
initiative will be overseen by an advisory committee with an independent chair.
Each company will get to decide which legacy projects they want their
funding to be directed towards. The projects we have identified up-front
include the Perth Zoo master plan, the Perth Concert Hall redevelopment,
additional contributions to Telethon, and—one that I am particularly
proud of—the remote Aboriginal communities fund. We have put $350 million
in the budget to build new houses and upgrade housing in remote communities. It
is the biggest spend on remote communities
ever seen. Of course, back when Tony Abbott was Prime Minister of Australia,
the Liberal Party pulled commonwealth funding from remote communities,
and sadly we now have to cope with that withdrawal of effort. It was the first
time in 50 years that the commonwealth government withdrew effort from remote
communities. This initiative, in addition to the $350 million of our state
money, will assist us in building and maintaining more housing in remote
communities.
The other landmark project is the
Aboriginal cultural centre, to which the commonwealth and state governments
have committed $100 million. We estimate that the budget is approximately $400 million.
The details of that are being worked through. The resources community
investment initiative will secure the remaining funding for the Aboriginal
cultural centre, which will be a landmark initiative to showcase Aboriginal
culture and history, provide pride for
Indigenous people in the state in the heart of Perth and be a representative
facility for the entire state. That is
another initiative we are putting in place that will be a significant legacy
project for the people of Western Australia that this fund will
contribute to. I am very excited that we are able to do this. This will be a legacy
for generations of Western Australians to come. We have been able to do this
because we have worked cooperatively with industry to secure this money for the
state. I encourage other businesses to join. I certainly want to get an even
bigger amount than the $750 million that we have secured.
Today was a historic moment for Western Australia. The
partnership we announced today will use the strengths of our economy to build a
legacy for future generations of Western Australians. This government has
invested significant amounts in core services of government; has provided
record spending on health and mental health— the strongest in Australia, per capita, of all the states; has made
record investment in education and training; presided over an unprecedented boost in police numbers; and
is building roads and rail around the state, along with providing social
housing and homelessness services.
However, we do not have infinite
amounts of money, so the resources community investment initiative is a partnership
between government and the resources industry to provide additional funding for
important legacy projects for Western Australia. At this time, we have secured
$750 million for this project. I would like to thank the founding partners: Rio
Tinto, BHP, Hancock Prospecting, Roy Hill, Atlas Iron, Woodside, Chevron and
Mineral Resources. I will be writing to a further 30 companies today to seek
their participation in this initiative. We would like to reach more than $1
billion, which I suspect we will—hopefully, an amount in the vicinity
of $1.5 billion. I would like to thank all the participants for their
commitment to the state and their commitment to joining this unique project
that has not been seen in Australia before.
The
initiative will be overseen by an advisory committee with an independent chair.
Each company will get to decide which legacy projects they want their
funding to be directed towards. The projects we have identified up-front
include the Perth Zoo master plan, the Perth Concert Hall redevelopment,
additional contributions to Telethon, and—one that I am particularly
proud of—the remote Aboriginal communities fund. We have put $350 million
in the budget to build new houses and upgrade housing in remote communities. It
is the biggest spend on remote communities
ever seen. Of course, back when Tony Abbott was Prime Minister of Australia,
the Liberal Party pulled commonwealth funding from remote communities,
and sadly we now have to cope with that withdrawal of effort. It was the first
time in 50 years that the commonwealth government withdrew effort from remote
communities. This initiative, in addition to the $350 million of our state
money, will assist us in building and maintaining more housing in remote
communities.
The other landmark project is the
Aboriginal cultural centre, to which the commonwealth and state governments
have committed $100 million. We estimate that the budget is approximately $400 million.
The details of that are being worked through. The resources community
investment initiative will secure the remaining funding for the Aboriginal
cultural centre, which will be a landmark initiative to showcase Aboriginal
culture and history, provide pride for
Indigenous people in the state in the heart of Perth and be a representative
facility for the entire state. That is
another initiative we are putting in place that will be a significant legacy
project for the people of Western Australia that this fund will
contribute to. I am very excited that we are able to do this. This will be a legacy
for generations of Western Australians to come. We have been able to do this
because we have worked cooperatively with industry to secure this money for the
state. I encourage other businesses to join. I certainly want to get an even
bigger amount than the $750 million that we have secured.
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