❓ Mrs Roberts questions the Minister about savings from the closure of the Midland Small Business Centre and reinvestment in the local area. The Minister denies any savings, stating the same amount will be spent on improved services.
AnsweredQoN 314Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION —
SMALL BUSINESS CENTRES
314. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Small Business:
I have a supplementary question. How much state government
money will be saved by the closure of the Midland small business centre and how
much money will be reinvested to help create local jobs in the Midland, hills
and Swan Valley areas?
SMALL BUSINESS CENTRES
314. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Small Business:
I have a supplementary question. How much state government
money will be saved by the closure of the Midland small business centre and how
much money will be reinvested to help create local jobs in the Midland, hills
and Swan Valley areas?
AnswerView source ↗
We will not cut back the funding of the small business
program in any way; what we are doing is changing the way it is delivered. How
much money will be saved? None. There will be more services delivered for the
same money.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Let me finish; there are two parts to the member's supplementary
question. We will spend exactly the same money to provide a better service.
After Midland, as we did in the wheatbelt and as we have done in other areas
where services are not delivered through the existing small business centre
network, we will bring in someone from either the Chamber of Commerce and
Industry of Western Australia or a contractor, or whoever it might be, to fill
that gap until 1 July, because we do not want to leave —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
How many dollars are you taking out and what are you putting back? Answer that
question.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
None.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time. Minister, wind this
up through the Chair.
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : My supplementary question was specific, as
supplementary questions are supposed to be. I asked how much money the
government will now not be spending specifically in Midland; how many dollars
will the government save; and will all of those dollars be spent back in the
Midland region?
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : Absolutely. The answer is none; we are spending
exactly the same amount of money but instead of the pro rata basis of what was
left this financial year, the Small Business Development Commissioner has
appointed someone to deliver those services for the remainder of this financial
year to all the small businesses in Midland that require them. We are not
saving any money; we are spending exactly the same amount of money, but since
the small business centre in Midland self-determined, due to the withdrawal of
federal funding —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
You're giving it to your upper house member's mother to spend,
are you?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
No, not all; not at all. The member is absolutely wrong. It is delivered
independently through the Small Business Development Corporation. We are not
saving any money; we are getting on and filling the gap until 1 July when new
contracts are issued.
program in any way; what we are doing is changing the way it is delivered. How
much money will be saved? None. There will be more services delivered for the
same money.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Let me finish; there are two parts to the member's supplementary
question. We will spend exactly the same money to provide a better service.
After Midland, as we did in the wheatbelt and as we have done in other areas
where services are not delivered through the existing small business centre
network, we will bring in someone from either the Chamber of Commerce and
Industry of Western Australia or a contractor, or whoever it might be, to fill
that gap until 1 July, because we do not want to leave —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
How many dollars are you taking out and what are you putting back? Answer that
question.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
None.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time. Minister, wind this
up through the Chair.
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : My supplementary question was specific, as
supplementary questions are supposed to be. I asked how much money the
government will now not be spending specifically in Midland; how many dollars
will the government save; and will all of those dollars be spent back in the
Midland region?
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : Absolutely. The answer is none; we are spending
exactly the same amount of money but instead of the pro rata basis of what was
left this financial year, the Small Business Development Commissioner has
appointed someone to deliver those services for the remainder of this financial
year to all the small businesses in Midland that require them. We are not
saving any money; we are spending exactly the same amount of money, but since
the small business centre in Midland self-determined, due to the withdrawal of
federal funding —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
You're giving it to your upper house member's mother to spend,
are you?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
No, not all; not at all. The member is absolutely wrong. It is delivered
independently through the Small Business Development Corporation. We are not
saving any money; we are getting on and filling the gap until 1 July when new
contracts are issued.
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