❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier about potential staffing budget cuts to regional development commissions, accusing the government of hypocrisy. The Premier deflects, citing past funding cuts to agriculture under the previous government and suggesting the question be directed to the Minister for Regional Development.
AnsweredQoN 481Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY
INDUSTRIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT —REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS —
2019–20 STATE BUDGET
481. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. The
government has regularly been on record saying that it has the strongest
regional development credentials in the history of the state and it has more
regional members than any other party. Is that just a paper-thin facade? Why
can the Premier not answer whether the nine regional development commissions
have been asked to reduce their staffing budgets?
INDUSTRIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT —REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS —
2019–20 STATE BUDGET
481. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. The
government has regularly been on record saying that it has the strongest
regional development credentials in the history of the state and it has more
regional members than any other party. Is that just a paper-thin facade? Why
can the Premier not answer whether the nine regional development commissions
have been asked to reduce their staffing budgets?
AnswerView source ↗
I was incorrect when I said the
rebasing was $120 million. It turns out that it was $131.5 million that was
provided to support the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development. Over the period 2009 to 2017, we saw agriculture funding, frankly,
slashed. That is a matter of fact.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Nationals, listen!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The former
Department of Regional Development and the development commissions were funded
from the royalties for regions program. Those two things are matters of fact.
Across the forward estimates we saw a further
slashing, particularly of the research capacity of the Department of
Agriculture and Food. It always struck me as unusual that when the
Nationals and the Liberal Party in government tried to make savings, they
gutted agriculture. That always struck me as a bit unusual. Although we all
know that their financial management was not good, when they tried to make
savings, they attacked farmers and research in agriculture. We put in place a range
of programs to provide research support for the grains industry, and a range of
programs to support various research initiatives —
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
National Party!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — and
staffing levels in the department across the state and the Department of
Agriculture and Food.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Nationals, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I answered the
Leader of the Nationals' question about the development commissions in
the first part of the question. If she wants to direct her question to the
Minister for Regional Development, please feel free. I note that many of her
questions are based upon falsehoods and half-truths.
rebasing was $120 million. It turns out that it was $131.5 million that was
provided to support the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development. Over the period 2009 to 2017, we saw agriculture funding, frankly,
slashed. That is a matter of fact.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Nationals, listen!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The former
Department of Regional Development and the development commissions were funded
from the royalties for regions program. Those two things are matters of fact.
Across the forward estimates we saw a further
slashing, particularly of the research capacity of the Department of
Agriculture and Food. It always struck me as unusual that when the
Nationals and the Liberal Party in government tried to make savings, they
gutted agriculture. That always struck me as a bit unusual. Although we all
know that their financial management was not good, when they tried to make
savings, they attacked farmers and research in agriculture. We put in place a range
of programs to provide research support for the grains industry, and a range of
programs to support various research initiatives —
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
National Party!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — and
staffing levels in the department across the state and the Department of
Agriculture and Food.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Nationals, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I answered the
Leader of the Nationals' question about the development commissions in
the first part of the question. If she wants to direct her question to the
Minister for Regional Development, please feel free. I note that many of her
questions are based upon falsehoods and half-truths.
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