❓ The Minister for Regional Development outlines the Cook Labor government's efforts to strengthen regional communities in the Kimberley, focusing on investment in Kununurra's town centre and economic development grants. The response also contrasts the government's collaborative approach with that of the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 601Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KIMBERLEY —
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
601. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Regional
Development:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
ongoing efforts to strengthen Western Australia's regional communities.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is delivering new economic
opportunities in the Kimberley?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this investment is supporting improved
liveability in our regional communities?
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
601. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Regional
Development:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
ongoing efforts to strengthen Western Australia's regional communities.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is delivering new economic
opportunities in the Kimberley?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this investment is supporting improved
liveability in our regional communities?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
certainly can, and I thank the member for Kimberley. In fact, when I travel
through the Kimberley, the member is so hardworking that I do not think there
is a single person in the Kimberley who the member does not know personally, so
well done, member. At the member's invitation, I went to Kununurra in
June with the Premier and a number of cabinet colleagues to have a conversation
with the community, with the people of
Kununurra, about what is important. Of course, that is what we do on this side
of the h ouse: we go out and listen, and we help wherever we can. We do
not go up to regional communities and spread negativity, fear and angst; we go up
there to talk solutions, and the community talks to us about solutions.
One of the issues that was raised by
all sections of the community was the rundown condition of the town centre of
Kununurra, despite the best efforts of the shire council and the people of
Kununurra. This is a community that was largely built in a rush back in the
1960s, with the Ord River project. It has been like that ever since. As the gateway to the north, there is a need for
new investment. More importantly, there is a need to create a sense of
place for all the people of Kununurra—First Nations people,
businesspeople, residents who already live there and people who want to make
Kununurra their home.
I was really delighted with the
enthusiasm of the people of Kununurra for looking at the future and what their
town might look like in five or 10 years' time, and what can be done
immediately. I was very pleased t hat the
people of Kununurra came back to me. The Shire of Wyndham–East
Kimberley, the East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MG
Corporation and the Kimberley Development Commission all said that they wanted
to work together to share in a future for a Kununurra. We were delighted to be
able to support them in that with a grant of just over $300 000 to start the
critical work of conversations right across the community to build a better
future for Kununurra. That is what this side of the house does: we work with
communities to find solutions. This is the sort of collaboration that we have
seen in places like Broome and other locations that has transformed the ways in
which people relate to place.
While I was in Kununurra last week,
talking with the community about how we can progress this project, we also
announced the Kimberley regional economic development grants program. This is a
fantastic program that has put more than $60 million
into regional Western Australia to support small and m edium-sized enterprises to expand and create jobs.
I was very pleased that the Ord River District Co-operative received
$220 000 for a cotton classing machine, which means that it can improve the
efficiency of its new cotton industry by not having to send product out to
Queensland to be classed. That can be done on site, in Kununurra, which will
improve the efficiency of this north west town. That is a great example of the
work that we are doing that drives innovation and local entrepreneurship.
This
is not just in the Kimberley, members. I was in Katanning with the minister
representing the Minister for Early
Childhood Education, Hon Jackie
Jarvis from the other place, and we were delighted to work with the community there to provide an
additional $1.6 million, for a total commitment of $7.3 million, for the
early childhood education hub down there. Again, that was a terrific project on
which we worked and talked with the community
and found a pathway forward. I contrast that with the approach taken by members
opposite. We are a disciplined team. We collaborate, talk with each other and
work across ministerial portfolios. I remember back in the days of the previous
government when National Party ministers
used to walk out of cabinet. They could not solve problems. We have had three
resignations from Nationals WA members in this term of government.
Members of the Nationals in the upper house are in unwinnable positions—so
unwinnable in fact that I was surprised when I visited the town of Katanning to
see a shared office between Hon Colin de Grussa and the member for Roe. Hon
Colin de Grussa has gone quiet as the shadow spokesperson on fisheries. I wondered
why, and I found out. The office is for lease and Hon Colin de Grussa is
packing up and going home. That is what the National Party stands for. We are a
disciplined team on this side of the house. What is the other choice for the Western
Australian community come March? It is a rabble
that fights with itself and is inexperienced. In fact, there are probably only two members in this place who may possibly be here in the text term, and
one of those members is fighting it out with another member. We will sit back
and get on with the job of supporting regional WA and we will watch them fight
with each other.
certainly can, and I thank the member for Kimberley. In fact, when I travel
through the Kimberley, the member is so hardworking that I do not think there
is a single person in the Kimberley who the member does not know personally, so
well done, member. At the member's invitation, I went to Kununurra in
June with the Premier and a number of cabinet colleagues to have a conversation
with the community, with the people of
Kununurra, about what is important. Of course, that is what we do on this side
of the h ouse: we go out and listen, and we help wherever we can. We do
not go up to regional communities and spread negativity, fear and angst; we go up
there to talk solutions, and the community talks to us about solutions.
One of the issues that was raised by
all sections of the community was the rundown condition of the town centre of
Kununurra, despite the best efforts of the shire council and the people of
Kununurra. This is a community that was largely built in a rush back in the
1960s, with the Ord River project. It has been like that ever since. As the gateway to the north, there is a need for
new investment. More importantly, there is a need to create a sense of
place for all the people of Kununurra—First Nations people,
businesspeople, residents who already live there and people who want to make
Kununurra their home.
I was really delighted with the
enthusiasm of the people of Kununurra for looking at the future and what their
town might look like in five or 10 years' time, and what can be done
immediately. I was very pleased t hat the
people of Kununurra came back to me. The Shire of Wyndham–East
Kimberley, the East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MG
Corporation and the Kimberley Development Commission all said that they wanted
to work together to share in a future for a Kununurra. We were delighted to be
able to support them in that with a grant of just over $300 000 to start the
critical work of conversations right across the community to build a better
future for Kununurra. That is what this side of the house does: we work with
communities to find solutions. This is the sort of collaboration that we have
seen in places like Broome and other locations that has transformed the ways in
which people relate to place.
While I was in Kununurra last week,
talking with the community about how we can progress this project, we also
announced the Kimberley regional economic development grants program. This is a
fantastic program that has put more than $60 million
into regional Western Australia to support small and m edium-sized enterprises to expand and create jobs.
I was very pleased that the Ord River District Co-operative received
$220 000 for a cotton classing machine, which means that it can improve the
efficiency of its new cotton industry by not having to send product out to
Queensland to be classed. That can be done on site, in Kununurra, which will
improve the efficiency of this north west town. That is a great example of the
work that we are doing that drives innovation and local entrepreneurship.
This
is not just in the Kimberley, members. I was in Katanning with the minister
representing the Minister for Early
Childhood Education, Hon Jackie
Jarvis from the other place, and we were delighted to work with the community there to provide an
additional $1.6 million, for a total commitment of $7.3 million, for the
early childhood education hub down there. Again, that was a terrific project on
which we worked and talked with the community
and found a pathway forward. I contrast that with the approach taken by members
opposite. We are a disciplined team. We collaborate, talk with each other and
work across ministerial portfolios. I remember back in the days of the previous
government when National Party ministers
used to walk out of cabinet. They could not solve problems. We have had three
resignations from Nationals WA members in this term of government.
Members of the Nationals in the upper house are in unwinnable positions—so
unwinnable in fact that I was surprised when I visited the town of Katanning to
see a shared office between Hon Colin de Grussa and the member for Roe. Hon
Colin de Grussa has gone quiet as the shadow spokesperson on fisheries. I wondered
why, and I found out. The office is for lease and Hon Colin de Grussa is
packing up and going home. That is what the National Party stands for. We are a
disciplined team on this side of the house. What is the other choice for the Western
Australian community come March? It is a rabble
that fights with itself and is inexperienced. In fact, there are probably only two members in this place who may possibly be here in the text term, and
one of those members is fighting it out with another member. We will sit back
and get on with the job of supporting regional WA and we will watch them fight
with each other.
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