❓ Question on Notice regarding the Cook Labor government's efforts to diversify regional economies and create sustainable jobs in regional Western Australia. The Minister outlines various initiatives and investments across different regions and sectors.
AnsweredQoN 826Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JOBS — REGIONS
826. Ms J.L. HANNS to the Minister for Regional Development:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's continuing efforts to create
sustainable regional jobs in a diversified economy.
(1) Can the
minister advise how this government's efforts to diversify regional
economies will provide long-term opportunities for regional Western Australians?
(2) Can the
minister advise how these efforts are accelerating new economic development
opportunities in the regions?
826. Ms J.L. HANNS to the Minister for Regional Development:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's continuing efforts to create
sustainable regional jobs in a diversified economy.
(1) Can the
minister advise how this government's efforts to diversify regional
economies will provide long-term opportunities for regional Western Australians?
(2) Can the
minister advise how these efforts are accelerating new economic development
opportunities in the regions?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for her question. In fact, I thank all our regional members for
their unwavering commitment to regional WA
and for creating jobs in the regions and looking after their regions. It is a unified team right around regional Western Australia.
Ms R. Saffioti :
And consistent.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : It is consistent. We are committed to a
shared vision for regional Western Australia that is about sustainable regional
jobs for the future by diversifying the economy of regional Western Australia
to increase opportunities and build resilience for the future and, importantly,
to create a quality of life across our regions that provides a long-term basis
for strong and vibrant communities. That is what our regional members stand
for.
On the back of that, the financial
discipline and the teamwork that has been shown by the Cook Labor government
has built the foundation for investors wanting to flock to regional WA.
Everywhere I go, on the back of the infrastructure we are building, the
services we are providing, I see investors coming along and saying, ''We
want to be part of the action; there is a lot happening.''
I was delighted when the Kimberley Cotton Company ordered WA's first $60 million
cotton processing facility for the East
Kimberley, heralding a long-term future in the cotton industry for the East
Kimberley—a real sign of confidence. Tassal, the nation's
largest aquaculture producer, has invested in Cone Bay in the West Kimberley,
providing an opportunity for hundreds of jobs in the member for Kimberley's
region. I know the member for Kimberley is very excited about those developments.
Right around regional Western Australia, whether it is Albemarle Australia in
the south west or the activity in the goldfields area, we are seeing lots of
activity. I will have some exciting news for the Peel region very shortly, but
the minister for Mandurah—I mean the member for Mandurah—is not
here.
Ms R. Saffioti : He is the
minister for Mandurah!
Mr D.T. PUNCH : Yes, I was
thinking about the ''minister for Mandurah''—he is
probably a bit like that really! I digress.
Not only are we looking at the large
end of industry, not only is large industry wanting to come in, but we have
been able to support, through our regional economic development scheme, over
359 small and medium enterprises around regional Western Australia. I have just
come back from announcing six recipients in the Peel region doing some fantastic things in medium and small
enterprise, supporting those large industries, getting on the back on those large industry investments, but also looking
at opportunities to provide niche services, build capacity, build capability
and provide jobs in regional Western Australia. There have been some fantastic
ones. I will give just a few examples . In manufacturing and innovation,
there have been 72 manufacturing-related projects, building capability in local
communities so that the product does not have to be referred back for
manufacture in Perth or overseas—building capability locally.
One
that I know members opposite—the Liberal and National Parties—will
be really pleased about is that $8.8 million has gone into food and
beverage-related projects. Importantly, I was there with the member for Collie–Preston
when the Kingston Rest Farm indoor sheep feeding project was awarded funding to
develop a large-scale indoor sheep feedlot that will directly support the
export industry through V&V Walsh, one of the largest abattoirs in Western Australia.
We are seeing it in the areas of community services and childcare. I was
delighted to be in one of my home towns, Moora, next to Collie, where I started
my career. I was with the shire president congratulating Stegosaurus, which is
developing and establishing a new childcare centre in Moora. Everywhere I go in
regional Western Australia people are looking
at local opportunities to establish childcare centres. We were delighted to do that.
In the member for Pilbara's
area, a grant was made to Red Dog Renewables, an Indigenous-owned business that
is looking at setting up a maintenance and charging facility for the
introduction of electric vehicles in the Karratha and Pilbara area. These are really exciting and innovative projects.
That is built on the back of the positive investment climate that this
government is creating for regional Western Australia.
I looked for some alternatives from
the Liberal and National Parties. The first port of call was, of course, the
recent state conference. I saw a lot of weeping and wailing there about our
government. I can only assume it was about the
very positive things we are doing—they are upset about it. There was
one gem in there. The leader was quoted as saying that their strength
lies in their unity while others might attempt to throw discord. We know where
that was coming from, do we not? It was the member sitting next to the Leader
of the Opposition. That was a bit of a shock, I think. Could I find one decent
policy in relation to job creation in regional Western Australia? I could not,
so I cannot answer the second part of the member for Collie–Preston's
question because there seems to be a complete absence of policy or an
alternative to the very strong policies this government is delivering.
thank the member for her question. In fact, I thank all our regional members for
their unwavering commitment to regional WA
and for creating jobs in the regions and looking after their regions. It is a unified team right around regional Western Australia.
Ms R. Saffioti :
And consistent.
Mr D.T. PUNCH : It is consistent. We are committed to a
shared vision for regional Western Australia that is about sustainable regional
jobs for the future by diversifying the economy of regional Western Australia
to increase opportunities and build resilience for the future and, importantly,
to create a quality of life across our regions that provides a long-term basis
for strong and vibrant communities. That is what our regional members stand
for.
On the back of that, the financial
discipline and the teamwork that has been shown by the Cook Labor government
has built the foundation for investors wanting to flock to regional WA.
Everywhere I go, on the back of the infrastructure we are building, the
services we are providing, I see investors coming along and saying, ''We
want to be part of the action; there is a lot happening.''
I was delighted when the Kimberley Cotton Company ordered WA's first $60 million
cotton processing facility for the East
Kimberley, heralding a long-term future in the cotton industry for the East
Kimberley—a real sign of confidence. Tassal, the nation's
largest aquaculture producer, has invested in Cone Bay in the West Kimberley,
providing an opportunity for hundreds of jobs in the member for Kimberley's
region. I know the member for Kimberley is very excited about those developments.
Right around regional Western Australia, whether it is Albemarle Australia in
the south west or the activity in the goldfields area, we are seeing lots of
activity. I will have some exciting news for the Peel region very shortly, but
the minister for Mandurah—I mean the member for Mandurah—is not
here.
Ms R. Saffioti : He is the
minister for Mandurah!
Mr D.T. PUNCH : Yes, I was
thinking about the ''minister for Mandurah''—he is
probably a bit like that really! I digress.
Not only are we looking at the large
end of industry, not only is large industry wanting to come in, but we have
been able to support, through our regional economic development scheme, over
359 small and medium enterprises around regional Western Australia. I have just
come back from announcing six recipients in the Peel region doing some fantastic things in medium and small
enterprise, supporting those large industries, getting on the back on those large industry investments, but also looking
at opportunities to provide niche services, build capacity, build capability
and provide jobs in regional Western Australia. There have been some fantastic
ones. I will give just a few examples . In manufacturing and innovation,
there have been 72 manufacturing-related projects, building capability in local
communities so that the product does not have to be referred back for
manufacture in Perth or overseas—building capability locally.
One
that I know members opposite—the Liberal and National Parties—will
be really pleased about is that $8.8 million has gone into food and
beverage-related projects. Importantly, I was there with the member for Collie–Preston
when the Kingston Rest Farm indoor sheep feeding project was awarded funding to
develop a large-scale indoor sheep feedlot that will directly support the
export industry through V&V Walsh, one of the largest abattoirs in Western Australia.
We are seeing it in the areas of community services and childcare. I was
delighted to be in one of my home towns, Moora, next to Collie, where I started
my career. I was with the shire president congratulating Stegosaurus, which is
developing and establishing a new childcare centre in Moora. Everywhere I go in
regional Western Australia people are looking
at local opportunities to establish childcare centres. We were delighted to do that.
In the member for Pilbara's
area, a grant was made to Red Dog Renewables, an Indigenous-owned business that
is looking at setting up a maintenance and charging facility for the
introduction of electric vehicles in the Karratha and Pilbara area. These are really exciting and innovative projects.
That is built on the back of the positive investment climate that this
government is creating for regional Western Australia.
I looked for some alternatives from
the Liberal and National Parties. The first port of call was, of course, the
recent state conference. I saw a lot of weeping and wailing there about our
government. I can only assume it was about the
very positive things we are doing—they are upset about it. There was
one gem in there. The leader was quoted as saying that their strength
lies in their unity while others might attempt to throw discord. We know where
that was coming from, do we not? It was the member sitting next to the Leader
of the Opposition. That was a bit of a shock, I think. Could I find one decent
policy in relation to job creation in regional Western Australia? I could not,
so I cannot answer the second part of the member for Collie–Preston's
question because there seems to be a complete absence of policy or an
alternative to the very strong policies this government is delivering.
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