❓ Premier Barnett outlines WA's plans to leverage the Commonwealth's White Paper on Developing Northern Australia, focusing on the Ord River scheme, LNG projects, Kimberley conservation, and advocating for East Timorese workers.
AnsweredQoN 489Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WHITE PAPER ON DEVELOPING NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
489. Mr B.J. GRYLLS to the Premier:
I note that today the commonwealth
government released its white paper on developing northern Australia. Can the
Premier please outline how this will relate to and benefit Western Australia?
489. Mr B.J. GRYLLS to the Premier:
I note that today the commonwealth
government released its white paper on developing northern Australia. Can the
Premier please outline how this will relate to and benefit Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the interest.
Obviously, his electorate is part of northern Australia.
I was pleased that the federal
government is giving attention to northern Australia across, obviously,
Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It is true to say
that after all the promises and speeches about developing our north, we are now
seeing a lot of activity right across that northern part of our country. As far
as Western Australia is concerned, there is no doubt that the greatest
showpiece of northern Australia is the Ord River scheme. That will be front and
centre. The expansion that was undertaken by this state government to extend
the channel has been important. Some of the first new crops are now in the
ground and growing. The rapid development of liquefied natural gas with current
projects such as Gorgon and Wheatstone and the progress being made on Browse
and other projects will be a major source of employment and activity in the
north. Also, it should not be forgotten that the state government has
undertaken what it committed to do in 2008; that is, protect and conserve the
Kimberley beyond the expectation of everyone, including almost all
environmental groups. Places such as Camden Sound, the Mitchell Plateau,
Horizontal Falls and Kimberley national park, the largest terrestrial park, are
all progressing well in terms of tourism.
As the federal program rolls out, I
think it will have an emphasis on roads. That is important. The Northern Territory
in particular is pushing the sealing of Tanami Road, which basically goes from
Halls Creek through to Katherine and Central Australia, and we support that.
That would also connect the Balgo Aboriginal community, which is one of the
largest, I think, and is isolated for several months of the year. We are keen
to see some work progress on that. Around Ord stage 2 there is scope to bring
on land for roads—I will not even go into stage 3, which is in the
Northern Territory and which I think will have some issues—that will
connect the Mantinea area and there will be bridge crossings and the like.
Again, we will seek to attract some commonwealth funding for that. There will
be other maybe more complex issues about land tenure. The Minister for Lands is
basically rolling over the pastoral leases as of 1 July, which is very close.
One thing that is particularly
interesting—I spoke to Andrew Robb about it yesterday—as part
of this program of the white paper is basically opening up eastern Australia,
particularly Queensland and, I guess, maybe northern New South Wales, to
workers from the Pacific island countries. I think that is a good thing but I
made the point to Andrew Robb yesterday, and I will be writing to the Prime
Minister and speaking to him about it in about a week, that we would want to
see East Timor opened up so workers can come and work in northern Western Australia.
Many of them have experience, having worked in agriculture. They will be good
on projects such as the Ord or other irrigation projects that have been looked
at, but also they are very good in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Mr
D.J. Kelly : On award wages, Premier?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : They will be employed under Australian conditions. The
reality is that it is very difficult to find a sufficient number of people to
work in what are traditionally lower paid jobs but under award conditions in
northern Australia. Industries and contractors, particularly tourism and
hospitality small businesses, cannot attract and maintain staff. If we are going
to develop tourism, we have to be able to do that. I hope that the federal
government will agree to that. Members may be aware that the Minister of
Petroleum and Mineral Resources from East Timor, whom I met when he was here a
few months ago, made that specific request to me. He asked whether guest
workers could come and live in Western Australia. I know that members opposite
will be opposed to that because that is in their DNA but I will make the
comment that quite some years ago, probably about 10 or 12 years ago, when I
was in opposition —
Ms
M.M. Quirk : The good old days!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : They were for you but you squandered them.
I will conclude with this comment. I
was at a meeting in Brussels with members of Parliament from different parts of
the world. A lot of African members of Parliament were there. There was a
discussion about migration and guest worker programs in Europe. An African
delegation of young African members of Parliament said that guest worker
programs are twice the value of all foreign aid and their countries will be
helped most if we employ their people in our countries for two or three years
and get them trained, educated and employed.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : You are too prejudiced —
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the second time.
Obviously, his electorate is part of northern Australia.
I was pleased that the federal
government is giving attention to northern Australia across, obviously,
Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It is true to say
that after all the promises and speeches about developing our north, we are now
seeing a lot of activity right across that northern part of our country. As far
as Western Australia is concerned, there is no doubt that the greatest
showpiece of northern Australia is the Ord River scheme. That will be front and
centre. The expansion that was undertaken by this state government to extend
the channel has been important. Some of the first new crops are now in the
ground and growing. The rapid development of liquefied natural gas with current
projects such as Gorgon and Wheatstone and the progress being made on Browse
and other projects will be a major source of employment and activity in the
north. Also, it should not be forgotten that the state government has
undertaken what it committed to do in 2008; that is, protect and conserve the
Kimberley beyond the expectation of everyone, including almost all
environmental groups. Places such as Camden Sound, the Mitchell Plateau,
Horizontal Falls and Kimberley national park, the largest terrestrial park, are
all progressing well in terms of tourism.
As the federal program rolls out, I
think it will have an emphasis on roads. That is important. The Northern Territory
in particular is pushing the sealing of Tanami Road, which basically goes from
Halls Creek through to Katherine and Central Australia, and we support that.
That would also connect the Balgo Aboriginal community, which is one of the
largest, I think, and is isolated for several months of the year. We are keen
to see some work progress on that. Around Ord stage 2 there is scope to bring
on land for roads—I will not even go into stage 3, which is in the
Northern Territory and which I think will have some issues—that will
connect the Mantinea area and there will be bridge crossings and the like.
Again, we will seek to attract some commonwealth funding for that. There will
be other maybe more complex issues about land tenure. The Minister for Lands is
basically rolling over the pastoral leases as of 1 July, which is very close.
One thing that is particularly
interesting—I spoke to Andrew Robb about it yesterday—as part
of this program of the white paper is basically opening up eastern Australia,
particularly Queensland and, I guess, maybe northern New South Wales, to
workers from the Pacific island countries. I think that is a good thing but I
made the point to Andrew Robb yesterday, and I will be writing to the Prime
Minister and speaking to him about it in about a week, that we would want to
see East Timor opened up so workers can come and work in northern Western Australia.
Many of them have experience, having worked in agriculture. They will be good
on projects such as the Ord or other irrigation projects that have been looked
at, but also they are very good in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Mr
D.J. Kelly : On award wages, Premier?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : They will be employed under Australian conditions. The
reality is that it is very difficult to find a sufficient number of people to
work in what are traditionally lower paid jobs but under award conditions in
northern Australia. Industries and contractors, particularly tourism and
hospitality small businesses, cannot attract and maintain staff. If we are going
to develop tourism, we have to be able to do that. I hope that the federal
government will agree to that. Members may be aware that the Minister of
Petroleum and Mineral Resources from East Timor, whom I met when he was here a
few months ago, made that specific request to me. He asked whether guest
workers could come and live in Western Australia. I know that members opposite
will be opposed to that because that is in their DNA but I will make the
comment that quite some years ago, probably about 10 or 12 years ago, when I
was in opposition —
Ms
M.M. Quirk : The good old days!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : They were for you but you squandered them.
I will conclude with this comment. I
was at a meeting in Brussels with members of Parliament from different parts of
the world. A lot of African members of Parliament were there. There was a
discussion about migration and guest worker programs in Europe. An African
delegation of young African members of Parliament said that guest worker
programs are twice the value of all foreign aid and their countries will be
helped most if we employ their people in our countries for two or three years
and get them trained, educated and employed.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : You are too prejudiced —
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the second time.
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