❓ Mr Birney questions the Premier about the Regional Development Fund, specifically the establishment of an authority instead of a committee and the allocation of funds before applications. The Premier defends the government's approach, highlighting pre-election commitments and regional consultation.
AnsweredQoN 700Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND, AUTHORITY
Regrettably, my question is also to the Premier. Dr Gallop: I am just warming up. Mr BIRNEY: I refer the Premier to an article in The West Australian dated 6 February this year in which he promised to establish a $75 million regional development fund. (1) Given that, according to the article, the Premier promised to establish a committee to administer the fund, why has he now instead established an authority, which one of his ministers in the other place has admitted is totally unnecessary? (2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP
Regrettably, my question is also to the Premier. Dr Gallop: I am just warming up. Mr BIRNEY: I refer the Premier to an article in The West Australian dated 6 February this year in which he promised to establish a $75 million regional development fund. (1) Given that, according to the article, the Premier promised to establish a committee to administer the fund, why has he now instead established an authority, which one of his ministers in the other place has admitted is totally unnecessary? (2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
Dr Gallop: I am just warming up. Mr BIRNEY: I refer the Premier to an article in The West Australian dated 6 February this year in which he promised to establish a $75 million regional development fund. (1) Given that, according to the article, the Premier promised to establish a committee to administer the fund, why has he now instead established an authority, which one of his ministers in the other place has admitted is totally unnecessary? (2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
Mr BIRNEY: I refer the Premier to an article in The West Australian dated 6 February this year in which he promised to establish a $75 million regional development fund. (1) Given that, according to the article, the Premier promised to establish a committee to administer the fund, why has he now instead established an authority, which one of his ministers in the other place has admitted is totally unnecessary? (2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
(1) Given that, according to the article, the Premier promised to establish a committee to administer the fund, why has he now instead established an authority, which one of his ministers in the other place has admitted is totally unnecessary? (2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
(2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
(1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
Dr Gallop: I am just warming up. Mr BIRNEY: I refer the Premier to an article in The West Australian dated 6 February this year in which he promised to establish a $75 million regional development fund. (1) Given that, according to the article, the Premier promised to establish a committee to administer the fund, why has he now instead established an authority, which one of his ministers in the other place has admitted is totally unnecessary? (2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
Mr BIRNEY: I refer the Premier to an article in The West Australian dated 6 February this year in which he promised to establish a $75 million regional development fund. (1) Given that, according to the article, the Premier promised to establish a committee to administer the fund, why has he now instead established an authority, which one of his ministers in the other place has admitted is totally unnecessary? (2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
(1) Given that, according to the article, the Premier promised to establish a committee to administer the fund, why has he now instead established an authority, which one of his ministers in the other place has admitted is totally unnecessary? (2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
(2) Why is his Government misleading regional people by running advertisements that imply that $75 million in funding is available, when one of his ministers has confirmed that at least $30.5 million of this regional development fund has been siphoned off before a single application has been lodged? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
(1)-(2) The member for Kalgoorlie is new to the Parliament. He did not follow the debate in the election campaign very closely. The member for Kalgoorlie has a charming personality, but he is the sort of person who needs a talking-to from time to time. I give the member some history. During its years in opposition, the Labor Party moved all over the State of Western Australia on a regular basis and spoke to local communities about what they needed. We went to the Kimberley, and one of the issues canvassed was the need for a performing arts centre to capitalise on the tremendous talent and capacity in that region. We went to the Gascoyne and saw the need to upgrade facilities to promote the world heritage-listed Shark Bay. We also visited the south west of the State, where there was a need to continue the magnificent program of the previous Labor Government to bring the south west into the twenty-first century with new technology and infrastructure. During the election campaign, we said that those initiatives and others - which do not all immediately come to mind - would be funded from our regional investment scheme. We said that to the people before the election, and we said it on the basis of consultation with the community not only in the metropolitan area but also all over the State. The scheme has been set up. An interdepartmental committee will examine the requests for the funding. We will also - shock horror - involve the regional development commissions in that process. We will give them some power by giving them money that they can spend on behalf of their communities to provide infrastructure and new jobs. I say to the member for Kalgoorlie that if he studied what was said during the election campaign, he would learn that we were open and up front with the people in saying that some of that fund would be spent on the ideas we developed while in opposition; that there would be an interdepartmental committee, which has been set up, to look at the applications; and that those locally appointed regional development commissions would play a role. I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
I am just warming up. The member for Kalgoorlie should make no mistake: there is a Government in Western Australia today that is directly involving the regions in the process of governing this State. We will not use the rhetoric and practices of malapportionment. We will use the reality of good government to protect our regions, and we will put money behind that commitment to ensure that wherever people live in Western Australia, they are treated fairly and properly.
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