❓ Mr. Catania questions the Minister for Tourism about the lack of affordable worker accommodation in Coral Bay. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines efforts to drive tourism to the region, but defers specific details on worker accommodation to the Minister for Regional Development.
AnsweredQoN 906Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORAL BAY —
ACCOMMODATION
906. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the Minister for
Regional Development's comments from March 2018 acknowledging the
chronic shortage of affordable accommodation for workers and families in Coral
Bay.
(1) Given 19
months have elapsed since the Minister for Regional Development's
comments, what is the minister's short-term plan to ensure small
businesses have access to affordable workers' accommodation?
(2) Can he
confirm that the government is continuing to work with Baiyungu Aboriginal
Corporation to progress a proposal for privately funded housing?
(3) What is the
new time line for construction of a workers' village to commence?
ACCOMMODATION
906. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the Minister for
Regional Development's comments from March 2018 acknowledging the
chronic shortage of affordable accommodation for workers and families in Coral
Bay.
(1) Given 19
months have elapsed since the Minister for Regional Development's
comments, what is the minister's short-term plan to ensure small
businesses have access to affordable workers' accommodation?
(2) Can he
confirm that the government is continuing to work with Baiyungu Aboriginal
Corporation to progress a proposal for privately funded housing?
(3) What is the
new time line for construction of a workers' village to commence?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) Some of the questions the member posed are
probably better put to the Minister for Regional Development in her role with
the regional development organisations. I was aware that we are continuing to
work with the local Aboriginal community on access to that land just south of
Coral Bay. I think the member is talking about the site that offers potential
for enhanced accommodation for workers to support the small businesses. There
is a challenge with regard to support for accommodation up there that has been
longstanding, and it will be a challenge to address. I am very keen that it
does get addressed, not only for accommodation for workers and small business,
but throughout the entire tourism sector. We are driving visitors to that
region like never before, as the member is aware. I am sure the member for
North West Central is very thankful of us bringing Chris Hemsworth and Matt
Damon to his electorate to promote —
Mr V.A.
Catania : You brought them? How did you bring them there?
Mr P. PAPALIA : We did;
we got him there. We promoted the member for North West Central's
electorate and region.
Mr R.H. Cook : The minister
had a grievance on this this morning.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I was not
aware of some engagement. Was that a question that the Minister for Planning
received?
Ms R. Saffioti : It was a grievance
this morning.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I missed the
grievance that the member put to the minister, but I am informed that she
undertook to go to Coral Bay and look at the challenges in her portfolio and
see whether she can assist.
I
cannot tell the member what the Minister for Regional Development is
specifically working on right now regarding that accommodation. I was
there talking to the RAC about its development. The government was engaged on
that and its hotel development has gone
ahead. I will seek out advice from the appropriate portfolios about
accommodation for workers though.
What I can do with regard to small
businesses, as the small business minister, and particularly as tourism
minister, is drive visitors—drive visitor numbers to the region—so
they can benefit from the growth in demand for their services right across the
spectrum, not just for accommodation. That is happening like never before. All
the regions are experiencing growth. The coral coast is experiencing growth
like never before and our two-year action plan focuses on driving people from
outside the state into Western Australia and out to the regions. That is
working and we will continue to do that.
probably better put to the Minister for Regional Development in her role with
the regional development organisations. I was aware that we are continuing to
work with the local Aboriginal community on access to that land just south of
Coral Bay. I think the member is talking about the site that offers potential
for enhanced accommodation for workers to support the small businesses. There
is a challenge with regard to support for accommodation up there that has been
longstanding, and it will be a challenge to address. I am very keen that it
does get addressed, not only for accommodation for workers and small business,
but throughout the entire tourism sector. We are driving visitors to that
region like never before, as the member is aware. I am sure the member for
North West Central is very thankful of us bringing Chris Hemsworth and Matt
Damon to his electorate to promote —
Mr V.A.
Catania : You brought them? How did you bring them there?
Mr P. PAPALIA : We did;
we got him there. We promoted the member for North West Central's
electorate and region.
Mr R.H. Cook : The minister
had a grievance on this this morning.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I was not
aware of some engagement. Was that a question that the Minister for Planning
received?
Ms R. Saffioti : It was a grievance
this morning.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I missed the
grievance that the member put to the minister, but I am informed that she
undertook to go to Coral Bay and look at the challenges in her portfolio and
see whether she can assist.
I
cannot tell the member what the Minister for Regional Development is
specifically working on right now regarding that accommodation. I was
there talking to the RAC about its development. The government was engaged on
that and its hotel development has gone
ahead. I will seek out advice from the appropriate portfolios about
accommodation for workers though.
What I can do with regard to small
businesses, as the small business minister, and particularly as tourism
minister, is drive visitors—drive visitor numbers to the region—so
they can benefit from the growth in demand for their services right across the
spectrum, not just for accommodation. That is happening like never before. All
the regions are experiencing growth. The coral coast is experiencing growth
like never before and our two-year action plan focuses on driving people from
outside the state into Western Australia and out to the regions. That is
working and we will continue to do that.
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