❓ The Minister for Regional Development details the progress of the Housing Our Workforce strategy, including locations of the first 100 houses built for regional government employees and the economic benefits of the program.
AnsweredQoN 924Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES — HOUSING
I refer to the minister’s recent announcement about the start of construction of the 100 th house for regional government employees. Can the minister advise the house where these houses have been built and how this will benefit the regions? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
I refer to the minister’s recent announcement about the start of construction of the 100 th house for regional government employees. Can the minister advise the house where these houses have been built and how this will benefit the regions? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the question. Yes, we are very excited that construction has started on the 100 th home for government regional officers in Western Australia. The Liberal-National government in Western Australia is certainly taking the lead in house-building programs in regional Western Australia. We are very happy that we have managed to get this program underway and have created the result that we have in such a short time. The need is great and at last, after many years of inaction, we are delivering quality housing to regional government workers to encourage them to stay, work and provide their essential services in the regions. The new three-bedroom brick-and-tile home in Wagin is the 100 th to be built as part of the $200 million royalty for regions Housing Our Workforce strategy announced earlier in the year. The three-bedroom home is to be built by a local builder, Trevor Parsons. Trevor won the contract to build two houses in Wagin, and they will be ready for either police officers or teachers by May 2010. We announced this policy when we were right in the clutches of the economic downturn, and we were very concerned, and we were facing regular opposition questions about people in Western Australia losing their jobs. The opposition put forward an innovative plan to implement a task force to find out what to do about jobs being lost. The Liberal-National government actually got on with the job and announced projects such as the Housing Our Workforce strategy. That has not been mentioned this week, and not surprisingly so, because unemployment in Western Australia had dropped from 5.7 per cent to five per cent as at the last announcement. It is people such as Trevor Parsons out in Wagin, who is employing people in the construction of these two homes, who have driven the creation of those extra 10 000 jobs in Western Australia off the back of that very difficult financial time we have had. We absolutely stand by this program and what it was put in place for, which was both to drive the economy and to keep Western Australians in jobs, and to deliver quality housing for people in regional Western Australia. We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the question. Yes, we are very excited that construction has started on the 100 th home for government regional officers in Western Australia. The Liberal-National government in Western Australia is certainly taking the lead in house-building programs in regional Western Australia. We are very happy that we have managed to get this program underway and have created the result that we have in such a short time. The need is great and at last, after many years of inaction, we are delivering quality housing to regional government workers to encourage them to stay, work and provide their essential services in the regions. The new three-bedroom brick-and-tile home in Wagin is the 100 th to be built as part of the $200 million royalty for regions Housing Our Workforce strategy announced earlier in the year. The three-bedroom home is to be built by a local builder, Trevor Parsons. Trevor won the contract to build two houses in Wagin, and they will be ready for either police officers or teachers by May 2010. We announced this policy when we were right in the clutches of the economic downturn, and we were very concerned, and we were facing regular opposition questions about people in Western Australia losing their jobs. The opposition put forward an innovative plan to implement a task force to find out what to do about jobs being lost. The Liberal-National government actually got on with the job and announced projects such as the Housing Our Workforce strategy. That has not been mentioned this week, and not surprisingly so, because unemployment in Western Australia had dropped from 5.7 per cent to five per cent as at the last announcement. It is people such as Trevor Parsons out in Wagin, who is employing people in the construction of these two homes, who have driven the creation of those extra 10 000 jobs in Western Australia off the back of that very difficult financial time we have had. We absolutely stand by this program and what it was put in place for, which was both to drive the economy and to keep Western Australians in jobs, and to deliver quality housing for people in regional Western Australia. We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the question. Yes, we are very excited that construction has started on the 100 th home for government regional officers in Western Australia. The Liberal-National government in Western Australia is certainly taking the lead in house-building programs in regional Western Australia. We are very happy that we have managed to get this program underway and have created the result that we have in such a short time. The need is great and at last, after many years of inaction, we are delivering quality housing to regional government workers to encourage them to stay, work and provide their essential services in the regions. The new three-bedroom brick-and-tile home in Wagin is the 100 th to be built as part of the $200 million royalty for regions Housing Our Workforce strategy announced earlier in the year. The three-bedroom home is to be built by a local builder, Trevor Parsons. Trevor won the contract to build two houses in Wagin, and they will be ready for either police officers or teachers by May 2010. We announced this policy when we were right in the clutches of the economic downturn, and we were very concerned, and we were facing regular opposition questions about people in Western Australia losing their jobs. The opposition put forward an innovative plan to implement a task force to find out what to do about jobs being lost. The Liberal-National government actually got on with the job and announced projects such as the Housing Our Workforce strategy. That has not been mentioned this week, and not surprisingly so, because unemployment in Western Australia had dropped from 5.7 per cent to five per cent as at the last announcement. It is people such as Trevor Parsons out in Wagin, who is employing people in the construction of these two homes, who have driven the creation of those extra 10 000 jobs in Western Australia off the back of that very difficult financial time we have had. We absolutely stand by this program and what it was put in place for, which was both to drive the economy and to keep Western Australians in jobs, and to deliver quality housing for people in regional Western Australia. We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
We announced this policy when we were right in the clutches of the economic downturn, and we were very concerned, and we were facing regular opposition questions about people in Western Australia losing their jobs. The opposition put forward an innovative plan to implement a task force to find out what to do about jobs being lost. The Liberal-National government actually got on with the job and announced projects such as the Housing Our Workforce strategy. That has not been mentioned this week, and not surprisingly so, because unemployment in Western Australia had dropped from 5.7 per cent to five per cent as at the last announcement. It is people such as Trevor Parsons out in Wagin, who is employing people in the construction of these two homes, who have driven the creation of those extra 10 000 jobs in Western Australia off the back of that very difficult financial time we have had. We absolutely stand by this program and what it was put in place for, which was both to drive the economy and to keep Western Australians in jobs, and to deliver quality housing for people in regional Western Australia. We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the question. Yes, we are very excited that construction has started on the 100 th home for government regional officers in Western Australia. The Liberal-National government in Western Australia is certainly taking the lead in house-building programs in regional Western Australia. We are very happy that we have managed to get this program underway and have created the result that we have in such a short time. The need is great and at last, after many years of inaction, we are delivering quality housing to regional government workers to encourage them to stay, work and provide their essential services in the regions. The new three-bedroom brick-and-tile home in Wagin is the 100 th to be built as part of the $200 million royalty for regions Housing Our Workforce strategy announced earlier in the year. The three-bedroom home is to be built by a local builder, Trevor Parsons. Trevor won the contract to build two houses in Wagin, and they will be ready for either police officers or teachers by May 2010. We announced this policy when we were right in the clutches of the economic downturn, and we were very concerned, and we were facing regular opposition questions about people in Western Australia losing their jobs. The opposition put forward an innovative plan to implement a task force to find out what to do about jobs being lost. The Liberal-National government actually got on with the job and announced projects such as the Housing Our Workforce strategy. That has not been mentioned this week, and not surprisingly so, because unemployment in Western Australia had dropped from 5.7 per cent to five per cent as at the last announcement. It is people such as Trevor Parsons out in Wagin, who is employing people in the construction of these two homes, who have driven the creation of those extra 10 000 jobs in Western Australia off the back of that very difficult financial time we have had. We absolutely stand by this program and what it was put in place for, which was both to drive the economy and to keep Western Australians in jobs, and to deliver quality housing for people in regional Western Australia. We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for the question. Yes, we are very excited that construction has started on the 100 th home for government regional officers in Western Australia. The Liberal-National government in Western Australia is certainly taking the lead in house-building programs in regional Western Australia. We are very happy that we have managed to get this program underway and have created the result that we have in such a short time. The need is great and at last, after many years of inaction, we are delivering quality housing to regional government workers to encourage them to stay, work and provide their essential services in the regions. The new three-bedroom brick-and-tile home in Wagin is the 100 th to be built as part of the $200 million royalty for regions Housing Our Workforce strategy announced earlier in the year. The three-bedroom home is to be built by a local builder, Trevor Parsons. Trevor won the contract to build two houses in Wagin, and they will be ready for either police officers or teachers by May 2010. We announced this policy when we were right in the clutches of the economic downturn, and we were very concerned, and we were facing regular opposition questions about people in Western Australia losing their jobs. The opposition put forward an innovative plan to implement a task force to find out what to do about jobs being lost. The Liberal-National government actually got on with the job and announced projects such as the Housing Our Workforce strategy. That has not been mentioned this week, and not surprisingly so, because unemployment in Western Australia had dropped from 5.7 per cent to five per cent as at the last announcement. It is people such as Trevor Parsons out in Wagin, who is employing people in the construction of these two homes, who have driven the creation of those extra 10 000 jobs in Western Australia off the back of that very difficult financial time we have had. We absolutely stand by this program and what it was put in place for, which was both to drive the economy and to keep Western Australians in jobs, and to deliver quality housing for people in regional Western Australia. We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
We announced this policy when we were right in the clutches of the economic downturn, and we were very concerned, and we were facing regular opposition questions about people in Western Australia losing their jobs. The opposition put forward an innovative plan to implement a task force to find out what to do about jobs being lost. The Liberal-National government actually got on with the job and announced projects such as the Housing Our Workforce strategy. That has not been mentioned this week, and not surprisingly so, because unemployment in Western Australia had dropped from 5.7 per cent to five per cent as at the last announcement. It is people such as Trevor Parsons out in Wagin, who is employing people in the construction of these two homes, who have driven the creation of those extra 10 000 jobs in Western Australia off the back of that very difficult financial time we have had. We absolutely stand by this program and what it was put in place for, which was both to drive the economy and to keep Western Australians in jobs, and to deliver quality housing for people in regional Western Australia. We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
We are also very happy to be really driving the delivery of good transportable homes in the regions. For too long they had simply been not acceptable to people. I remember debate in the Parliament during the period when the member for Midland was the Minister for Housing and the National Party put on the agenda the view that good transportable housing should be part of the mix. We are now seeing that by encouraging the development of that side of the industry, some really innovative products in the transportable sector are moving out into regional Western Australia and delivering the sort of outcome we wanted. I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
I will tell members where these homes are being built, because that is also very, very important. Our plan is to build more than 400, and the 100 th is underway. Of those 100 that have been or are being built, 44 are in the Kimberley, 12 are in Broome, 11 are in Derby, five are in Wyndham, one is in Balgo Hills, seven are in Fitzroy Crossing, seven are in Kununurra and one is in Warmun. It is most important that we provide quality accommodation that will attract workers to the far north, where we all know the challenges are so great. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Of the 100, 33 have been built in the Pilbara, 10 are in Karratha, 14 are in Newman, two are in Port Hedland and seven are in Tom Price. Of the first 100 houses, 77 are in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Nollamara! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We are driving some quality product into that area. I will say again that we did not pursue district allowances before we pursued this house building program, because it was so important to create the economic stimulus that has seen 10 000 Western Australians go back into jobs and a drop in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent to five per cent. That is why we did it and that is why it was a good decision, and that is why we are asking this question rather than the opposition. It is staying miles away from this subject because it knows our policy is working and delivering an outcome. We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
We have built two houses in the mid-west, in Morawa; eight in the wheatbelt—in Kulin, near Wagin, Beacon, Narrogin and Tammin; and seven in the great southern—six in Katanning and one in Dumbleyung. The member for Kalgoorlie does not miss out; four have been built in Kalgoorlie and two in Esperance. Members can see that there has been a very strong focus on the north west, driving down unemployment, creating jobs in the regions, and, at last, turning around years of neglect in housing in country WA.
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