Infrastructure—Regions
417. Mrs Lisa Munday to the Minister for South West:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to delivering quality infrastructure and services across Western Australia. Can the minister please outline to the house how this government is delivering for regional communities, particularly those in the South West?
Mr Don Punch replied:
Mr Speaker—
Several members interjected.
Mr Don Punch: I always like to be greeted by members of the opposition. I thank the member for the question. It is a very, very important question. We live in a world full of uncertainty. That is why I was very pleased that Community Cabinet came to Bunbury on 31 August, which, incidentally, was my birthday, and on 1 September. It shared with our community a strong vision for the future based on a strong track record of delivery. That is exactly what the community of Bunbury and the South West is looking for—that strong commitment, that strong sense of purpose based around building jobs for the future. We are at a crossroad in the state and we need to make sure we are well positioned for the future—building jobs for the future, creating the best health service possible and building houses. That is what the community down there heard. They were incredibly positive; the feedback I received was incredibly positive. A number of ministers stayed, listened and talked with community groups, and a number of follow-up meetings were held with the community around the region, talking about issues of importance and the future.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Basil Zempilas: How many was there?
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, if you want to get up and ask a question—minister.
Mr Don Punch: A lot more than when the Leader of the Opposition came, and I will talk to him about that. I was talking about jobs. Bunbury's RCR Advanced Technologies sets a great example, positioning itself for the future and positioning itself for the energy transition. We were able to support that with a $2 million contribution under the partnership program, generating a $5.3 million project with 48 jobs and $36 million in revenue and, importantly, contributing to the future. The building blocks of AMTECH, the advanced manufacturing technology facility to be based in the South West, is generating new manufacturing opportunities, looking at the cutting edge of manufacturing and how we position ourselves with both the renewables agenda and the broader advanced manufacturing sector. We are contributing $55 million towards the first major transmission manufacturing plant for the energy conversion that we are experiencing.
Through the Collie transition, $700 million is going into a major transition of the Collie economy. We have heard about the incredible investment in the Bunbury Regional Hospital; $471.5 million is going into upgrading and expanding health services. That is on the back of the work that is being done in Collie to upgrade its facilities and build a network of health infrastructure right around the South West to build a positive future.
We are delivering on the 2025 election housing commitment by expanding Housing First support services, building new houses and releasing land for future residential development. I have to say, the feedback was incredible. The feedback was incredible. I am pretty well known in the South West.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr Don Punch: When the Leader of the Opposition, that self-proclaimed messiah of the Liberal Party, as the Minister for Transport called him, did his listening tour, people were ringing me up about it and telling me where he was going. But, more importantly, they were telling me about all the negativity, the whingeing and the disappointment over the lack of vision. Contrast that with our community cabinet. Then I read the media reports and, yes, there it was, the usual round of visionless rubbish, criticism and whingeing—nothing positive.
However, one member who made a positive comment—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I call you for the first time.
Mr Don Punch: There was one member of his entourage who said something positive. They referred to the outstanding facilities at the Harvey WA College of Agriculture. They waxed lyrical about education facilities in the Harvey area and also talked about the South West community spirit.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, your interjections are not required.
Mr Don Punch: That was not the Leader of the Opposition—the messiah of the Liberal Party. It was one of his offsiders.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Self-proclaimed!
Mr Don Punch: He is self-proclaimed, yes. It was one of his offsiders who had to give a glimmer of positivity. That is a contrast between us and those opposite. We go down to the South West with a strong vision, backed up by a strong record of delivery and clear direction for the future. They go down and whinge and moan and complain so much that one of their local members—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members of the opposition, you might get one more question. If you keep interjecting, you will not.
Mr Don Punch: One of their local members had to find something to say that was positive. That is the difference.
