OAKAJEE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE — 2021–22 STATE
BUDGET
516. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for State Development,
Jobs and Trade:
The state budget released last week
allocated only $7.5 million for an entrance road into the Oakajee industrial
estate in Geraldton. Given that major potential investors, including BP
Australia, are saying that they cannot invest in industries at the estate until
major enabling infrastructure such as a port, a 330-kilovolt tie-in to the
south west interconnected system, and water and roads are installed, how can
anyone believe that the minister is serious in his intentions to develop
industries at the Oakajee estate?
Mr R.H.
COOK replied:
I think the answer would be a $40 million
hydrogen industry fund and a $100 million investment attraction and new
industries fund. The McGowan government is stepping forward to diversify the
economy and create the new industries and the
new jobs of the future. That underpins our entire approach associated with
making sure that we seize upon the opportunity that hydrogen, fuelled by
renewable energy, represents for Western Australia. That is why we have
invested so heavily in creating these funds. That is why these funds are
available to make the strategic investments that we need and that is why these
funds are an important part of the McGowan government's diversification
of the economy and the creation of jobs.