WORKER ACCOMMODATION — REGIONS
535. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Given regional accommodation
is either unavailable or unaffordable for unskilled workers, resulting in some
sleeping in their cars, would the Premier consider a short-term funding package
for small businesses to allow them to contribute to accommodation costs for
their employees?
Mr M. McGOWAN
replied:
I expect many businesses are coming up with innovative
arrangements as we speak. I think that is the advice I have had—that
there have been new campgrounds opened in some towns to allow people to take
caravans, or whatever form of accommodation they might wish, to secure work. I have
heard in some communities, people are, if you like, making rooms available for
boarders to go and stay. When I was young, boarding was quite a common practice
for people who went to a country town to work. In fact, some of my friends at
school used to have boarders staying in their homes; that was quite a common practice.
Those sorts of things in these sorts of circumstances, I think, are things that
people and communities and businesses should look at as opportunities.
In terms of the government funding a package, we can have a look
at something in light of that. Obviously, the parameters around that would be
difficult in how we would make it work and how we would make it not subject to
being exploited, and, if we did it, then, obviously, everyone would want it—every
business in Shark Bay would want it; every business in Exmouth would want it.
What if some businesses get it and not others? There are a lot of difficulties,
just on the fly, with the sort of thing that the member is suggesting, but,
clearly, entrepreneurial and innovative activity can provide opportunities for
people to provide accommodation for workers going to those communities that the
member mentioned.