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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 805 asked in the Legislative Council on 19 August 2020 by Hon Peter Collier

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

ROYALTIES FOR REGIONS — PROJECTS

805. Hon PETER COLLIER to the Minister for Regional Development:

I ask this question on behalf of Hon Dr Steve Thomas, who is on urgent parliamentary business.

I refer to the royalties for regions program.

(1) What assessment has the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development done on previous royalties for regions projects and programs that have left ongoing management or maintenance costs to the state or local governments?

(2) Will the minister provide a current list of such projects or programs and the estimated ongoing costs?

(3) What projects or programs have been provided with ongoing funding for management or maintenance costs and for what levels of funding?

(4) What is the total of royalties for regions funding spent on Labor election commitments since March 2017?

Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:

I thank the member for the question.

(1)–(2) I am advised that no formal assessment has been undertaken by the department; however, this issue is often raised with me by regional communities. I understand that it has been standard practice under the royalties for regions program for recipients to agree to take responsibility for and make appropriate arrangements to fund ongoing maintenance and management of new facilities. Despite this, we have received a number requests from local governments for further investment in infrastructure such as solar power systems to help them cope with ongoing operating costs. Examples include the Ningaloo Centre in Exmouth and the Gascoyne Junction Tourist Park.

(3) Specific royalties for regions–funded projects under the previous government that include a provision for ongoing management or maintenance activities across the forward estimates include: the Albany Entertainment Centre, $2 million; the Goldfields Arts Centre, $0.6 million; the community safety network program, $34.9 million; and remote swimming pools, $2.9 million.

(4) The 2017–18 state budget included more than $1 billion of investment in new regional projects.