Whilst the Rudd budget didn’t do much to break the drought in the Agricultural Region,
the Barnett budget has provided some welcome relief.
It includes $123m for expenditure on assets in the Wheatbelt region and $77m for assets
in the Mid West.
One of the highlights was funding to improve the regional police communications network
and upgrade country mobile phone service coverage, and extra funding for rural
ambulance services.
In the 2010-11 budget, 58 percent of road funding dollars will be spent on country roads
while only 42 per cent is spent in the metro area.
The Barnett government will provide $136m directly to local governments to undertake
construction and maintenance on their own roads, up from $123m last financial year.
As the new Chair of the Rural and Remote Education Advisory Committee I was pleased to see $100.5m funding to upgrade
country schools over four years, $10.9m to progressively upgrade the orange school bus service including airconditioning,
$51.9m over four years to upgrade regional residential colleges and continued funding for educational boarding
allowances.
Planning and design work has commenced for the $30m Dongara District High School and construction will commence on
the $3.7m replacement of the Meekathara School of the air in Geraldton.
The first part of the grain rail package has now been formalized, with $80m in state and federal funds including $46m to
re-sleeper the Avon-Albany line, $8m for preliminary work on Chester Pass Road and $12m for transitional packages.
Some of the regional budget highlights include:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
$102million to the Country Local Government Fund with $61million to be allocated to individual country local governments
and $33million to groups of country local governments to invest in significant infrastructure projects developed with the
support of the Regional Development Commissions.
REGIONAL WORKERS
$79m ongoing funding for Housing for Workers (GROH).
Significantly increased allowances for regional public servants such as police, teachers and nurses ($110.8m) to attract and
retain rural services.
HEALTH
An $8.5million dollar program under Rural Generalist Pathways over three years will provide junior doctors with training in
regional hospitals in Western Australia.
$2.5million over three years for regional men’s health to address rural health issues, particularly related to depression.
Continued support to the Royal Flying Doctor Service ($9.3m).
Work will start on the $9m Upper Great Southern District (including Narrogin) redevelopment project.
Work will start on the $9m Eastern Wheatbelt district (including Merredin) Stage 1 redevelopment project.
Continued support for the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme ($9m).
EMERGENCY SERVICES
$9.1m to construct a new career and volunteer Fire and Rescue station in Geraldton.
$20.6m for an extra 30 Community Fire and Emergency Services Officers and support staff.
$31.4m for new and ongoing replacement of fire and emergency services vehicles and equipment.
$7.1m to finalise projects to enhance emergency communication systems.
AGRICULTURE - GENERAL
Funding increased from $164m in last budget to $176m in current budget.
$39m to upgrade the department’s website to make it more responsive to the needs of people in regional communities
who rely on it for information and assistance.
$750,000 towards the implementation of the North East Agricultural Region (NEAR) project to help farmers respond to
drought and changes in climate.
$5.5million joint State and Federal funds towards a pilot program of drought reform measures in WA.
GRAINS
$30m over three years for world-class export grains research centre at Murdoch.
$9.05m over four years (inc $3m towards infrastructure in Merredin and Katanning) to evaluate the use of GM crops in
varying climates.
$13.1m over four years for new agriculture and food initiatives including:
$3.6m for Bridging the Yield Gap - information and solutions to boost grain yields and deliver an extra 2m tonnes in higher
rainfall areas.
$3.2m to improve the department’s innovation and economic analysis capability.
$2.2m for Market Access to improve market access opportunities for new products.
BEEF
$21.5m to progress the saleyard strategy.
$600,000 towards key supply chain, processing and farm business analysis to work to support the WA beef industry.
Red tape reduction and process clarification for land and infrastructure planning applications for livestock industry
expansions.
BIOSECURITY
$37m on biosecurity in 2010-11 for border quarantine, surveillance and control work for exotic pests and diseases.
Over $11.5m for control of weeds, animal pests inc feral camels, pigs and foxes.
$4.82m in new funding to be spent in 2010-11 on dog management and upgrades to the State Barrier Fence.
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
$20m, including $5m of new funding, for Natural Resource Management program in 2010-11.
FISHERIES
$62.7m including the employment of an additional 13 Fisheries and Marine Officers.
MINING
$8m to automate mining approvals.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Oakajee common infrastructure will get $339 million.
$220m over the next four years for targeted grants under the Safer Roads and State Black Spot programs.
$28million over the next four years to improve regional aviation infrastructure through the Regional Airports Development
Scheme.
$23m for on-going construction of Indian Ocean Drive Stage 2.
$450,000 for improvements at the Indian Ocean Drive intersection with Gingin Brook Road and Caraban Road.
$2.7m for the final sealing and landscape works on Stage 2 of the Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor.
COMMUNITY
$28m over four years to expand Responsible Parenting services in country areas.
$13.6million in 2010-11 to open 27 additional residential care homes in including two new four-bedroom group homes in
Geraldton and upgrading the existing hostel.
An additional $1.4million in 2010-11 and $5.6million in the next four years to the non-government sector to help establish
family support hubs across WA.
From July this year, an expected 245,000 WA Seniors Card holders will receive their rebate. Single card holders will receive
$104.80 and couples, who both hold a card, will get $157.22.
More than $18.8million will be provided to eligible customers to help ease financial pressure of rising energy prices.
The Country Age Pension Fuel Card gets $23.5 million.
A new out-of-home respite care centre will be provided in the Wheatbelt for people with disabilities.
Funding for the community Resource Centre Network ($12m).
$14m over four years for a Social Innovation Grants program.
OVERVIEW
The current budget provides for a $290m surplus in 2009-10 with a projected $286m surplus in 2010-11 and maintains the
triple-A credit rating.
To read my 2010 State Budget Reply speech click on the Parliament button on the main menu.
Barnett Budget Relief
Copyright Brian Ellis MLC © 2009 - 2011
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Electorate Office: Unit 1, Druids Hall, Corner Durlacher and Sanford Streets, Geraldton, WA 6530. PO Box 231, Geraldton, WA 6531
Ph: +61 (08) 9923 9211; Fax: +61 (08) 9923 9222; Email: brian.ellis@mp.wa.gov.au
Ph: +61 (08) 9923 9211; Fax: +61 (08) 9923 9222; Email: brian.ellis@mp.wa.gov.au