Royalties for Regions shines in the Liberal-Nationals first Budget, Holt

Author: Colin Holt
Published on: 14-May-2009

Nationals President Colin Holt has praised the Liberal-Nationals Government budget for 2009-
10, saying The Nationals continued to deliver outstanding results for regional communities.

“Our key policy, Royalties for Regions, is already working hard for communities as far north as
Kununurra right through to Esperance and Albany.

“Since coming to Government in September 2008 The Nationals Royalties for Regions policy
has underpinned a new wave of investment in the regions which has generated renewed
optimism and confidence throughout the State,” Mr Holt said.

“Despite the tough economic times we have notched up significant runs on the board for
the communities we represent without damaging the State’s AAA credit rating or
compromising Royalties for Regions.

“With State revenue in decline, savings had to be found right across government to maintain
a strong Budget position, and we did not expect Royalties for Regions to be exempt from
that process.

“The savings made under Royalties for Regions were no more or less than the savings
required of all government agencies to meet the three per cent efficiency target,” he said.
Mr Holt said the State Budget reflected The Nationals commitment to work on behalf of all
regional Western Australians.

“The Pilbara Revitalisation Plan is a $300 million commitment to modernise and transform
Pilbara communities over the next four years,” he said.

“With matching funding from the Commonwealth and Industry we could start to see a real
difference in the quality of life for people living in the North West.

“I am also particularly pleased to see funding to support the construction of 400 Government
Regional Officer Homes (GROH) in regional areas of the State in the Budget.”

Just some of the other regional highlights include:

• $11million has been allocated in 2009-10 to supporting the development of a
Community Resource Centre Network which will provide residents in more than 100
small rural communities with access to a wide range of information, services, training
and development opportunities;
• $16.08million has been allocated to the Exploration Incentive Scheme in 2009-10 as
part of an $80million commitment which encourages exploration in WA, particularly in
minerals greenfields areas and frontier petroleum basins, to assist in maintaining the
long-term sustainability of the State’s resources sector
• $37.7million investment in staff accommodation for health workers in rural WA
• $2.3m to continue development of the Carnarvon Food Basin and Gascoyne and
Goldfields pastoral industry, including continued assessment of new technology for
the production of fruit and vegetable crops and inspection of pastoral leases.
• An amount of $12.5million in 2009-10 has been allocated as part of an $80million
commitment to the Country Age Pension Fuel Card to provide age pensioners in
country WA with $500 worth of fuel and taxi travel a year to help cover the cost of
their travel. Up to 35,000 aged pensioners will benefit from the Fuel Card.
• $6.5million will be invested over two years to improve power supply to 13 communities
in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Mid West through the Town Reserve Regularisation
Project. This is a collaborative program with the Department of Housing and Works.
• $29million towards the on-going construction of Indian Ocean Drive Stage Two, a
55km section between Ocean Farms Estate and Cervantes and $13.1million towards
the upgrading of Great Northern Highway between Muchea and New Norcia.

Mr Holt, who is the Member for South West (elect), said the next step is for the Government to
enshrine Royalties for Regions in legislation so it has longevity beyond this Government’s life.

“I’m looking forward to assisting the Government shepherd the Royalties for Regions
legislation through the Parliament after the 22nd May when the new Upper House is sworn in,”
he said.

Visit www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au for the full Budget papers.
For more information please contact Colin Holt on 0418 902 204.