Moore MP Shane Love MLA has congratulated regional communities for their successful campaign that has today seen Labor reverse its heartless cuts to CRCs statewide but stressed that the fight to save Moora College continues.
The McGowan government confirmed a 40 percent funding cut to the state’s 105 CRCs in its first budget, impacting CRC operating budgets and traineeships.
Mr Love congratulated regional communities for their unified and vocal grassroots campaign and said petitions with more than 5,000 signatures opposing the CRC funding cuts had already been tabled in Parliament.
“Some CRCs had already been forced to make tough decisions about staffing and opening hours and the effects were going to be felt far and wide, impacting the most isolated and vulnerable people in regional communities” he said.
“Our CRCs are the hub of regional communities, they are the shopfront for government services, provide banking, link people to technology, provide traineeships, assist with funding and projects for community groups.”
Mr Love said with the full backing of the Nationals WA, those regional communities have resisted and Labor have backed down.
“Last September, Premier McGowan made a flippant remark in Parliament indicating that everyone now owns a smart phone and CRCs were irrelevant – this did not sit well with regional people who rely on CRCs,” he added.
“For example, the Mingenew CRC has worked to fill local gaps in service – it is also the post office, the child care centre and a day activity centre for 14 seniors. “With reduced funding, the weekly sessions for seniors which included social networking and mobility activities were under threat.”
Mr Love said Labor’s budget repair message was wearing very thin and Royalties for Regions and essential services across Moore could not be cut without any pain.
“Regional communities have forced a Labor backflip on Schools of the Air and CRCs, but the fight continues to keep Moora College open,” he added.
