Judi Moylan (Pearce, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I certainly welcome the opportunity to propose and speak to this private members’ motion on area consultative committees as it arose out of meetings with constituents during my regular visiting rounds out in the electorate. I would like to take the opportunity to thank members who are contributing to this debate in the chamber this evening and particularly to thank the member for O’Connor—my neighbouring electorate—for seconding this motion. Concerns about the future of regional development in Australia were raised in more than one locality in the vast geographical spread of Pearce. It is one thing for a new Labor government to push its own ideological views in determining funding and policies for regional Australia, but the failure of the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia to ensure a smooth transition and to neglect to keep those who run the area consultative committees informed is poor form indeed.

In March 2008, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government announced that the ACC network would undergo a name change and take a broader role. It was instructed to undertake extensive community consultation. The ACCs complied in a ‘methodical, extensive and professional manner’. While each ACC presented its own findings to the department and government, a joint West Australian response was also compiled and distributed. Stakeholders and community members participated in these consultations. At a meeting in January 2009, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government indicated that Regional Development Australia in Western Australia would remain independent with similar funding to that currently received over a three-year period, which is about $300,000. The ACCs would continue to seek third-party projects and government would encourage cross-membership on boards with a closer alignment between the RDAs and the development commissions through a memorandum of understanding. By 8 April, that ACC staff received an email saying:

… that the network would be absorbed into the state Regional Development Commissions.

And:

The new arrangements are to come into effect on 1 July 2009.

And:

As a result it is not likely that the department will be extending the funding period … which ceases on 30 June 2009.

The email stated:

The Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia wished to meet with the chairmen.

Up until 22 April, there was no communication, it is my understanding from talking to people involved, directly with the minister or the parliamentary secretary and all nine West Australian chairs then got together and signed a letter to the minister requesting advice and guidance. The letter also sought a meeting, with the chairmen offering to fly to Canberra at a time that suited the minister. On 1 May, the parliamentary secretary met with the Kimberley ACC, I understand, and told them that ‘the ACCs were gone’. As one person wrote to me:

Given that the chairs, deputy chairs are ministerial appointments and along with the board carry out this work on a voluntary basis giving freely of their time, expertise and guidance in the region, I find it extraordinary that the minister is so dismissive of them.

I endorse these sentiments and condemn the shabby manner in which those involved in the regional development program have been treated.

This debate provides an opportunity in the short time available to me to personally thank all of those, paid and unpaid, who so competently carried out the work to improve regional development and generate jobs. I want to put it on the record in this House that I appreciate the contribution they have made to regional Australia. It is both rude and unbecoming for ministers of the Crown to treat people with such contempt. We have witnessed shows of shock-horror in this place when businesses have sacked people by email, and we should be able to expect higher standards from the government of the day. Everyone I have worked with in Pearce has approached their work in a highly professional manner, using their skills and areas of expertise to better local communities, and we are grateful for that contribution.

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