Royal snub for region

Figures show the Great Southern has received a tiny share of Royalties for Regions funding compared to areas in the State’s North West.

Since 2008, $6.9 billion has been funnelled into more than 3700 projects across regional WA through Royalties for Regions.

The figures from the Parliamentary Library show $351 million has been spent in the Great Southern since the program’s inception.

That is compared to $1.6 billion in the Pilbara, $962 million in the Kimberly and $594 million in the Wheatbelt.

In terms of dollars spent per resident, the Great Southern sits seventh out of the nine regions at $5843 per person, compared with Pilbara’s $24,799 per person.

Member for Albany Peter Watson said the Great Southern had been “snubbed”.

“The figures show it is in complete imbalance to the rest of the State,” he said.

“I can understand some people up north might need more money but you can’t just say the Great Southern doesn’t have issues.

“We still have the same issues down here so we should be treated equally.”

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the vastness of the State was a challenge when delivering services but the Great Southern had benefited from significant investments.

“The population of a regional centre does not determine the level of Royalties for Regions investment,” he said.

“Royalties for Regions investment is informed by the strength of individual project business cases and the strategic visions outlined in each of the Regional Investment Blueprints.

“In the 2014-15 State Budget, the Government announced the five-year $600 million Royalties for Regions Growing Our South initiative.

“Through Growing Our South, the State Government is delivering major projects, aimed at achieving more sustainable social and economic outcomes across the Peel, Wheatbelt, South West and the Great Southern regions.”

During this term of government, $111 million has been spent in the region, with funds being dedicated to Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Affordable Student Accommodation Project. Nationals candidate Robbie Sutton said the Great Southern had not been neglected.

“We were neglected before Royalties for Regions’ time but the north areas were absolutely neglected,” he said.

“A lot of their projects were shovel-ready quicker, and there were some urgent problems that had to be fixed in the Kimberley, Gascoyne and Pilbara.” Liberal candidate Greg Stocks said RFR should not be the only source of funding for Great Southern projects.

“There is this misconception that the only money when we want region funding is Royalties for Regions and that is not true,” he said.

“There are plenty of avenues for funding and the local member’s job is to make sure we are getting that funding ... its not just Royalties for regions,” he said.