Opp'n plan for another Food Centre a waste of public money

13/12/96

The Opposition has shown its carefree attitude to spending public money with its promise to set up another Food Centre in Western Australia at a cost of more than $3 million.

Commerce and Trade and Regional Development Minister Hendy Cowan said such expenditure, included in the Opposition's regional development policy, would be wasteful, because WA already had a Food Centre.

"The WA Food Centre has been operating in East Perth for two years and already has runs on the board when it comes to improving and promoting WA food products," Mr Cowan said.

"It was established as a one-stop shop service facility to the food industry in this State and provides market and technical information, consulting advice and training support to all participants in the food processing chain from grower to retailer.

"The Department of Commerce and Trade and Agriculture WA have allocated $1.5 million over four years towards the centre's budget .

"However, the centre is well on the way to becoming self-funding, through fee for service operations, with a target of four years to achieve that goal.

"The fact that the centre already has 95 corporate members testifies to the level of industry acceptance it has achieved in a relatively short time.

"The Opposition really does need to think out its spending proposals more carefully if it is ever to be regarded as a responsible financial manager and it also needs to consult more with the industries it claims to be trying to assist if it is to have any credibility."

Media contact: Peter Jackson 222-9595