Commonwealth playing politics at the expense of South-West communities

16/08/02 State Development Minister Clive Brown today called on the Commonwealth Government to stop playing politics and honour its pre-election offer of $15million worth of industry assistance to South-West communities.

16/08/02
State Development Minister Clive Brown today called on the Commonwealth Government to stop playing politics and honour its pre-election offer of $15million worth of industry assistance to South-West communities.
Mr Brown said that the Howard Government was morally bound to provide assistance to industry, having both promised it and advertised for expressions of interest before last November's federal election.
The Commonwealth's $15million Forest Industry Development Assistance Package for South-West Western Australia (FIDWA) was advertised in the Saturday, September 15, 2001 edition of The West Australian, with expressions of interest closing on October 19, 2001, just a few weeks before the Federal election.
"Here is a clear example of the difference between a Government in election mode and a Government in cost-cutting mode," Mr Brown said.
"They went into the Federal election advertising for expressions of interest in the FIDWA program and now they are trying to save money wherever they can, because of their border-protection budget blowout.
"It is my understanding that they haven't even replied to the companies that applied for funding."
Mr Brown said the Commonwealth's claims that it was withholding funding because the jarrah yield options in the State Government's draft Forest Management Plan were too low were nonsensical.
"The Commonwealth advertised their program in September last year, eight months after the Gallop Government was elected with a clear mandate to end the logging of the State's old growth forests," he said.
"Not only were they fully aware of our policy, they were fully aware of the State's 140,000cu.m indicative jarrah yield, announced by the Minister for the Environment on June 1, 2001.
"To turn around now and say that they won't honour their commitment due to the Draft Forest Management Plan providing a range of options up to 164,000cu.m, shows that they are more interested in playing politics than they are in the future of communities in the South-West."
The State Government yesterday released its draft Forest Management Plan, with a range of sustained jarrah yields from 106,000 to 164,000cu.m, plus an unused prior allocation of 339,00cu.m.
Mr Brown said the Gallop Government had already spent millions of dollars on industry development in the South-West since coming to office, outlining a number of initiatives that included:

  • more than $1million for the Nannup Mill;
  • up to $1.5million support for the Manjimup Food Processing Industry;
  • interest Rate and Wage Subsidies for main street businesses in the Shire of Manjimup;
  • facilitation of a new multi-purpose sport and recreation centre for Pemberton through the purchase of the old Pemberton Sports Club for industry development purposes;
  • purchase of a Bridgetown building for industry development purposes;
  • funding for the Timber Industry Centre for the timber furniture industry;
  • funding of the 'Designing Futures' forum for the fine timber craft and studio furniture industry;
  • the funding of more than 30 business plans and feasibility studies;
  • the funding of several business relocations to the South-West;
  • the funding of two major head-works projects;
  • sponsorship of the Manjimup Motocross; and
  • sponsorship of the Timber Communities Australia Conference.
The Minister urged Federal MP for Forest Geoff Prosser and Warren Blackwood MLA Paul Omodei to support the Gallop Government's industry development efforts in the South-West by calling on the Commonwealth Government to honour its pre-election offer and provide the full $15million of industry assistance funding to South-West communities.
Minister's office: 9222 9699