Government introduces legislation to parliament that will strengthen relationship and responsibility between regions and their ministers

28/6/01
The State's regions will be better represented under legislation introduced into State Parliament this week.
Premier Geoff Gallop announced today that the Regional Development Commissions Amendment Bill 2001 would improve and strengthen the relationship between regional ministers and their corresponding regional development commissions.
This would effectively give regional ministers full responsibility for their development commissions.
Dr Gallop, who chairs the Cabinet Standing Committee on Regional Policy, said the Government was committed to improving the representation of regional Western Australia.
However, under existing legislation (the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993), the State's nine regional development commissions were responsible to just one minister, the Minister for State Development.
"The development commissions play a vital role in facilitating and promoting economic and social development in their regions," Dr Gallop said.
"However, the current legislative set-up does not give people and organisations in regional areas enough opportunity to be properly consulted and represented in Government decision-making.
"Under the new legislation, regional ministers will become fully responsible for their corresponding development commissions, both in terms of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985.
"Similarly, regional development commissions will become answerable and accountable to their regional minister.
"Through such an arrangement, people in regional Western Australia will have access to a minister with a specific interest in the issues that concern them.
"They will also have access to a development commission that is accountable to the Minister to assist in resolving those issues, in partnership with industry, the community and local government."
Media contact: Tessa Hopkins - 9222 9975