Shadow Minister for Road Safety Julie Freeman MLC says WA Police are being forced to drop hundreds of AI camera seatbelt fines exposing the Cook Labor Government’s failure to properly manage the rollout.
“Police Commissioner Col Blanch has confirmed that hundreds of AI camera seatbelt infringements have been abandoned because there was ‘no reasonable prospect’ of securing a conviction,” Ms Freeman said.
“That is not a failure of policing. It is police exercising sound judgement with the laws and resources they have been given.
“The failure sits squarely with the Cook Labor Government, which rolled out this system without properly addressing the practical and legal issues that are now emerging.”
More than 81,000 seatbelt infringements have been issued since the AI cameras were switched on, with around 5,700 already overturned through the review process. WA Police have now confirmed hundreds more are being dropped after they are challenged.
“At what point does the Government admit this is more than a teething problem?” Ms Freeman said.
“With thousands of fines overturned and hundreds more abandoned, Western Australians are entitled to question whether this system was ready for rollout.
Ms Freeman said the consequences were being felt far beyond individual motorists.
“The Cook Labor Government has poured more than $100 million from the Road Trauma Trust Account into processing and administering the flood of infringements generated by these cameras.
“That is Road Trauma Trust Account money that could have gone to black spot upgrades, regional road improvements and driver education. Instead, it is being swallowed up by bureaucracy processing fines and appeals.”
Ms Freeman said the revelation is the latest sign of a Road Safety portfolio without direction.
“Jessica Stojkovski is now the fifth Minister for Road Safety this Government has had since 2017, and Western Australians are still waiting to hear what she intends to do differently to her predecessors to bring the road toll down.
“Rolling out more cameras is clearly not the answer when the Government can’t get the basics right on the cameras it already has.
“Western Australians support fair and effective road safety enforcement, not lengthy reviews and court battles over fines the Government ultimately cannot defend.
“The Minister must explain why police, court and Road Trauma Trust Account resources are being diverted to fix problems created by this rollout instead of supporting frontline road safety measures.
“Road safety policy should be about saving lives, not burdening drivers, police and the courts with the consequences of poor Government decision-making.”
Shadow Minister for Tourism Scott Leary MLA, has warned the Albanese Government’s mishandling of the Working Holiday Maker visa program risks leaving tourism and hospitality businesses across regional Western Australia short-staffed as they prepare for their busiest season of the year.
“Regional WA’s tourism industry depends on working holiday makers and, right now, the Albanese Government has thrown that workforce into uncertainty,” Mr Leary said.
“As we head into the warmer months, cafes, pubs, hotels, caravan parks, tour operators and accommodation providers across WA are gearing up for increased visitor numbers.
“The reality is, working holiday makers are the people serving meals, cleaning rooms, guiding tours and helping tourism businesses keep their doors open.
“In Broome, businesses are always looking for hospitality workers for their busy season. In Exmouth, whale shark and reef tourism operators rely on seasonal workers to help meet demand. Across the South West, Great Southern and Wheatbelt, hospitality venues are already struggling to find staff.
“If businesses can’t find workers, opening hours are cut, accommodation capacity is reduced, visitor experiences suffer and local operators lose income, impacting regional economies.”
Mr Leary said he had already raised the issue directly with the Premier in a recent Question Time, asking what the State Government was doing to stand up to its federal Labor colleagues, only to receive political attacks instead of answers.
“Regional businesses don’t need political point-scoring. They need the Premier to pick up the phone to Canberra and start fighting for Western Australia’s tourism industry.”
Working holiday makers contribute an estimated $4.68 billion to the Australian economy each year, including $726 million spent in regional communities. Their contribution extends well beyond the workplace, supporting local accommodation, hospitality, retail and tourism businesses.
“The Albanese Government needs to urgently clarify the future of this program and guarantee regional tourism businesses aren’t left to pay the price.
“If Canberra keeps fumbling this, it will be tourism operators, hospitality venues, accommodation providers, small businesses and regional communities across Western Australia that feel it.”
Mr Leary had a personal message for the Prime Minister: Next time you visit WA, you might have to pour your own beer!
The Nationals WA have called on the Albanese Government to urgently fix Australia’s Working Holiday Maker visa program, warning processing delays and application pauses risk leaving Western Australian farmers and regional businesses without the workers they need.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Lachlan Hunter MP said the Federal Government’s decision to slow the processing of working holiday visas, alongside pauses affecting applications from numerous countries, could not have come at a worse time for regional WA.
“Harvest is approaching, and farmers across the Wheatbelt and regional WA need certainty about where their workforce is going to come from,” Mr Hunter said.
“Backpackers and working holiday makers have been part of the regional workforce for decades. They fill key seasonal jobs when farms and businesses need extra hands, often for relatively short periods.
“You cannot simply turn that workforce tap off, or slow it to a trickle, and expect regional Australia to absorb the impact.”
Mr Hunter said the consequences would extend well beyond the farm gate.
“When a backpacker comes to a Wheatbelt town for harvest, they’re not just working on a farm.
“They’re filling up at the local service station, buying dinner at the pub, shopping at the supermarket, staying in accommodation and spending their wages in local businesses. That money circulates through regional communities and supports jobs well beyond agriculture.”
Working holiday makers contributed an estimated $3.2 billion to the Australian economy in 2019, including at least $726 million spent in regional Australia.
Mr Hunter said WA farmers were already facing rising input costs, labour shortages, biosecurity pressures, seasonal uncertainty and increasing red tape.
“If a farmer cannot get enough workers when a crop is ready to come off, you cannot simply tell the crop to wait.”
Mr Hunter said the Albanese Government must immediately clarify the future of the program and guarantee that regional workforce requirements would be considered in any migration changes.
“Migration policy needs to recognise that the workforce requirements of regional Australia are fundamentally different from those of our capital cities,” Mr Hunter said.
“If Canberra wants to change migration numbers, regional farmers and small businesses should not become collateral damage.”
The Nationals WA have thrown their support behind ensuring the healthcare needs of Geraldton is met, with members passing a motion at the Party’s 2026 State Conference calling for funding for key resources at Geraldton Health Campus.
The motion calls for additional inpatient beds, onsite staff accommodation, a new community allied health building, and a publicly funded mammogram, CT and MRI service as part of the integrated cancer centre.
Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr MLA said the motion sent a clear message that improved healthcare in Geraldton requires a multi-faceted approach.
“The Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment was one of the most over-budget and delayed projects, and yet it still lacks the infrastructure needed to support our growing region,” Ms Warr said.
“The new facility is welcomed and the mental health unit will be a benefit for people in Geraldton, but without additional beds and improving the capacity to provide accommodation for healthcare workers, this facility may not see its full potential.”
Ms Warr acknowledged community concerns about stage one of the redevelopment and the new Emergency Department, but hoped the Minister would take on board some of the concerns.
“An important aspect of any project is to ensure it is fit for purpose, and feedback received to my office is that the ED has some flaws, particularly when it comes to privacy concerns in the public triage area,” she said.
“I stress this project and investment is welcomed as it can provide significant benefit for the community, but I hope the Minister can take the feedback onboard to help the hospital make improvements for patient-centred care.”
Ms Warr said while motions do not automatically become Party policy, they reflect the position of The Nationals WA’s grassroots membership and play an important role in shaping the Party’s future policy priorities.
“Health is one of the most important issues I hear from the community, and Geraldton residents deserve to access basic healthcare as close to home as possible,” she said.
“Having the infrastructure at Geraldton Health Campus would be of significant benefit not just to the local community, but to other regions north of Geraldton.”
Ms Warr said the strong support from the Party’s membership demonstrated the importance of the issue to people across regional Western Australia.
“The Nationals WA membership has made its position clear: Geraldton Health Campus needs the key infrastructure to ensure it can function with a growing population,” she said.
“The State Government needs to commit to funding to ensure Geraldton has its healthcare needs serviced properly.”
Shadow Minister for Racing and Gaming Lachlan Hunter MP says the Cook Labor Government must move quickly to guarantee certainty and stability for Western Australia’s racing industry following the departure of Racing and Wagering Western Australia Chief Executive Ian Edwards.
Mr Hunter said Mr Edwards’ departure, after six years leading RWWA, came at a critical time, with the industry already facing significant uncertainty while the Government’s Financial Sustainability and Governance Review remains underway.
“I thank Mr Edwards for his service to RWWA and to Western Australian racing,” Mr Hunter said.
“However, his departure adds another layer of uncertainty at a time when racing participants are already waiting for answers about the future of their industry.
“The responsibility now sits squarely with the Cook Labor Government to provide confidence and certainty across all three racing codes.”
Mr Hunter said clubs, trainers, owners, breeders and the thousands of Western Australians whose livelihoods depend on racing needed confidence that funding, infrastructure and the long-term sustainability of the industry would be protected.
That certainty was particularly important for regional racing clubs, which were not simply racing venues but important economic and social institutions at the heart of communities across Western Australia.
“The Cook Labor Government must ensure this leadership change does not result in further delays, instability or uncertainty surrounding the current review,” Mr Hunter said.
“The Minister needs to clearly explain the arrangements for stable leadership at RWWA, provide assurance that the review remains on track and, most importantly, give the industry confidence about what comes next.
“WA racing supports thousands of jobs and makes an enormous economic and social contribution to our State. The industry deserves more than uncertainty, it deserves clear answers and a Government prepared to provide them.
“As Shadow Minister, I will continue standing up for the thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing industries and ensuring regional clubs and participants have a strong voice in decisions that affect their future.”
Shadow Minister for Road Safety Hon Julie Freeman MLC says Western Australians deserve answers from the Minister for Road Safety, Labor’s fifth, on what action she will take to address a road toll that continues to rise.
“Western Australia’s road toll stands at 146 deaths this year, well above the five-year average of 108 for the same period. Every one of those deaths represents a tragedy, and the growing gap above the average shows the road safety crisis is deepening,” Ms Freeman said.
“The Minister has now had more than six weeks in this portfolio. That is enough time to be briefed, to read herself into the detail, and to understand exactly what has and hasn’t worked. But West Australians are still waiting to hear what she plans to do about the tragic road toll that just keeps rising.”
Ms Freeman said Minister Stojkowski was the fifth person to hold the Road Safety portfolio since Labor came to government in 2017, following Michelle Roberts, Paul Papalia, David Michael and Reece Whitby.
“Four ministers before her have come and gone while road deaths continue to climb. Western Australians don’t need a fifth minister repeating the same announcements that have already failed four times over.
“This Minister really only has one KPI: reduce road deaths and start closing the gap on our shocking road safety record.
“Western Australia has the worst road toll per capita of any state in the nation, and that is not a statistic you can spin your way out of,” Ms Freeman said.
“West Australians don’t want to hear that the Minister is still getting across her portfolio. They want to know what she is going to do that four ministers before her could not — and they want to know now.”
A stronger commitment to regional water infrastructure is needed to safeguard communities and industries across Western Australia, according to Shadow Minister for Water Peter Rundle MLA.
Speaking after The Nationals WA’s 2026 State Conference, Mr Rundle welcomed the passage of a motion calling for increased funding to maintain, upgrade and replace ageing regional water infrastructure.
“Reliable water infrastructure is not a luxury for regional WA, it’s a necessity for our communities, businesses and agricultural industries,” Mr Rundle said.
“The Cook Labor Government cannot continue with a reactive approach that waits for infrastructure to fail before acting. We need a long-term commitment to maintaining and replacing ageing assets to secure regional water supplies for the future.”
The motion called on the Minister for Water, Daniel Pastorelli, to prioritise funding for replacement and improved maintenance of water infrastructure in regional Western Australia, in particular ageing water pipelines.
It also called for Minister Pastorelli to secure the Harris Dam water supply for the Great Southern Towns Water Supply Scheme (GSTWSS).
“Millions of litres of precious water are leaking into the ground across regional WA due to poor maintenance or replacement of ageing pipes, tanks and dams,” Mr Rundle said.
“The Minister for Water also needs to investigate measures to increase capacity at the Harris Dam to maintain the integrity of the GSTWSS.”
“With the Harris Dam at only 15.4 per cent capacity (as of 25 August) and with increasing need for water across the 31 towns relying on GSTWSS, the Minister must safeguard water security for the Great Southern by ensuring water is not diverted from Harris Dam to subsidise Perth,” Mr Rundle said.
Mr Rundle said while Conference motions do not automatically become Party policy, they provide a strong indication of members’ priorities and help shape future policy direction.
“This motion, put forward by the Roe Electorate Council, was one of the highest-priority issues endorsed by Conference delegates.
“Our members have sent a clear message: regional water security cannot be ignored, and the Minister for Water must act to secure reliable supplies for regional communities.”
Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr MLA says The Nationals WA new $120 million Regional Family Guarantee will give regional children the best possible start to life and make it easier for young families to build their future in regional WA.
The Nationals WA policy, announced at the Party’s 2026 State Conference, will target six critical areas impacting regional families: midwifery, travel and accommodation, primary healthcare, allied health, and childcare.
The Regional Family Guarantee will be the first major policy delivered under a restored Royalties for Regions program.
Ms Warr said the policy would make a real difference for families across the Geraldton electorate, where access to essential services remained a major challenge.
“Your postcode should not determine your child’s future,” she said.
“The Regional Family Guarantee would help support families living and working in regional WA by investing in health, housing, and childcare to give confidence for young families building their future outside of Perth.
“It’s about ensuring every child born in Geraldton gets the best possible start in life.”
The policy, which would be funded through a restored Royalties for Regions Program under a future Nationals Government, was developed after hearing concerns from families living in regional WA and the challenges they face.
Ms Warr said the Regional Family Guarantee targeted the first 1000 days of a child’s life, which is a critical stage of their development.
“The first 1000 days of a child’s life helps shape their long-term health, development and opportunities,” she said.
“Investing early delivers benefits not just for children, but for communities and the economy.
“Where you choose to live should not determine the start your child gets in life.
“Regional families deserve the confidence that the services they need will be there when they need them, from pregnancy through to their child’s first day of school.”
The Regional Family Guarantee will invest in:
Shadow Minister for Fisheries Kirrilee Warr MLA says the overwhelming public response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into fishing in Western Australia demonstrates why the committee must now travel to affected communities to hear directly from those impacted.
With 477 public submissions received, Ms Warr said the scale of community engagement reflected the depth of concern surrounding the Cook Labor Government’s fisheries management.
“The number of submissions shows just how important this issue is to Western Australians,” Ms Warr said.
“People have taken the time to share their stories, concerns and ideas because they want to see a better future for fishing in this State.
“The committee now has a responsibility to ensure those voices are properly heard.”
Ms Warr said written submissions were only the first step and called on the Parliamentary Committee to hold public hearings in regional communities that have borne the brunt of Labor’s fisheries decisions, including Geraldton, Lancelin and Albany.
“These communities have lived through the consequences of these decisions and deserve the opportunity to speak directly to the committee,” she said.
“Regional hearings would allow commercial fishers, recreational fishers, charter operators, tourism businesses, tackle shop owners and local families to give evidence in their own communities, rather than expecting them to travel to Perth.”
Ms Warr said The Nationals WA had been calling for a Parliamentary Inquiry since October last year, following growing concerns from fishing communities across the State.
“From day one, we have fought for greater scrutiny of Labor’s fisheries management,” she said.
“We listened to thousands of Western Australians, secured the support of more than 27,000 people through our petition and ultimately secured this Parliamentary Inquiry.
“This inquiry belongs to the people who fought for it, and they deserve every opportunity to participate in the process.”
The Nationals WA came together in Perth this weekend for our 2026 State Conference, bringing members, supporters, volunteers and our Parliamentary team together to discuss the future of our Party and, most importantly, the future of regional Western Australia.
We were pleased to welcome Federal Nationals Leader Senator Matt Canavan and Leader of The Nationals in the Senate Senator Bridget McKenzie, who joined our State Parliamentary team and members from across Western Australia for a weekend of policy discussion, debate and planning.
Conference remains one of the most important events on our Party calendar. As a grassroots political movement, it is where our members have their say, where new ideas are tested and where the priorities of regional communities help shape the direction of The Nationals WA.
A map for the future
In his address to Conference, Leader Shane Love outlined a clear message for The Nationals: to recognise why so many Western Australians feel frustrated with the direction of government, while offering them a practical and credible way forward.
Housing is increasingly out of reach, the cost of living continues to rise, regional businesses are struggling to find workers and too many families cannot access the services they should reasonably expect.
At the same time, regional Western Australia continues to generate much of the wealth that drives our State and national economies.
Our task over the next three years is therefore not simply to tell Western Australians what we oppose. It is to show them what we will build.
And that work has already begun.
Restoring Royalties for Regions
One of the major announcements from Conference was a commitment to restore Royalties for Regions to its original purpose under a future Nationals Government.
Created by The Nationals WA in 2008, Royalties for Regions delivered around $7 billion in new investment into regional communities, supporting hospitals, economic development, community infrastructure and thousands of projects across the State.
But since coming to Government in 2017, WA Labor has increasingly used Royalties for Regions to meet ordinary government expenses that should be funded from the State Budget.
The Nationals WA will change that.
A restored Royalties for Regions will once again be focused on new investment that grows regional economies, creates jobs, attracts investment, unlocks housing and improves the liveability of regional communities.
Our position is clear: regional Western Australia should not have to use its development fund to pay for basic government services.
The wealth generated in our regions should help build the future of our regions.
Restoring Royalties for Regions will be a non-negotiable priority for The Nationals WA in the formation of any future Government.
$120 million Regional Family Guarantee
Conference also saw the announcement of the first major policy to be funded through a restored Royalties for Regions program — the Regional Family Guarantee.
The Nationals WA will commit the first $120 million from a restored Royalties for Regions to improving the first 1,000 days of life for children growing up in regional Western Australia and supporting families from pregnancy through the early years.
The Guarantee will focus on six areas:
At its heart, the Regional Family Guarantee is based on a simple principle: a child’s postcode should not determine the start they get in life.
Regional families should be able to choose to live, work and raise their children in the regions without accepting a lesser standard of essential services.
Standing up for regional WA
Conference also reflected on the work our Parliamentary team has been doing since the 2025 State Election.
We have stood alongside licensed firearm owners and sporting clubs as they deal with the consequences of the Cook Labor Government’s firearms reforms.
We secured parliamentary scrutiny of the Government’s decision to impose sweeping restrictions on commercial and recreational fishing.
And we have worked with road and rail safety advocates, families and the transport industry to push for practical measures to improve the visibility of freight trains at level crossings.
These issues are different, but the principle behind them is the same: regional Western Australians deserve a government that listens to them and understands how its decisions affect their lives.
The Nationals will continue to provide that voice.
The work towards 2029 has begun
Royalties for Regions and the Regional Family Guarantee are the beginning, not the end, of our policy agenda.
Over the coming years, The Nationals WA will continue working with our members and regional communities to develop solutions to the challenges facing our State.
That means tackling the housing shortage, improving regional roads, strengthening essential services and creating the jobs and industries that will give the next generation every reason to build their future in regional WA.
Our policies will not be drawn in Perth and imposed on the regions.
They will be developed with the people who live, work, invest and raise their families across Western Australia.
For more than a century, The Nationals have ensured regional Western Australians have a voice in the future of our State.
We’re not finished yet.
Lachlan Hunter MP, Member for Central Wheatbelt, has paid tribute to former Nationals Leader and long serving Wheatbelt parliamentarian Hon Max Trenorden, following his passing.
Mr Trenorden served the people of the Avon Valley and Wheatbelt in State Parliament for almost three decades, first as the Member for Avon from 1986 until 2008, and later as a Member for the Agricultural Region until 2013.
“Max Trenorden was one of the great local MPs of our region. He was a farmer, businessman, community man and, above all, a fierce advocate for country people,” Mr Hunter said.
Mr Trenorden first contested Avon for the National Country Party in 1983 before returning in 1986 and defeating long-serving Labor MP Ken McIver, who had represented Northam and Avon for 18 years.
In this inaugural speech Mr Trenorden spoke proudly of the Avon Valley, its history and its contribution to Western Australia, describing it as having a fair claim to being the State’s “premier electorate”.
“He understood country communities because he was part of them. He understood farmers, families and small businesses, and he never lost that connection during his years in Parliament.”
Mr Trenorden went on to become Leader of the Parliamentary National Party from 2001 to 2005, cementing his place as an important figure in the history of the Nationals and regional Western Australia.
“Nearly 40 years after Mr Trenorden delivered his first speech as the Member for Avon, I have the enormous privilege of representing many of those same communities as the Member for Central Wheatbelt.”
“My friend Max remained generous with his advice and encouragement long after leaving Parliament. I was fortunate to visit him recently, and he was still full of advice about politics, representing your community and what it takes to be a good local MP.”
“His contribution went well beyond Parliament. Max loved his family, his community and the Wheatbelt, and he devoted a huge part of his life to serving them.”
“My deepest sympathies are with Max’s family, friends and the many people across the Wheatbelt who knew and loved him.”
Vale Hon Max Trenorden. A great servant of the Avon Valley, the Wheatbelt and Western Australia.
The Nationals WA are saddened by the passing of former Parliamentary Leader and lifelong champion of the Wheatbelt, Hon Max Trenorden.
Max Trenorden served the people of the Avon electorate in the Legislative Assembly from 1986 to 2008, before representing the Agricultural Region in the Legislative Council from 2009 to 2013. He also served as Leader of the Parliamentary National Party from 2001 to 2005 and was a passionate and tireless advocate for regional Western Australia throughout his long Parliamentary career.
Nationals WA President Paul Gillett paid tribute to Mr Trenorden, in front of National Party members at the Party’s State Conference today.
“Max was a champion for his community, for regional WA and for our Party,” Mr Gillet said.
“He was a formidable parliamentarian who dedicated more than a quarter of a century to representing the people of the Wheatbelt and regional WA.
“His contribution to the National Party and the communities he represented will be remembered for many years to come.”
Nationals WA Leader Shane Love MLA said Mr Trenorden was one of the most respected parliamentarians to emerge from regional WA.
“Max was born and raised in the Wheatbelt, and throughout his political career he never lost sight of the people and communities that sent him to Parliament,” Mr Love said.
“He served as Leader of the Parliamentary National Party from 2001 to 2005 and, following the formation of the Coalition with the Liberal Party in 2004, became Deputy Leader of the Coalition and Shadow Minister for Energy and Science. Max understood that strong regional communities are fundamental to the strength of our State, and he spent his life fighting for them.”
Member for Central Wheatbelt, Lachlan Hunter MLA, said Mr Trenorden had left an enduring legacy in the Wheatbelt and within the National Party.
“Max was a Wyalkatchem farmer who dedicated almost 30 years of his life to serving his community in Parliament,” Mr Hunter said.
“He entered Parliament in 1986, defeated a sitting Labor Minister, and went on to build a remarkable record of service to the Avon Valley and the wider Wheatbelt.
“Our thoughts are with Max’s family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him”
The Nationals WA, in government, will invest $120 million in a new Regional Families Guarantee to give regional children the best possible start to life and make it easier for young families to build their future outside Perth.
Leader Shane Love MLA unveiled the policy today at The Nationals WA State Conference, announcing the initiative would be the first major policy delivered under a restored Royalties for Regions scheme.
The Regional Families Guarantee will target six critical areas impacting regional families: midwifery, transport and accommodation, primary healthcare, allied health, childcare, and school bus services.
“The Regional Families Guarantee is our commitment to giving every regional child the best possible start in life, making the first 1,000 days safer, better supported, and more affordable, from pregnancy through to their first day of school,” Mr Love said.
“A postcode should never determine whether you can start a family, see a doctor, find childcare, or access the healthcare your family needs, but for too many regional families, that is the reality.”
Mr Love said the policy had been developed after hearing directly from young families struggling to access essential services, including families in Carnarvon who have been forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to give birth since local maternity services were closed by the Labor Government in 2022.
“For a young family in Perth, accessing maternity care can be as simple as driving to their local hospital,” Mr Love said.
“But for families in Carnarvon and other regional communities, starting a family can mean planning to give birth hundreds of kilometres from home.
“It means finding money for fuel and accommodation, taking time away from work, and being separated from family and friends at one of the most important moments of their lives.
“And the challenges don’t stop after the baby arrives. Families need access to a local GP, allied health services when their child needs them, childcare that allows parents to work, and reliable school bus services as their children grow,” he said.
Mr Love said the Regional Families Guarantee would help make regional communities more attractive places for young families to live, work, and raise their children.
“We want families to know that they can choose to build their future in regional WA with confidence, and that their children can get the same start in life as children anywhere else in Australia.”
Regional Families Guarantee
The $120 million Regional Families Guarantee will be funded through Royalties for Regions and will comprise six key initiatives.
The Cook Labor Government has finally announced its financial assistance package for Albany’s gas transition. But with approximately 7,500 affected connections, this package falls well short of what our community needs.
Scott Leary MLA – Member for Albany said, “I have repeatedly raised these concerns in Parliament, through Questions on Notice, correspondence and direct advocacy.”
“If the Government had listened to what I have been saying and listened to the community, many of the issues now being identified would not come as a surprise,” said Mr Leary.
The offer of around $1,600 for a standard bottled-gas conversion does not reflect the real cost for many households. There is also insufficient detail for people whose homes or circumstances don’t fit the Government’s criteria, particularly older or more complex properties.
Case-by-case assistance has been promised, but we still don’t know what that means, who will qualify or what costs will actually be covered.
“Most importantly, I am urging residents and businesses not to do anything yet.” Mr Leary said.
“Do not purchase appliances, arrange conversions or spend your own money on the assumption you will be reimbursed. The Government has said no action is required at this time, with details on the funding process and how it will be accessed not due until October. Wait for the formal pathway, eligibility criteria and instructions.”
“The Government’s decision to now undertake a Trade Capacity Assessment is also laughable, insulting and inadequate. We have been warning for months about the lack of skilled trades and the enormous workload this transition will create.”
“This should have been planned before the transition was announced, not studied afterwards.”
Albany deserves a properly funded and properly planned transition, with clear answers for everyone, not just those who neatly fit the Government’s criteria.
“Albany has been speaking. It’s time the Government started listening.” said Mr Leary.
Shadow Minister for Tourism Scott Leary MLA says the Premier and Tourism Minister has failed to stand up for Western Australia’s tourism industry after he refused to say whether he had acted over changes threatening the supply of backpacker workers to regional WA.
In State Parliament today, Mr Leary asked the Premier what action he had taken with his Federal Labor colleagues following reports Working Holiday Maker visa applications had been paused for 24 countries and delayed for a further 19.
Mr Leary said the question was simple – had the Premier acted to protect WA tourism businesses that rely on Working Holiday Makers to fill critical workforce shortages?
“The Premier had every opportunity today to tell Western Australians what he has done to stand up for our tourism industry – but he refused to answer,” Mr Leary said.
“That should be deeply concerning for tourism and hospitality operators across regional WA who are already struggling to find enough workers.
“Working Holiday Makers are not just tourists. They are a critical part of the workforce in regional communities across the state, working in our hotels, restaurants, cafes and tourism businesses.
“If fewer backpackers can get to Western Australia, it will be regional businesses that feel the impact first.”
The latest concerns follow the Federal Labor Government’s decision to remove priority visa processing for regional employers, adding further pressure to businesses already struggling with persistent workforce shortages.
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA said the State Government could not claim tourism as a priority while remaining silent when Federal decisions threatened the workforce underpinning the industry.
“The Premier is also the Tourism Minister. He should be on the phone to Canberra making it crystal clear that Western Australia cannot afford decisions that make it harder for regional tourism businesses to find workers,” Mr Leary said.
“Regional tourism operators deserve to know whether their Tourism Minister is actually fighting for them.”
