Latest news with #KirrileeWarr
West Australian
23-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
WA Budget 2025-26: Key regional spending revealed, with major investments across the Mid West
The State Government admitted its first post-election Budget was not sexy but delivered the essentials, with millions in extra funding set to be put into a range of regional infrastructure projects. But while the majority of Mid West election funding promises were kept, notably Labor's pledge to fund a Royal Flying Doctor Service base in Geraldton did not crack a mention this time around. In the lead-up to the election, the Cook Government committed $7.5 million towards establishing the long-awaited RFDS facility in the Mid West, but the funding was nowhere to be seen in this year's Budget — prompting frustration from Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr who said the service is critical for timely emergency care in the region's remote areas. 'I'm disappointed there appears to be no funding towards an RFDS base here in Geraldton in the State Budget,' Ms Warr said. 'Nearly 2000 patients were retrieved by the service in the Mid West over the past year — more than five people per day. 'I will continue to back important projects across the electorate and will hold this State Government to account to ensure it delivers the funding they promised at the election.' Minister for the Mid West Jackie Jarvis said she had spoken to the RFDS chief executive and said all election promises would eventually be delivered in Geraldton. 'We're working with them again to understand their timelines and to make sure that they have fully costed the project,' she said. 'It has been 105 days since the State election, that election commitment, all election commitments made in Geraldton, will be honoured as part of our four-year term.' But the Mid West did come out a winner with an additional $500m committed to the State's Strategic Industries Fund — supporting key priorities under the Made in WA plan, including fast-tracking of clean energy and major industrial projects — with the Oakajee precinct set to share in the funding. Oakajee remains part of the State Government's plan to create a renewable energy hub in the Mid West with $60m invested in the project so far. So who were the other Budget winners in the Mid West this time around? Here's the Guardian's five-minute guide to what was in it for our region. Business and development: Geraldton's port will benefit from $3.5m for detailed design of Berths 8 and 9, 'supporting future renewable energy exports like wind turbine components'. Meanwhile, $8.9m has been set aside to boost the Exploration Incentive Scheme to drive regional mining jobs. Other investments include $20m to expand the Aboriginal Ranger Program and $8.3m to progress plans to return WA's freight rail network to public ownership. Cost of living support: A second round of the WA Student Assistance Payment will allow households to apply for a $150 payment for each primary aged child or $250 payment for each secondary aged child. This comes as the first round is due to close on July 4. Eligible concession card holders will receive a one-off rebate on their water bills and $25.7m has been pledged to increase the Regional Pensioner Travel Cards by a further $100, to $775. TransWA fares will be halved, including fares for bus services connecting towns in the Mid West in an $18m promise. The reductions will begin from January 1. The Country Week Assistance Program has been given $8m to support regional participant in country week events. Housing: The Mid West is set to benefit from a major injection of funding aimed at tackling housing shortages and supporting essential workers across the region. As part of a $1.1 billion Statewide investment, $400m has been committed to building and upgrading public housing in regional areas, including Geraldton and surrounding towns. The Government will double its Government Regional Officer Housing construction program with $103.8m to build more than 100 homes and acquire land for key workers such as police and teachers. A further $25m will go into the new Regional Housing Support Fund, offering grants up to $5m to unlock housing and land supply — including subdivisions and key worker accommodation. To improve home ownership access, Keystart will also introduce a new low-deposit loan product to help more Mid West residents purchase modular homes. Health: Planning for an expansion of renal services and a radiation oncology service can begin, with $1m apiece put aside for that purpose within this year's Budget. While in Kalbarri a further $1m will go towards upgrading the health centre's air-conditioning system, improving comfort and safety for patients and staff. The Budget also includes $8.2m to attract and retain health workers in regional areas, with the Government touting that families will also benefit from a $12.2m investment in the Virtual Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hub for children which will provide specialist care for children and young people via telehealth. Those who need to rely on the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme will see the benefit of a $18.5m to allow the fuel subsidy to be increased from 26¢ cents to 40¢ per kilometre. Communities: Geraldton will see more CCTV installed as part of a $2.3m Statewide rollout to combat antisocial behaviour, while $1m is going to Police and Community Youth Centres to support youth diversion programs in the city. More than $480m per year is set to be spent on police services across regional WA, including 123 stations and nearly 1900 officers and staff, with $14.3m to provide free police academy accommodation for regional recruits. Regional courts will also benefit from $5m in security upgrades. Planning for a new evacuation centre in Kalbarri can begin with $250,000 pledged for the project as well as the Statewide commitment of $6.7m to support DFES's aerial fire response capability, with two strike teams to mitigate the threat of crop fires during the grain harvesting season. Sport: Geraldton's GBSC Sport Park will receive $3m for new toilets and change rooms, including facilities for women, while the Geraldton Netball Association is getting $2.8m to upgrade its Wonthella courts and amenities. The Backroads Gravel Festival will be supported with $450,000 in funding to keep the Mid West cycling event running for the next three years. The Midwest Kart Club in Geraldton will receive $100,000 to improve onsite medical facilities and the Dongara-Irwin Race Club has been allocated $92,000 for infrastructure upgrades. Education: Geraldton Senior High School is set for a $8m windfall for classroom refurbishments, LED lighting and air-conditioning upgrades, while Champion Bay High School will have a new gymnasium after a $23.5m promise. More than $20m will fund the establishment of new regional university study hubs, giving students in the Mid West and other regions greater access to tertiary education. Another $28m has been given to expand the School Breakfast Program to provide free breakfasts five days a week at more than 650 schools, including in the Mid West.
The Age
04-06-2025
- General
- The Age
‘Dog's breakfast': WA pet registry in limbo as anti-puppy farming laws come into effect
The Cook government's handling of a new centralised pet registration website has been branded a 'dog's breakfast' after a $9.8 million contract to build the software was abruptly cancelled, leaving the promise in limbo. The PetsWA website was a key pillar in the Labor government's anti-puppy farming legislation – which came into effect last week – and was integral to an overhaul of how pets are registered in the state. It was due to be up and running by the middle of this year and would have combined the dog and cat registries of 139 local governments. However, Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley revealed to parliament last week the government and software developer Seisma had mutually agreed to cease the $9.8 million contract. '[The contract] was entered into to establish an efficient, accessible and reliable system to support responsible pet ownership and the reforms to stop puppy farming. However, after thorough consideration, it was determined that ending the contract was the most appropriate course of action,' she said. 'As minister for local government, I am disappointed that the delivery and implementation of a CRS as planned has not been possible.' Opposition local government spokeswoman Kirrilee Warr said the 'dog's breakfast' left local governments in the lurch. 'Local governments have been waiting for several years this promised support, which would not only have made it easier for families and pets to move between local government areas, but which was also a centrepiece of Labor's Stop Puppy Farming laws,' she said. 'As recently as November, the minister was claiming the system was on track for delivery by mid- 2025, however, now we find it has been abandoned entirely.'
Sydney Morning Herald
04-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Dog's breakfast': WA pet registry in limbo as anti-puppy farming laws come into effect
The Cook government's handling of a new centralised pet registration website has been branded a 'dog's breakfast' after a $9.8 million contract to build the software was abruptly cancelled, leaving the promise in limbo. The PetsWA website was a key pillar in the Labor government's anti-puppy farming legislation – which came into effect last week – and was integral to an overhaul of how pets are registered in the state. It was due to be up and running by the middle of this year and would have combined the dog and cat registries of 139 local governments. However, Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley revealed to parliament last week the government and software developer Seisma had mutually agreed to cease the $9.8 million contract. '[The contract] was entered into to establish an efficient, accessible and reliable system to support responsible pet ownership and the reforms to stop puppy farming. However, after thorough consideration, it was determined that ending the contract was the most appropriate course of action,' she said. 'As minister for local government, I am disappointed that the delivery and implementation of a CRS as planned has not been possible.' Opposition local government spokeswoman Kirrilee Warr said the 'dog's breakfast' left local governments in the lurch. 'Local governments have been waiting for several years this promised support, which would not only have made it easier for families and pets to move between local government areas, but which was also a centrepiece of Labor's Stop Puppy Farming laws,' she said. 'As recently as November, the minister was claiming the system was on track for delivery by mid- 2025, however, now we find it has been abandoned entirely.'
West Australian
15-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
State Government's country week discount for regional families welcomed by Geraldton MLA
The State Government's announcement of funding for regional students attending country week has been welcomed by Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr. On Wednesday, the Cook Government followed through on its election commitment, putting $8 million over the next four years to assist regional families, which will be included in next month's State Budget. Students in Geraldton and other areas more than 300km from Perth will have their costs reduced by $500, while areas less than 300km from Perth will get a $250 discount. Premier Roger Cook said the funding was to assist with the cost of living. 'The Cook Government is committed to providing more relief to regional Western Australians experiencing cost-of-living pressures,' he said. 'By assisting with travel and accommodation costs, we're backing parents and helping ensure all students can be part of country week.' Schools in the Mid West will head to Perth later this year to compete in a range of sports against schools from other parts of the State. Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr said the importance of the week for regional students was not lost on her. 'I am pleased to see WA Labor honouring their election commitment to help regional families and students manage the costs of attending country week,' she said. 'Country week is more than just a competition. 'It fosters teamwork, school pride, and the development of enduring friendships. 'It is an event that is enjoyed by thousands of regional students each year, and this funding will help to reduce financial barriers for regional families to enjoy this great event.'
West Australian
08-05-2025
- West Australian
Geraldton retail forum stresses importance of accurate crime reporting between retailers and police
A Geraldton crime forum has revealed 14 assaults against retail workers have been reported since the start of the year, but because of under-reporting the actual figure could be much higher. The need for accurate reporting featured prominently at Tuesday's Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry and WA Police's Community Engagement Retailers Forum. Police urged retailers to report all incidents to help with future resourcing. The forum aimed to provide retailers tools to ensure they knew how to be crime aware and how to properly report incidents. In total, 55 retailers from across Geraldton attended the Geraldton Multipurpose Centre to hear from police, and to discuss their own situations including alleged assaults occurring in the area. Alongside them was Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr, Sandra Carr MLC who was representing Police Minister Reece Whitby on behalf of the State Government, and acting Geraldton police officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Mandy Johnson. District engagement and support manager Sen. Sgt Russell Hurst discussed the crime situation in Geraldton and provided retailers with information. In Geraldton, he said of the 14 assaults reported against retailers, none had resulted in an application for a violence restraining order. Police discussed how retailers can better protect themselves from future instances, pointing to barring notices and either misconduct or restraining orders for repeat offenders. Sen. Sgt Hurst said the orders were clear and held up in court, and had greater penalties for those who breached them. 'The benefits applying for a violence restraining order for them is that it gives them some protection,' he said. '(It) protects them from coming into their store, protects them from going to places that they work, and ultimately, just gives them that peace of mind that if they do come back, they can call police. 'We want to make sure that businesses feel supported to employ their staff, to keep their staff there, to keep their staff happy and remove any risks to them.' The forum was told the 14 incidents of assault were only the ones reported, and the true number could be much higher. Other items discussed included the retailer's role in reporting crime, police's role in handling different situations, and the justice system. Sen. Sgt Hurst said the message police wanted to get out to the community was for retailers to report incidents accurately to give officers a clear picture of what was happening in the area. 'We certainly want to provide the best service to our retailers, whilst reducing harm in the community and making sure that consumers feel safe to go out, and retailers feel safe going to work,' he said. 'Ultimately, we want to make it as hard as we can for these criminals that are hurting our community.' Police at the meeting urged retailers to report every incident, so law enforcement could get a better idea on crime statistics, which could lead to more patrols down the track. Mid West CCI chief executive Joanne Fabling said it was the role of the chamber to support its members and getting important messages like this across. After making preparations for the forum for about a year, she urged as many local retailers to ensure they correctly reported any crime. 'We want as many on board as possible,' she said. 'That critical mass is really essential to getting in front of systemic crime that is happening.'
