Member for Mandurah David Templeman has criticized the Peel region’s share of Royalties for Regions funding, which is the lowest out of the West Australian regional divisions, despite being the third-highest contributor of royalties to the state government.
He also stated an elected state Labor government would keep the funding model, but redistribute funding to make it more equal between the regions.
Concern was raised last week at the Peel Regional Leaders Forum (PRLF), where local commercial and political leaders discussed the region’s future.
“Of the nine regions, the Peel is the third highest contributor of royalties to Government. Yet, in the years 2008-2014, of $5.6 billion returned to the regions Peel received a measly $112 million, or two per cent,” PRLF executive John Lynch said.
“This was by far the lowest allocation to any of the regions. By comparison, the Wheatbelt and the South West received over $500 million each.
“This inequity continues. In 2014/15 Peel received $30 million, or three per cent of the $867 million allocated.”
Mr Templeman said the Peel region had been snubbed under the current Royalties for Regions funding, and despite Mandurah being a metropolitan city, more funding should be made available given the amount put in to the model.
“The Liberal-National Government has snubbed the Peel region for the past eight years,” he said.
“These figures speak for themselves and expose the Liberal-National Government’s Royalties for Regions con-job. Funding for the Peel region has been absolutely dwarfed by other regions like the Pilbara, to the tune of more than $1billion.”
Mr Templeman said both the state arms of the Liberal and National parties “talked up” their credentials as representative of regional voters, yet the lack of support locally showed their failures.
“The Liberal-National Government has failed the Peel region. They are part of the same government. They both have Ministers at the Cabinet table and are both responsible for snubbing the region,” he said.
“WA Labor will continue the Royalties for Regions Program if elected to Government in March 2017, but we will also ensure that regions like the Peel and South West receive a much fairer share of funding because of our significantly higher populations and needs.
“The Liberal-National Government has racked up the biggest State debt and budget deficits in WA’s history and the Peel community has a right to wonder why funding has flowed to other parts of the State, when there’s big issues that need to be addressed in our region.”
