Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has overturned a controversial decision by regions minister Fiona Nash to make Mandurah and the Peel region a suburb of Perth, after intense lobbying by Canning MP Andrew Hastie.
Mr Hastie confirmed Mr Turnbull had made the call, after widespread discontent about the decision among local governments, business groups and residents.
By redrawing the map to make the region part of the Perth metropolitan area the federal government had excluded local governments and community groups from applying for the $297.7 million Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).
But Mr Turnbull reversed the decision after vigorous lobbying by Mr Hastie, who spent the previous two weeks arguing for the change to the Prime Minister, leader of the National party Barnaby Joyce and senior government figures around the country.
Mr Hastie said he spoke to the Prime Minister on Wednesday morning to tell him he was unhappy with just a review of the Peel's BBRF eligibility and wanted the decision overturned.
“The Prime Minister said it’s very clear that Peel is regional and we're going to reinstate it,” Mr Hastie said.
“He knows the region, he knows the issues, he was very engaged on the youth suicide problem; back in April, we had all the community leaders go and speak with him and then throughout the campaign he stayed in touch and made the commitment for the $2 million [for the Peel Youth Medical Service health hub].
“The good news is that the Prime Minister has heard this message, he understands it, he’s looked at the facts at face value and he’s responded.”
Although the region would not be eligible to apply for the first round of BBRF funding, which closes in early January, Mr Hastie said he would be working with the Prime Minister to find a way of compensating the region for the amount it had missed out on.
“We want to offset the ineligibility for round one and I'll be engaging directly with Maree Reid and Marina Vergone on this issue,” he said.
Mr Hastie credited his good working relationship with Mr Turnbull for the decision to reinstate the Peel’s regional status, but was bemused state National party figures had stayed silent on the issue.
“A lot of times when you’re problem solving, it’s about personal relationships; the Prime Minister and I first met in 2009 in Afghanistan when he was opposition leader and so I have a good working relationship with him,” he said.
“We haven’t always agreed, but we have a robust working relationship and we’re both focused on delivering for Canning and also the wider Australian public.
“I would have expected more from the state Nationals and I haven't heard a peep from them on this issue, but Colin Barnett to his credit has also been in touch with the Prime Minister, he’s lobbied in Canberra and I’ve been in touch with the Premier's office throughout this process.”
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
