State government holds Cabinet meeting in Pinjarra, announces $600,000 of grants for Peel region

Government ministers were involved in a blitz of the Murray Wellington electorate as local MP Robyn Clarke hosted her peers on Sunday and Monday.

On Sunday, a town hall meeting was held with ministers at the Pinjarra Football and Netball Club, with members of the public raising diverse topics of conversation such as the Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation, electricity prices and local issues.

The cabinet meeting was held behind closed doors on Monday morning at the Shire of Murray council chambers.

The government also used the opportunity to announce local Regional Economic Development Grant recipients from the region.

Seven projects across the Peel region will share $618,960 as round two of the program takes shape.

Premier Mark McGowan and other dignitaries visited Pinjarra Bakery, one of the seven recipients, to taste their award-winning wares.

The other six local recipients are the Shire of Murray, Visit Mandurah, C-Wise, Southern Dirt Inc, Cape Bouvard Brewing Company and Grubs Up Australia.

Mr McGowan said $28.8 million had been committed over five years towards the RED Grants program

"The program is all about supporting local, job- creating projects across our regional cities and towns," he said.

"Projects to attract more visitors to the Peel region will provide wider economic and community benefits to support other local businesses such as cafés, restaurants, accommodation providers and tour operators."

Ms Clarke said the seven projects would help drive innovation and employment in the region.

"We have so many wonderful local businesses in the Peel region and this new round of $600,000 will help promote them to a broader audience," she said.

"I'm particularly pleased the Pinjarra Bakery is receiving additional funding.

"It's a rite of passage to drop by and grab a pie on your way into Pinjarra and this money will help them expand further and mean more people can try our delicious locally made goods."

Mandurah MP David Templeman said he was pleased some of the grants had a focus on tourism.

"This is fantastic news for the Peel region and it is wonderful to see Visit Mandurah receive funds to create a digital tourism hub in the Mandurah tourism precinct," he said.

"This will help boost tourism to our region and boost the local economy."

Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery took the opportunity to visit Schlam Engineering in Waroona, a local business committed to training the next generation of young tradespeople.

Earlier this year the government committed to reducing the cost of certain TAFE courses.

Ms Ellery said Certificate III in Engineering Fabrication was one of the courses to be reduced in price, which will assist 18-year-old apprentice boilermaker Zachary Faulkner, who works with Schlam Engineering.

"With TAFE fees for young people halved and capped at $400 this is an ideal opportunity for young people to get acquire skills in areas of job growth," she said.

"We are committed to working with local businesses such as Schlam Engineering by providing financial assistance to help with the cost of employing apprentices and trainees and reducing the cost of training in areas where jobs are available."