REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BOARDS AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRES

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:05): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation, representing the Minister for Regional Development and Small Business, a question in regard to regional development boards and business enterprise centres.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Members would be well aware of the excellent work performed by the regional development boards and business enterprise centres in this state. Indeed, my experience is that all of these organisations are very cost effective in the manner in which they operate with government funding, whether it be from local, state or federal jurisdictions.

The date of 30 June 2008 will mark the end of the current state government funding agreements for both sectors. Approximately half of the regional development boards are coming to the end of a five-year resource agreement, while the remainder are about to complete a one-year rollover designed to bring them into alignment with the other boards. In the case of the business enterprise centres, the current three-year agreements will cease at the end of June.

It is easy to understand the eagerness of staff and board members to see a resolution of the delays which have resulted in this situation. First, BECs went through a similar situation twice in 12 months earlier this decade, receiving one-year's funding confirmation only in late May 2004 and then three-year agreements in the following March.

Secondly, the regional development boards were promised early determination of new resource agreements by the minister in the estimates process last July. Only late last year did the RDBs receive draft agreements, but with no indication of funding levels. This is particularly crucial, as the regional development boards have not received a funding increase for 10 years.

In addition, along with the BECs, RDBs find that the $65,000 provided to employee business advisers to meet the necessary oncosts is significantly inadequate. During the long waiting period, the minister and her officers in DTED and the Office of Regional Affairs have said that there is no doubt about ongoing funding, but the silence in relation to the actual levels of funding has been deafening.

At long last this week the RDBs have received financial details of the new agreements. I understand that the agreements include only a miniscule increase in funding, and now have to go to local government bodies before the final sign-off by the minister, resulting in more delays and uncertainty. In relation to the BECs, which have won five of the six national BEC awards in the last three years, they may be given their funding details later this week. However, there is no indication if there will be any increase in funding. My questions are:

1. As the member of cabinet responsible for both sectors, will the minister finalise the funding agreements for both RDBs and BECs as a matter of urgency?

2. Will she concede that the ability of the boards and BECs to give staff employment security and to let contracts has been severely impeded by the delays in finalising these funding agreements?

3. What action will the minister take to ensure this situation never arises again?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for his important questions. I will be happy to pass those questions on to the relevant member in another place and bring back a response.