ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:49): As a supplementary question, is the minister confident we have the construction capacity within this state to deliver these 700 school projects and 1,500 houses in a bit under two years?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:49): It will be an incredibly complex and difficult issue, but we will spend as much of that money as we possibly can. How we are going about the issue is a fair point raised by the honourable member. Yes, it is an incredible ask, but—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon Mr Wortley and the Hon. Ms Lensink will come to order. The minister is answering a very important supplementary question.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: This government will certainly not throw its arms in the air and say, 'We can't spend it all; we won't even bother to try.' No-one questions that it is difficult. The Coordinator-General will be working under my colleague the Minister for Infrastructure. I know from information he has provided that one of the ways he is looking at ensuring we can do this, particularly in regional areas where it will more difficult, is to try to get a builder who can package up a range of these in regional areas as the most effective use of resources. This government will do everything within its power to ensure that we spend as much of this money as we can, and I will be very disappointed if we do not do better than any other state.