STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORUM

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about the State/Local Government Forum.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: The minister's State/Local Government Forum is currently the subject of change as a result of the proposed machinery of government changes announced in April by the Minister for State/Local Government Relations. The proposal is to have the forum managed by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and that the Premier will have carriage of the forum. The forum is referred to in the State/Local Government Relations Agreement, and annually the agreement includes a series of priorities, many which are subject to the work of the forum. My questions are:

1. Can the minister confirm how many forum meetings she has attended since being appointed as the Minister for State/Local Government Relations?

2. Can the minister advise when the next meeting of the forum is scheduled and whether any new priorities for 2013-14 will be released?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for her question. She is obviously not aware that a forum was conducted just the other week on 4 October. Under the new arrangements, it was coordinated by Premier and Cabinet, chaired by the Premier and attended by a number of people, including myself. Clearly, the member is out of date; she is out of the loop and really just does not know what is going on.

I am pleased to report on the subjects that were discussed at the forum. There was a number of strategic priorities. There were issues around regional development. There were issues around economic development and industry procurement. The China engagement was also a topic for discussion. The Premier, with the forum, has agreed that under the new arrangement there will be three forums a year. The next forum is to be advised, but he is committed to three forums a year.