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Thursday, 9 February 2012
Page: 674

James Price Point

(Question No. 1426)

Senator Siewert asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Inclusion, upon notice, on 7 November 2011:

Given that mining towns in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

have some of Australia's highest rents and costs of living; how are the social impacts of the proposed Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) precinct at James Price Point near Broome to be addressed, in particular, ensuring that:

(a) housing costs for Broome residents, which are already high, will not be

inflated to unaffordable levels by an influx of persons associated with the

Browse LNG precinct;

(b) small businesses do not suffer the unsustainable wage inflations which are usual in other Western Australian mining towns; and

(c) Broome residents will have adequate access to community services, such as hospitals and doctors.

Senator Chris Evans: The Minister for Social Inclusion has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The Western Australian Government has primary responsibility for planning matters associated with major development proposals such as the Browse LNG precinct near Broome.

The Australian Government is currently working with the Western Australian Government on a strategic assessment of the Browse LNG Precinct proposal under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). This will include an assessment of the short and longer term environmental, economic and social impacts associated with the project. Under the EPBC Act, the Commonwealth Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is required to consider any potential impacts on matters of national environmental significance. The Minister will also take into account the principles of ecologically sustainable development in making a decision on whether to approve an action or class of actions in relation to the proposed Browse LNG project.

The Commonwealth, state and local governments all have a role in the provision of community services to the residents of the Shire of Broome. For example, the Commonwealth Government, through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) funds service providers to deliver a range of community, family and individual support programs. To date in 2011-12, FaHCSIA has committed funding of around $12 million to a range of services in the Shire of Broome and over $50 million across the Kimberley region of Western Australia, including almost $30 million for Community Development Employment projects, around $1 million for Family Relationship Centres and approximately $6.4 million for municipal services.

As Broome is recognised as an area of workforce shortage it also qualifies for a number of Australian Government programs to improve access to health services. This includes the General Practice Rural Incentives Program that aims to encourage medical practitioners to relocate to and practise in rural and remote communities. Medical practitioners relocating to Broome may be eligible for a Rural Relocation Incentive Grant of up to $60,000.

In addition, the Australian Government is funding a number of specific initiatives to improve local health services in Broome. This includes providing $7.9 million in 2009-10 from the Health and Hospital Fund to construct a 12 bed paediatric unit at the redeveloped Broome Regional Resource Centre and $16.9 million in 2011-12 to upgrade and expand the Broome Hospital.