A draft report, released last month, recommended Royalties for Regions legislation be repealed or severely restricted in what it could deliver to projects in regional WA.
The ERA stated that Royalties for Regions resulted in inefficient outcomes and the Government was setting aside ‘excessively large amounts of funding’ for regional investment, placing the State Budget under unnecessary pressure.
‘It is likely the funding could be better utilised elsewhere,’ the report states.
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READ NOW‘If Royalties for Regions is to be retained, more stringent conditions should be developed.’
However, the Nationals submission argues that Royalties for Regions has filled a void in regional spending and is now focusing on projects that will benefit all of WA.
Agricultural Region MLC Martin Aldridge said the funding should be judged on the value projects brought to regional life and the economic opportunities they create.
‘The proof is in the pudding; with more than 3500 regional projects rolling out in the past five years, we have begun to address the backlog of infrastructure projects in regional WA,’ Mr Aldridge said.
To view the ERA report, visit tinyurl.com/nweehug
To view public submissions, go to tinyurl.com/|pp99ypk.