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Three leading members of the WA Opposition were in the East Kimberley last week seeking the opinions of local people. Opposition leader Colin Barnett, Opposition leader in the Upper House Norman Moore and Shadow Health Minister Mike Board spoke with numerous people in Wyndham and Kununurra before heading south on a tour of Kimberley towns. After visiting Wyndham Hospital, Mr Board said a future Liberal Government would look at health care in the regions with a more holistic approach, rather than the centralist approach employed by the current State Government. He said health should not be judged from a purely financial perspective. |
Mr Barnett listened with interest to representatives of community groups, farmers and residents and concluded that the major local issues at the moment were land release and development. He said that the Lower House seat of Kimberley was now winnable from an Opposition perspective and suggested a future Liberal Government would certainly progress development and land release in the East Kimberley. He admitted the Liberals had not done as much as they could for the area during their last term in government, but promised this would change. Mr Barnett and Mr Moore consistently took notes on local concerns and said these would be used to determine policy in numerous areas. |
Issues would be dealt with separately, not as a total regional policy document, as had been done previously. Farmers Gabby Bloecker and Rob Boshammer outlined farmer's concerns and explained the need for more land release and the progressing of Ord Stage II. Kimberley Primary Industries Association executive officer David McKerrell elaborated on the problems lack of land release has caused. Following a working breakfast at Lakeside Resort, the three went on to talk to Shire representatives, sugar mill management and toured Kununurra District Hospital. Following lunch, they met with Darren Spackman to discuss issues associated with the water catchment area for Kununurra's bore field. |