Crime prevention headlines Kimberley Budget items

Premier Mark McGowan handed down his third Budget as Treasurer on May 11 with more than $50 million pumped into crime prevention programs in the Kimberley.

As the cost-of-living continues to soar, the State Government has also allocated $715m to deliver a $400 power bill credit to about 750,000 homes to help ease pressure on households.

The payments will be split over two equal payments in the July-August and November-December billing cycles.

The Kimberley could also share in some major housing relief with the State Government investing $61.6m to refurbish and add GROH housing, $49m to provide 100 homes across regional WA for those sleeping rough and $450m to boost social housing stock across the State.

In addition to crime prevention, disaster recovery headlined the funding for the Kimberley with $13.4m set aside for a flood recovery task force.

To tackle the ongoing crime crisis in the Kimberley more than $50m has been allocated to crime prevention and justice projects.

Some $11.7m has been allocated to extend Operation Regional Shield, another $11.7m will go towards the Target 120 program to extend the trial period of the initiative at all sites until 2025 and a further $11.8m has been allocated for the Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy, including piloting an Immediate Response Safe Space initiative in Broome.

The promised one-stop domestic and family violence hub in Broome has also been allocated $16.3m and the banned drinkers register will receive $10.4m to enhance the program across all sites.

The Government will also pump more than half a billion dollars into key transport infrastructure in the region including $380m for stage four of the Manuwarra Red Dog Highway, $120m to upgrade Marble Bar Road and $15m for upgrades at Broome Port.

Wyndham and Derby Ports will also receive upgrades to the tune of $1.8m while $2.3m will go to seal Warmun Airstrip and $800,000 will go to make a third weekly return service between Kununurra, Halls Creek and Balgo permanent.

More than $10m has been allocated to help students in the Kimberley including $2.9m in travel and work placement assistance for regional nursing students and $8.2m to upgrade WA Country Health Service staff housing.

Some $5.4m has been allocated for Aboriginal youth mental health services in the East Kimberley as well as a further $1.3m allocated to deliver affordable accommodation for medical service employees in Halls Creek through the North-West Aboriginal Health Fund.

A range of job boosting investments were also allocated in the Budget including $2.5m set aside to increase regional apprentice travel and accommodation allowances with a further $3.5m set aside to expand heavy-vehicle driving training programs in the Kimberley and Pilbara and $673,000 to complete stage one of the Bidyadanga Land Activation Project.

More than $17m will be pumped into environmental and climate change initiatives including $31.3m for an industry support and transition package and to support management of the Buccaneer Archipelago Marine Parks.

A further $2.2m is allocated for an electric vehicle smart charger and vehicle-to-grid trial through Horizon Power, $1.9m to develop a West Kimberley climate change adaption strategy and $10.4m to boost WA’s animal disease preparedness.

Premier McGowan said the Budget continued the Government’s record of delivering for the Kimberley.

“We are committed to keeping the community safe in the Kimberley, with our Budget including important investments into regional policing and programs targeting at-risk young people,” he said.

Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said the Government had delivered a record investment in regional health, housing and transport projects.

“This Budget builds on the significant support our Government is providing to the Kimberley and delivers major investment in initiatives to build a safer, stronger community,” she said.

“We are working hard for the Kimberley and will continue to work with the local community to help make a positive difference to lives of people that live here.”