The McGowan Labor Government has announced a new $150 million Housing Investment Package for Western Australians striving for home ownership or a quality home to live in.

The significant funding package for more social and affordable housing provides additional homes for people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness, while supporting the WA economy and the important housing construction industry.

The Housing Investment Package will deliver:

• $125 million for more than 300 new public housing units targeting homeless and vulnerable people on the priority waitlist;
• $6 million to refurbish 20 regional and 50 metropolitan public housing properties; and
• $19.2 million for 200 additional shared equity homes, delivered in partnership with Keystart – WA’s low deposit home ownership scheme.

Shared equity home ownership provides people who would not otherwise access home ownership, with lower deposit loans and no lender’s mortgage insurance, whereby they co-own a share of the property with the State Government, which lowers their loan amount.

The $150 million package comes on top of the $335.8 million already budgeted to be spent on building and refurbishing social and affordable homes over the next two years.

Over the past 12 months, the building and construction sector has received significant stimulus boosts through a string of measures by the McGowan Government designed to stimulate the sector and create jobs.

These include the temporary changes to the successful Keystart model, which has made a positive contribution to helping Western Australians into home ownership.

Keystart’s temporary changes to income limits for borrowers, which increased by $15,000 for singles and couples and by $20,000 for families, was to end on December 31 but will now be extended to June 30, 2020. The income limits will revert to previous levels on July 1, 2020.

The McGowan Government has also approved an additional increase to Keystart’s borrowing limit by $437.2 million to support more Western Australians in achieving home ownership. This follows a series of approved extensions to extend Keystart’s loan book and will boost its lending capacity to $5.3 billion.

Since the inception of Keystart in 1989, more than 107,000 home loans have been formally approved helping hundreds of thousands of Western Australians to get into the market and achieve home ownership.

The Housing Investment Package announced today comes on top of the $535 million invested by the McGowan Government recently to help stimulate the WA economy and create jobs for Western Australians.

“This package will go a long way to helping those in need, get into a home,” said Premier Mark McGowan.

“It’s a result of our responsible Budget management, and it’s Western Australians that will be reaping the benefits.

“The $150 million boost to our housing construction industry will help create 1,000 new jobs and ensure this vital industry in the WA economy continues to grow.

“It will boost the supply of short and long-term housing options for people experiencing difficulty getting into a home and supports people at risk of homelessness through the availability of more social and affordable housing.

“The Housing Investment Package and the extension to Keystart’s income eligibility changes are all about putting home ownership within the reach of more Western Australians, supporting some of our most vulnerable Western Australians and stimulating the economy.”

Housing Minister Peter Tinley said, “this Housing Investment Package offers a much-needed boost to the WA economy, while directly supporting the residential construction sector.

“The package will provide around 1,000 jobs in the property and home building industries and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity.

“This package, designed to improve the responsiveness of the social housing system, will generate significant cost savings to government and the community and produce benefits in financial outcomes and also in the improved quality of life for individuals.

“It complements recent changes to the State’s highly-successful Keystart scheme.

“Since these changes to Keystart’s eligibility criteria, it has received 2,580 applications – 1,292 of which were formally approved and 187 of which were done so under the new income limits.”

Community Services Minister Simone McGurk said that homelessness is something that people experience at a specific point in time, and does not define their lives or their long-term prospects.

“This additional housing supply targeting homeless and vulnerable people on the priority housing waitlist is something the sector has been calling for.

“We can’t solve homelessness without addressing housing supply, and this package will go a long way to supporting Western Australians most in need of assistance.”

The McGowan Government will today introduce changes to the Children and Community Services Act 2004 to require ministers of religion to report child sexual abuse.

The changes will implement recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, including extending mandatory reporting to information gained during confession.

As a result of a statutory review of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 (completed in 2017), the Bill will also implement 41 recommendations aimed at achieving better outcomes for Western Australian children.

To achieve this, the legislation sets out:

• changes to the Aboriginal Child Placement Principal, to prioritise Aboriginal children in care being placed in their community and remaining connected to culture;
• requirements to consult Aboriginal communities in the assessment of Aboriginal children coming into care, the placement of children in care, and throughout the care planning process;
• the prioritisation of children in care by Government services and agencies providing support (this is an extension of the existing Rapid Response policy);
• improving support provided to children in care, including requirements for cultural plans, and leaving care plans by the time a child reaches the age of 15; and
• planning for long-term stability and continuity in children’s living arrangements, and maintaining family connections where possible for children who remain in care.

WA’s mandatory reporting laws currently require doctors, nurses, midwives, police officers, teachers and boarding supervisors to report child sexual abuse to the Department of Communities if they form a belief based on reasonable grounds – during the course of their paid or unpaid work – that a child has been or is the subject of sexual abuse.

Ministers of religion will join this group, ensuring all child sexual abuse is reported, even if it relates to information provided during a religious confession.

The extended legislation will apply to people who are recognised in accordance with the practices of a faith or religion as ‘authorised to conduct services or ceremonies in accordance with the tenets of the faith or religion’, for example: members of the clergy, priests, ministers, imams, rabbis and pastors.

To send a clear message about child safety being everyone’s responsibility, the existing $6,000 penalty for failing to make a mandatory report about child sexual abuse will be extended to ministers of religion.

“The experiences endured and courage shown by those who bravely stepped forward during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse cannot be, and will not be, ignored by the McGowan Government,” said Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk.

“This legislation sends a clear message about the expectation that child safety will always be paramount.

“The McGowan Government is committed to creating a safer Western Australia for children and young people, and these changes are practical steps in our ongoing work to protect children now and prevent further harm.

“One of the Bill’s themes is the importance of long-term stability and family connections to children in State care when it is not safe for them to be reunified with their parents.

“This includes building stronger connections to family, culture and country for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who make up more than half of the children in out-of-home care in WA.”

State Government authorities are surveying the Fremantle Port and surrounds after an invasive ant species, red imported fire ant, was detected at the facility.

A native to South America, red imported fire ant is considered one of the world’s worst invasive ant species, as it can form ‘super colonies’ with multiple queens that develop extensive colonies and spread quickly and has a very adverse effect on human health.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has treated several linked nests at Fremantle Port to destroy the ants and prevent further spread of the pest and is surveying the port and nearby surroundings for any signs of red imported fire ant.

Fremantle Port workers, local residents and businesses are being asked to be alert and report any unfamiliar ants in the area.

Red imported fire ant looks similar to common native ants, are reddish brown in colour with a darker abdomen, and between two to six millimetres long. They come in an unusual variety of sizes within the nests.

Nests are often found in open areas like lawns, firebreaks or fence lines. They can inflict a painful, fiery sting, which in rare cases can cause a severe acute reaction.

Suspect ant sightings should be reported to the department using its MyPestGuideTM Reporter app or online here, alternatively contact the Pest and Disease Information Service on +61 (0)8 9368 3080 or padis@dpird.wa.gov.au.

“This is the first time red imported fire ant has been found in Western Australia,” said Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan.

“The pest poses a significant threat to the environment, agriculture, the economy, human health and Australia’s outdoor lifestyle.

“The State Government has moved quickly to destroy the ants, and we are undertaking surveillance around Fremantle to determine whether they have spread.

“The public have a critical role to play in this situation: we are calling on Fremantle residents and workers to keep an eye out and to report any unfamiliar ants, to help protect WA from this pest.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk MLA said, “While there have been no further detection, the Government has established a quarantine area over Fremantle to prevent any potential spread.

“The Government doesn’t mean to be a pest but we take biosecurity very seriously, so the community’s understanding and cooperation is always appreciated.”

Western Australia’s octopus fishery has become the State’s ninth fishery to receive international certification for sustainable management of the resource.

The Octopus Interim Managed Fishery achieved the MSC certification this month – having demonstrated environmentally sustainable and effective management practices.

MSC is the world’s leading science-based standard and eco-labelling program for wild capture fisheries. Rigorous traceability standards provide assurance to buyers, retailers and consumers that seafood carrying the eco-label meets internationally recognised standards for environmental sustainability.

The McGowan Government supported the fishery to achieve certification, and scientists at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will further assist with the first annual surveillance audit.

Targeted octopus fishing first commenced in WA in 2001 and innovative fishing techniques have led to the development of the commercial fishery – including the establishment of formal management arrangements for the octopus resource.

Each year, more than 300 tonnes of octopus is caught commercially in WA with the majority of the commercial octopus fished from the west coast off Geraldton and Fremantle.

Western Australia has the most MSC certified fisheries in Australia. They include Western Australian Rock Lobster; Exmouth Gulf prawn; Shark Bay prawn; Peel-Harvey Estuarine commercial and recreational blue swimmer crab; Peel-Harvey Estuarine commercial sea mullet; the Australian West Coast deep-sea crab fishery; the West Coast Silver lipped pearl fishery; WA abalone fishery; and Octopus Interim Managed Fishery.

“WA is a global leader in sustainable fisheries management and we are striving for continuous improvement across our fisheries, which is good news for restaurants and consumers who love seafood,” said Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly.

“With the Government’s backing, the operators of the octopus fishery have completed a very thorough process to demonstrate their compliance with the MSC standard including a formal harvest strategy.

“The fishery has a bright future. It is continuing to develop markets and refine its fishing practices including trialling new innovative baited trap designs to grow the industry while ensuring ongoing sustainability of the octopus resource.”

Agricultural Region MLC Darren West congratulated the octopus fishery on their accreditation.

“Sustainable fisheries are good for our local economy and provide local jobs.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said, “If there’s one thing we love more than some local occy in Freo, it’s knowing that our seafood is sustainable.

“Sustainable fisheries ensure that we’re looking after our oceans, and that our local economy will continue to benefit from fishing for generations to come.”

A free outdoor exhibition about shipping containers and their massive contribution to the way we live will come to Fremantle’s Victoria Quay this month.

Presented by the Western Australian Museum in partnership with Fremantle Ports and the Freight and Logistics Council of WA, ‘Container – the box that changed the world’ is an interactive, solar-powered exhibition displayed in six colourful, modified sea containers. Each container tells the story of a different aspect of how sea containers have revolutionised trade, transport, business and life.

Visitors are invited to literally step inside the box to explore the history of stevedoring and the emergence of containerisation. The exhibition shows the extraordinary scale of the international movement of hundreds of millions of containers every year. It also shows how this impacts the environment and the everyday lives of people the world over, and highlights the current industry focus on sustainable shipping.

Created by the Australian National Maritime Museum, ‘Container – the box that changed the world’ will be on display from November 2, 2019 until April 14, 2020.

The six containers that make up the display will be placed along Victoria Quay, beginning outside the WA Maritime Museum and continuing to the E Shed Markets.

The exhibition is presented by sponsors QUBE, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Intermodal Transport; and is supported by the City of Fremantle, This Is Fremantle, and Shipping Australia Limited. Containers have been supplied by Royal Wolf.

“Attracting this exhibition is a terrific coup for Fremantle and it will be a great free attraction for the public down at Victoria Quay over summer,” said Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan.

“This year marks 50 years of the international container trade at Fremantle and containerisation now dominates the international freight and logistics industry, from shipping, to ports and beyond into our communities.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for families to see how containers work and Victoria Quay along Fremantle Port is the ideal place to experience it.”

Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman said, “This is a remarkable exhibition that explores the way the humble shipping container has revolutionised the way we live.

“You might be drinking coffee from Brazil, wearing clothes woven in India or watching a TV made in Japan. So much of our lives is made possible by shipping containers.

“This really is an innovative partnership between the Western Australian Museum, Fremantle Ports and the Freight and Logistics Council of WA that lets you quite literally step inside the box to learn more about how containers have changed our lives.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk encourages everyone to check ‘Container’ out over summer.

“It couldn’t be more perfectly situated in Victoria Quay and reminds us just how crucial a role the humble shipping container plays in all of our daily lives.”

An urgent works program to conserve the World Heritage Listed Fremantle Prison has begun through an immediate cash injection of $3.5 million by the McGowan Government.

The funds have been secured partially through the redirection of the 2019-20 Heritage Grants program, which will be unavailable during the 2019-20 financial year.

Initial works will see the cells within the main cell block repaired by local Aboriginal business Thuroona Services at a cost of $1 million.

Fremantle Prison is one of the 11 member sites of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property. Currently, the Federal Government funds Australia’s natural World Heritage properties; however, there is no ongoing funding for built World Heritage properties, including Fremantle Prison.

Heritage Minister David Templeman has called on the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley to at least match the State Government’s contribution to assist with the works in recognition of the prison’s World Heritage status.

Mr Templeman made the comments while launching the Fremantle Prison Master Plan 2019‑2029 and invited the public to comment on the proposals in the plan.

The Fremantle Prison Master Plan 2019-2029 looks to the assets’ future activation and recommends a ‘Sound and Light’ show and ‘Night in Prison’ immersive experience to increase the prison’s appeal to the growing demand for heritage tourism and iconic attractions.

Independent analysis concludes the combined impact of these initiatives would see approximately 45,000 additional visitors per year, generating $5.3 million per annum, and supporting nearly 50 additional jobs in Fremantle.

Increased revenue from tours and new experiences on site will also improve the long-term self-sufficiency of Fremantle Prison.

The Fremantle Prison Master Plan 2019-2029 is open for public comment until November 3 and is available here.

“Fremantle Prison is the most intact complex of convict-built structures in Australia, recognised by UNESCO, with World Heritage listing as well as State and National heritage recognition,” said Heritage Minister David Templeman.

“The McGowan Government recognises the potential of Fremantle Prison to contribute to our tourism, education, culture and the arts industries in Western Australia, which is why we have sought to redirect funds from the Heritage Grants program for the 2019-20 financial year to fund urgent conservation works.

“Maintaining an asset of national importance is a significant cost burden on Western Australia, and the McGowan Government is calling on the Federal Government to at least match our funding towards this internationally recognised heritage asset.

“Protecting Fremantle Prison and preserving its stories is important not only to Western Australians, but to all Australians.

“The Fremantle Master Plan 2019-2029 will guide current and future governments to ensure this irreplaceable piece of heritage is preserved and protected for the benefit of both locals and visitors to Western Australia.

“As part of the McGowan Labor Government’s commitment on jobs, this plan aims to inject an additional 50 jobs straight into the Fremantle economy over the next ten years.”

Federal Member for Fremantle, Shadow Assistant Minister for the Environment MP Josh Wilson said next year will be the 10th anniversary of Fremantle Prison’s listing as one of the eleven UNESCO World Heritage Australian Convict Sites.

“This built heritage is of national and international importance and all sites are appropriately included on the National and World Heritage lists.

“While there is $47 million allocated by the Federal Government over the next four years to support our natural World Heritage sites, there is no core funding for built World Heritage properties, including Fremantle Prison, even though these sites have considerable underlying restoration and conservation needs.

“I join the Minister for Heritage in his call to the Federal Government to match the State’s contribution to Fremantle Prison to help deliver the appropriate protection and enhancement of our nation’s built World Heritage places.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said, “Fremantle Prison is the most visited paid attraction in Fremantle drawing around 200,000 visitors each year.

“Independent analysis of the economic and social impact of Fremantle Prison has found the prison made a direct contribution of $19.1 million to Fremantle’s regional economy in 2017-18.

“Analysis concludes the combined impact of the initiatives proposed in the Master Plan would boost annual visitor numbers by approximately 45,000, inject an additional $5.3 million a year into the local economy, and support nearly 50 additional jobs in Fremantle.”

The McGowan Government has expanded support services on offer to foster carers.

Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk announced $150,000 in new funding for the Foster Carers Association Western Australia (FCAWA), to enable them to employ three new part-time staff members to increase the level of support services to foster families.

And after travelling throughout Western Australia and meeting with carers and community service organisations, the Department of Communities will partner with foster carers to review foster carer processes, including:

• recruitment;
• suitability assessments;
• support mechanisms; and
• how carers, families and case workers can work better together.

The aim of the review is to identify opportunities for improving foster carer processes so they may be implemented in the new year, with priority changes to be actioned as soon as possible.

The additional FCAWA support workers will each provide 10 hours of support, immediately building on the critical work being undertaken by the existing professional foster care staff.

The extra support will mean the association can spend more time working with foster carers to ensure both care partners – the carers and the Department of Communities – are working together to uphold the best interests of children in care.

In a separate announcement, the Department of Communities will work closely with Aboriginal communities on a new road map to address the unacceptably high number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders children make up about 55 per cent of children in out-of-home care in WA.

The action plan, to be developed in partnership with the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) will guide future efforts to reduce the number of Aboriginal children in care, identifying opportunities to prevent their entry into the system well before they are placed at risk.

There is evidence that Aboriginal young people whose parents have experienced out-of-home care are themselves at much greater risk of also experiencing similar outcomes.

Therefore, the plan will also focus on supporting Aboriginal young people as they transition out of care and into adulthood.

The announcements coincide with National Child Protection Week, which runs from September 1-7.

National Child Protection Week will culminate in the National Foster and Kinship Care Conference 2019 being held in Perth, with the fitting theme of ‘Walking Together’.

“The McGowan Government has met with foster carers and the Foster Carer Association WA, and is committed to providing the necessary support,” said Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk.

“We will continue to place an emphasis on building stronger relationships with all partners in care to ensure better outcomes for children and young people.

“There is no doubt that more needs to be done to reduce the number of Aboriginal children living in care in Western Australia.

“We cannot fix this issue overnight or by ourselves, but we know working together with Aboriginal children and young people, their families and community is the best way to achieve this.”

The McGowan Government has today released a policy designed to improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls in Western Australia.

The WA Women’s Health and Wellbeing Policy identifies four priority areas for action:

• Chronic conditions and healthy ageing;
• Health and wellbeing impacts of gender-based violence;
• Maternal, reproductive and sexual health; and
• Mental health and wellbeing.

Women’s experiences of health and wellbeing differ to that of men and are influenced by the circumstances in which they grow, live, work and age.

While women are more likely to live longer than men, they experience higher incidence and prevalence of non-fatal health problems, resulting in increased years lived with morbidities and disability.

Symptoms of heart disease for example, are less likely to be recognised and diagnosed in women, meaning it is less likely that they will receive appropriate care.

Nationally, one in six women experience physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner, and one in four women has experienced emotional abuse. WA reports the second highest rate of physical or sexual violence in the country.

Women are also over-represented in specific mental health related issues including post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, perinatal anxiety, depression and postpartum psychosis.

The policy was launched at the WA Women’s Health Conference held today at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre attended by 280 people – including representatives from the WA health sector, community and not-for-profit organisations, researchers and consumers.

The conference will provide attendees with the opportunity to consider the latest research and evidence in this field, and inform an action plan to aid in the implementation of the policy.

The WA Women’s Health and Wellbeing Policy is the culmination of extensive consultation and feedback from more than 700 individuals and organisations State-wide.

The policy builds on the WA Women’s Health Strategy 2013-2017 and aligns with the National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030, the WA Men’s Health and Wellbeing Policy, released in June, and the Department of Communities’ WA Women’s Plan and 10 Year Strategy for Reducing Family and Domestic Violence in WA.

The new policy can be found here.

“It is essential to recognise gender as a determinant of health as well as a risk factor in chronic conditions such as cancers and cardiovascular disease,” said Health and Mental Health Minister Roger Cook.

“This policy will provide direction to the WA health system and its partners on how best to deliver strategies and health services for women and girls so that they can access appropriate services which will help to optimise their ongoing health and wellbeing.

“The WA health system needs to continue to embed structures and processes which empower all health consumers to be part of the decision-making process and to manage their health care needs.”

Women’s Interests Minister Simone McGurk said, “the McGowan Government is determined to improve outcomes for women and girls in Western Australia, particularly those at greatest risk of poor health.

“Health is just one of the areas where women face specific challenges, so it’s important that our responses take their needs into account and connect them with appropriate services.

“The Western Australian Women’s Health and Wellbeing Policy will empower women and girls to access services that suit their circumstances, enabling them to participate fully in all aspects of their lives.”

The City of Fremantle has been successful in securing a $342,000 grant from Lotterywest to go towards the new play space in Kings Square.

Inspired by the Fremantle’s industrial history and close links with nature, the concept design for the play space includes features such as cranes, bridges, train tracks and shipping containers and incorporates natural elements including water and trees.

It’s also set to feature bold lighting treatments, interactive soundscapes and tactile nature play elements.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said it was tremendous to get Lotterywest’s support for the play space.

“We want Kings Square to be a place where families meet and spend time together, so the play space is an absolutely critical element in the Kings Square Renewal project and our plan to bring more people and activity back to the centre of Fremantle,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“The concept is for the play space to have zones which will appeal to a broad age range from toddlers through to primary school children, as well as being accessible for children with disabilities.

“Programmable lighting elements will also highlight the play space features at night, creating a whole new look and feel after dark and to make it a feature of the broader public space in Kings Square.

“We really appreciate the support from Lotterywest and thank them for their important contribution to the revitalisation of Fremantle’s civic heart.”

Around 170 Fremantle kids and their parents were asked to help design the new play space through surveys and a series of workshops at local schools.

WA-based landscape architecture firm Seedesign Studio were selected via a competitive tender process to develop a concept based on their feedback.

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk said the new playground would be a great, family-friendly addition to the redeveloped Kings Square.

“It’s so important that we have spaces in the CBD for Freo kids to connect and engage in creative play,” Ms McGurk said.

Construction on the play space is expected to start in August 2020 and be completed by December.

A focal point for the play space will be a new Moreton Bay fig tree to replace the tree that had to be removed last year due to public safety concerns.

A replacement fig tree has been identified and is being prepared for relocation to Kings Square in winter next year.

The City of Fremantle is undertaking a $270 million renewal of Kings Square in partnership with Sirona Capital.

The project includes Sirona’s redevelopment of the old Myer and Queensgate sites to create offices for 1600 state government employees and the revolutionary FOMO food and retail concept, the construction of the City of Fremantle’s new civic centre and library, and the rejuvenation of the public spaces that surround the site.

For more information on the Kings Square Renewal Project visit the Kings Square Fremantle website, or watch this video.