The state government has backflipped on its decision to cut funding to Community Resource Centres by almost 40 per cent, announcing last week it would fully fund the centres.
Regional development minister Alannah MacTiernan said the state government would continue to provide $13 million funding, despite previously committing to cut funding to $8 million.
Ms MacTiernan said a review of the CRC program and community feedback showed it was ‘clear CRC funding should continue’.
“We will continue to fully fund CRCs to the tune of $13 million per year, ensuring CRCs can deliver important services to regional communities,” she said.
“We want to see the CRC program strengthened, with a real focus on getting the most out of the traineeship program to drive training opportunities across regional WA.”
Premier Mark McGowan said the review into the CRC showed areas for improvement, particularly within training people in regional communities.
“The review findings have come back and they show there could be some improvements in the service provided [by CRCs],” he said.
“We’re going to ensure that happens and that they’ll have a real focus on training people in regional Western Australia – in those communities especially where there aren’t a great deal of training opportunities.
“We’ve listened to the community, undertaken the review [and] kept the funding in place, but we’re going to strengthen the organisations and make sure they focus to a far greater degree on training.”
The decision to reverse the funding cuts was welcomed by the community.
West Arthur Community Resource Centre manager Karen Prowse said she was pleased with the decision.
“There had been no indication this was going to happen so I was in stunned amazement for 10 minutes or so,” she said.
“It’s really a relief knowing that the whole network is going to be able to continue, and that all our CRCs are going to be able to stay open and keep on fulfilling the valuable community service role we do.”
Ms Prowse said the reinstated funding would allow the West Arthur CRC remain operational into the long-term future.
“We had created a five year plan, that would have seen us stay operational for that time, but probably not much longer than that,” she said.
“The funding secures our longer term future and it means we won’t have to cut back what we do offer to the community.
“We will be able to subsidise programs, which we would have either had to cancel or charge the full cost, so our community will have continued access to things they otherwise wouldn’t have had.”
South West MLC Diane Evers, who had spearheaded protests against the cuts, applauded the state government’s decision to fully fund CRCs.
“I am delighted at the news,” she said.
“This government must invest in the regional areas by servicing the communities and looking after the natural environment.
“Ultimately, it’s about strengthening regional communities to make a meaningful rural life more achievable.
“The CRCs worked so hard to deliver the message about how essential they are, and they deserve full credit for the result.”
