AMWU state secretary Steve McCartney is urging the Collie community to make the most of the opportunity to voice their views on the future of Collie to Energy Minister Bill Johnston.
Mr Johnston has accepted an invitation from Mr McCartney to appear at the meeting on Friday evening, which will start at 5.30pm in Central Park.
Mr McCartney said he was ‘very happy’ Mr Johnston had accepted the invitation to hear from the Collie people.
“We’re encouraging as many people as possible to come to the meeting … because we want people to talk to the minister about where they want Collie to be.
“This is the chance to have your say, so if you don’t want to come then you’re going to have to accept what happens into the future.”
Mr Johnston said he was looking forward to hearing the concerns of the community.
“As the new Minister for Energy, it’s important that I listen to the locals and make sure I understand their needs,” he said.
“I’ll be discussing the McGowan Government’s economic development plan for the Collie-Bunbury region and the opportunities to help drive growth and create jobs in the region.
“Our aim is to develop and implement a plan to help diversify the economy and provide long-term employment security.”
Mr McCartney said the previous meetings had been successful in getting people coming together to put their ideas together and now it was time to put those to the government.
“What I want to see come out of this meeting is to make sure that the new minister understands the needs of Collie (and) what Collie people want to get out out the town in the long-term for them and their families,” he said.
“They want security, they want to know that the government cares about them and they want to have their say in the future.”
