Independent Member for Alfred Cove, Dr Janet Woollard MLA, congratulates the Premier and the Liberal-National Government for delivering a State Budget which will help to ensure Western Australia’s continued development in the longer term.

“In these tough economic times, I believe the Government has done well in ensuring it invests in the future development of Western Australia,” said Dr Woollard.

“The assets and infrastructure investments across Health, Education, Police, and Social Services for example will contribute towards job security, improvement in the delivery of health services, enhance our children’s learning experience and make our neighbourhoods safer.

“The 2009-2010 State Budget reflects the Government’s willingness to listen and respond to community concerns and needs.”

Dr Woollard said she is pleased to learn that the Government listened to the concerns of the Alfred Cove community.

“I appreciate the Premier Colin Barnett and Education Minister Liz Constable for taking the time to visit five of the local schools in November last year to see for themselves the state of disrepair and neglect the schools were in.”

“All schools in the Alfred Cove electorate will receive some assistance, through the State and Federal budgets, for long outstanding maintenance and repair items.

“Approximately $56 million has been allocated for the staged rebuilding of Applecross Senior High School over the next four years, as the school is more than 50 years old and has become too small to adequately house the growing number of students.

Dr Woollard said the injection of funds for schools in the electorate is a great welcome as parents and staff of Applecross Senior High School and the other primary schools have been lobbying for many years for improvements.

“The Alfred Cove community will also benefit from the Government’s other investments in assets and infrastructure,” said Dr Woollard.

Some of these investments are listed below.

“I will continue to analyse the Budget and I will seek the Government’s clarification on how investments will be allocated to ensure the Alfred Cove electorate is not neglected,” said Dr Woollard.

“I will work very hard to ensure that Alfred Cove is kept high on the Government’s agenda, so that the backlog of maintenance and repairs for all schools are completed, underground power is gradually installed in all suburbs, and access to public transport is improved for the community." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets and infrastructure investments in 2009-2010 State Budget which may benefit the Alfred Cove community

1. Health • Construction of the main buildings of Fiona Stanley Hospital to begin in mid-2009 with expected completion in 2013.• Fast-tracking the building of a new children’s hospital on the QE II Medical Centre site.

• Implementation of the “Four Hour Rule” which will enhance the management of patients presenting at Emergency Departments of hospitals through the support of the Commonwealth’s $75.3 million funding.

2. Community Safety • A new police station for the South Metropolitan Region, with work commencing in 2010-11. • Additional 500 police personnel and 200 expert civilian staff over 5 years at a cost of $208.5 million.

3. Education • Funding to increase quality of pastoral care for students through a $47.7 million expenditure to provide for additional school psychologists, school chaplains and training for teachers.

4. Seniors and Social Services • $200 rebates per household for all WA Seniors Card holders towards installation or purchase of home security devices. • Extra funding to provide a significant boost to the social services sector such as in the area of disability services, social housing and child protection.