00:02For a government often accused of being city-centric, this pre-budget announcement was all about
00:08the regions.
00:10Seven cities is a vision that is about ensuring the seven regional centres outside of Perth
00:15have the economic infrastructure they need, while ensuring each city has the services
00:21it needs to support workers.
00:23Mr Cook unveiling the first step in his new vision, a big build of accommodation in the
00:29regions for government workers, including teachers, police and nurses, often difficult to attract.
00:35More than 500 new homes will be built over the next five years in Broome, Karratha, Port
00:41Hedland, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Albany.
00:44Bunbury also declared a key regional hub for other development.
00:48We want people to choose to live in these regional cities and a part of that is making sure that
00:56we address the housing challenges in these markets.
00:59The $419 million spend includes significant contributions from Rio Tinto, BHP and Hancock
01:07Prospecting.
01:08The big miners picking up 40% of the tab.
01:11Some regional towns questioning whether their share is enough.
01:15We'd like a bigger portion and we're growing.
01:17We are growing and we're a multi-type of economy in Geraldton.
01:22We are expecting to see a huge upswing in population in Karratha and Port Hedland and
01:27these 305 homes are going to help sustain that growth because we need government workers to
01:32come here to provide the services that the resources industry needs.
01:35It's one thing to promise more homes in the regions, but another to build them.
01:40WA's peak construction body raising questions about delivery, especially amid current pressures.
01:47Our concern is great initiative, where we're going to find the workers and where we're
01:51going to house the workers.
01:53I know of a builder in the south of the state who had to buy four caravans to put his
01:57workers
01:58in.
01:58To deliver 500 grow homes just doesn't seem practical given the previous promises they've
02:05made and failed to deliver when it comes to regional housing.
02:09Mr Cook confident the industry can accommodate his vision.
02:17Mr Cook confident the industry has been
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