The Nationals WA: Labor Inaction Throttling Newman

Labor Government lethargy and incompetence is throttling the town of Newman, says the Pilbara based MLC assisting the Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Hon Julie Freeman.

The Government's failure to release industrial land is stalling investment, threatening jobs and putting future progress at risk

Despite Newman's critical role as an operational hub for Pilbara's mining, logistics and construction sectors, a severe shortage of serviced industrial land is leaving local business with nowhere to go, Ms Freeman says.

"This is not a problem caused by lack of demand. It is the direct result of government inaction and ineptitude. It's just another startling example of the Cook Labor Government's failure to recognise regional WA."

Ms Freeman says businesses are ready to invest in Newman, but they are being blocked by a Perth-centric Government which refuses to unlock land that will deliver a sustainable future.

"Newman has the strategies, plans and programs to expand and grow. It also has investors waiting in the wings to create jobs, train apprentices and support the mining sector that underpins a powerhouse economy.

"The town's biggest threat is a State Government that is hogtied by its own bad bureaucracy.

Slow planning is impeding the release of high-quality Crown land while unrealistic land valuations are making projects financially unviable before they even begin."

Ms Freeman says Newman has been abandoned by the Premier and the Labor MPs responsible for the town - Hon Stephen Dawson MLC and Kevin Michel MLA - forcing the Nationals to step up in their absence.

"We refuse to sit back and watch good businesses go under and future opportunities shut out.

We met with the Newman Chamber of Commerce and Industry today and committed to working with them and 28 major local businesses to unlock land, cut red tape and get Newman going again."

"The Premier talks a big game around regional development and economic diversification, but Newman and other regional towns are being left behind," Ms Freeman said. "It's out of sight, out of mind with this Government.

"Regional communities don't want more talk. They want entrepreneurial vision, land access, and action. And they deserve it."