Home

Rick Fenny: FIFO should be reduced to support local communities

Rick FennyThe West Australian
Illustration: Don Lindsay
Camera IconIllustration: Don Lindsay Credit: The West Australian

From growing up in Albany and my first posting in the Kimberley — to building my first vet practice in the Pilbara and later diversifying into tourism and pastoral businesses in the Gascoyne and investments in the Goldfields and Great Southern — I am fortunate to have basked in the beckoning beauty and opportunity that Western Australia offers.

I have seen several cycles of boom and bust, rapid development followed by stagnation, challenges met and survived, but always potential and excitement.

Over a lifetime of working and reinvesting every cent back into the regions I feel I am well placed to make some suggestions to help make this great State even better.

It is not surprising that my focus turns to the regions — the economic powerhouse that drives WA.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

To begin with I believe fly-in, fly-out work models should be eliminated or at very least reduced. While FIFO has become an accepted and sometimes necessary practice in developing remote mining sites, it has come at an enormous social cost to individuals, communities and the nation. There can be no doubt that replacing FIFO policies with new or existing housing and community infrastructure for workers and their families would go a long way towards eliminating severe mental health issues, marriage breakdowns and dysfunctional family relationships.

Indeed, the Queensland Government has recently legislated the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act which eliminates or reduces FIFO — it is time we did likewise in WA.

A happier, healthier, more productive workforce would result, and regional towns and communities would flourish to once again become vibrant and exciting places in which to live and invest.

My second recommendation centres on decentralisation: I believe that the State Government should adopt a policy, appoint a minister and actively work towards decentralisation of all its agencies and personnel to regional areas most appropriate to their function, and where their effect will be most felt. Tourism to Exmouth, fisheries to Geraldton, environment to Shark Bay, education to Albany, minerals to Kalgoorlie, community welfare to Port Hedland, agriculture to Katanning, regional development to Karratha.

Rick Fenny.
Camera IconRick Fenny.

There was a recent Federal precedent set when the then minister for agriculture relocated a department from Canberra to Armidale, NSW. The decision caused screams of protest and resignations from public servants comfortably ensconced in Canberra, but it was a bold, clever and successful move.

Our Federal members should work for this policy, to continue nationally to help all regional centres throughout Australia. This approach would be especially beneficial for WA which, despite being the largest State, is largely ignored by the Eastern States power base.

Imagine the benefits of moving our naval base from Garden Island to Albany, re-establishing Learmonth as an alternative to RAAF Pearce and moving the entire defence department to Broome or Derby?

My third recommendation is increased government support for regions, small towns, farmers and small business, in the form of rental subsidies, tax incentives, relocation payments and other measures to encourage people to live outside the metropolitan area. Better healthcare, housing and education are paramount for WA’s regional areas.

Specifically, greater investment in regional secondary and tertiary education institutions is sorely needed. Moora College, Great Southern Grammar and Bunbury Cathedral Grammar are great success stories, but more are needed so country families are not torn apart by having to send children away for better education.

Not only should the State Government support regions and small business more, it should also interfere less — made evident by its highly publicised, ill-advised foray into the lobster industry.

As an experienced veterinary surgeon, dog breeder and stock owner who has devoted his life to animals, I have grave concerns about the Government’s intentions regarding changes to the Animal Welfare Act, proposed legislation regarding so-called “puppy farming” and the Standards and Guidelines for the Health and Welfare of Animals.

At the Federal election, Australia voted in favour of retaining live export. It is hoped that the State Government will now strongly support this successful industry and not be swayed by emotive interference by ignorant activists. The industry itself still needs to lift its game and also better inform the general public about the importance of this trade and the measures in place to safeguard animals.

I believe red tape is stifling development and a concerted effort should be made to reduce it. For example, my son and I have spent three years and in excess of $100,000 attempting to gain approval for an exciting ocean park aquarium eco-tent development in Shark Bay, which would be a boon for tourism. Unfortunately, a head-in-the-sand attitude by public servants means it will go nowhere, and we will likely give up our efforts in frustration.

The above suggestions are just a small number of the many ideas that would encourage businesses and individuals to flock to WA’s regions, benefiting the entire State.

They would also offer another major, serendipitous benefit: a solution to the ever-increasing congestion of roads and profusion of concentrated housing developments in metropolitan Perth, offering a significantly improved quality of life for residents of this great city.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails