Catania demands ministers come see the problems

North West Central MP Vince Catania is urging WA Government ministers to come to Carnarvon and see the desperate shortage of housing for public servants.

“There’s a shortage of around 50 new homes in town to house Government agency workers such as police,” the Nationals WA MP said. “There’s a dire need for more senior public servants from across agencies to be reinstated within the Carnarvon community to help those remaining and struggling to do their best without adequate local support. Emerging issues need to be managed locally, collaboratively and in a timely matter — not from Geraldton 500km away or remotely from Perth.”

Mr Catania said he had written “numerous letters” to ministers highlighting increased antisocial behaviour and crime in Carnarvon as a “direct result” of inadequate agency resourcing and housing.

“Invitations to visit and meet in town have all fallen on deaf ears,” he said.

Housing Minister Peter Tinley said the Nationals had “nothing to be proud of” on regional housing, having raised rents for public sector workers in 2015.

“In 2015, they made it harder for regional workers by approving changes to the Government Regional Officer Housing program and introducing an annual rent increase of up to $30 per week,” he said.

“This is how they treat the people they are meant to represent.

“We are committed towards the effective delivery of public services in regional and remote WA and we are working with the various agencies to meet their housing needs.”