PREMIER Colin Barnett last week announced a range of changes to a number of government departments including the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Lands.
A comprehensive suite of reforms will see a new Department of Local Government and Communities established, a new stand-alone Department of Lands created and responsibility for Science will be moved into the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC).
Mr Barnett said he was keen to get on with his election commitment of splitting the DEC into a new Department of Parks and Wildlife and an environmental regulation department which will retain the name DEC.
The Premier said consideration was being given to amalgamating the Department of Water with the remaining part of DEC but if this took place, it would not occur until the end of the year.
Mr Barnett said the Office of Strategic Projects and the Regulatory Gatekeeping Unit from Treasury would be brought into the Department of Finance.
"The changes will improve service delivery, streamline processes, ensure better transparency and bring greater efficiencies to many government operations," Mr Barnett said.
"They are about building better structures of government and ensuring better delivery of service to the public.
"These are logical steps in the provision of better government services."
Mr Barnett said splitting DEC would also have great advantages.
"This will clearly separate the management and conservation of our unique marine and terrestrial environment from the role of environmental regulator," he said.
"Parks and Wildlife will focus on scientific research and conservation efforts and promotion of the tourism potential of our State's natural assets."
In addition, a new single authority, which will be named the Conservation and Parks Commission will replace two separate existing authorities, the Marine Parks Reserves Authority and the Conservation Commission.
"Recreating a Department of Lands will also ensure that sufficient attention is given to the integrity of the system of land titles while moving the Office of Strategic Projects and the Regulatory Gatekeeping Unit in the Department of Treasury to the Department of Finance will consolidate capital works projects within one agency," Mr Barnett said.
The legislation which will see the reform of ports management, including the consolidation of the seven of the State's eight port authorities into four regional port authorities, announced last year, will also be introduced into Parliament this year.
Mr Barnett said the changes to Verve and Synergy would deliver improved efficiencies in electricity delivery.
The Premier said splitting up Western Power into separate State-owned entities had failed to deliver lower electricity costs, in fact it had contributed to higher electricity costs in the South-West grid. "This structure has created a series of unintended and highly inefficient outcomes which has contributed to higher electricity costs," he said.
Mr Barnett said while the electricity market changes had attracted some private sector investment they had also resulted in a lack of longer-term planning on electricity market requirements, including energy security.
"For example, both Verve and Synergy negotiated domestic gas supply contracts with the Gorgon project which resulted in a higher overall gas price compared with the price that could have been achieved from one gas contract negotiation," he said.
"The first step in addressing the shortcomings of the existing electricity market is to establish a single State-owned electricity generator and retailer to assist the State in meeting its planning and economic development requirements.
"This will create a financially robust entity capable of underpinning the industry, reduce overheads and costs in the industry to facilitate private sector participation, and enhance its negotiating position through one financially viable entity."
