AN additional $50 million of Royalties for Regions (RfR) was committed to build the $300m Seizing the Opportunity in Agriculture initiative in the State Budget last week.
"The Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative is transforming the agricultural sector in this State through a whole-of-government approach to enable the agrifood industry to capitalise on rising global demand and strengthening regional communities where agrifood is a major economic activity," Regional Development Minister and Nationals WA leader Terry Redman said.
"I think agriculture has fared very well.
"If you include the investments that are being made in RfR and that extra $50m in the Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative that's a total of $276m in this budget, not including the Department of Agriculture and Food."
The State government's latest budget revealed it would invest $3.78 billion over the next four years to build vibrant regions with strong economies through RfR initiatives in health, community support services, education, Aboriginal development, agriculture, tourism, economic development and the arts.
The extra $50m added to the program takes it to $350m, to capitalise on agricultural economic growth.
Investment will continue to fund projects including WA Biosecurity Defence, Water for Food program, Agricultural Sciences Research and Development, Boosting Grains Research and Development Support, WA Open for Business and the Northern Beef Futures.
Fifteen programs are due to be rolled out and are designed to help the agricultural sector seize the opportunity of rising global demand and strengthen regional communities where agriculture is a major economic activity.
Specific allocations are yet to be decided and will have to be approved by the cabinet.
"What we have done is add $50m to this budget in the out years, which will be $25m in 2018/19 and 2019/20," Mr Redman said.
"We have added $25m in the past two years, to give a clear understanding we are not exiting the space.
"We need to do some work on the back of all those initiatives and recalibrate where we need to make new investments in ensuring we have continuity of investment in the agriculture space."
Member for the Wheatbelt and Water Minister Mia Davies said the Water for Food program would offer regions further opportunities.
"I will be pushing for the expansion of the Water for Food program to include new areas of the State, including the Central Wheatbelt," she said.
"Irrigated agriculture offers the region the opportunity to diversify its economic base and there are some exciting projects that have come across my desk as Water Minister as we work on delivering the first stage of Water for Food."
Mr Redman said this year adjustments had to be made in terms of RfR, as the State was coming off record royalties revenue.
"What's significant in this budget is for the first time, with what's happened to commodity prices, RfR has come down below the $1b figure," he said.
"What we announced was $3.8b over four years from the RfR fund," Mr Redman said.
"The first two years has come down, just under $1b because that's what mining and petroleum royalties are, so 2016/17 is set at $872m, and the next year is $914m and then it caps out again.
"RfR has not been cut, it is still there and we have allocated money out to a range of projects and initiatives as part of the process."
But the Opposition claimed that RfR was not achieving what it was set up to do.
Shadow Agriculture and Food Minister Mick Murray said there had been a shuffle, as RfR was picking up what was previously included in the general State Budget.
Mr Murray claimed the initiative could no longer be touted as "over and above" spending, as it had become too mainstream.
"It has become part of the main budget," Mr Murray said.
"It has become more common for programs to be come out of RfR funds, not the State Government's health or education budgets.''
Mr Redman said RfR was about strengthening and growing the regions and the investment would help regional communities realise their economic potential for the benefit of all Western Australians.
Mr Redman said the $3.78b investment would build infrastructure to grow the State, develop economic opportunities and improve targeted social programs.
"I don't understand how the opposition says it's a reshuffle of money," he said.
"If you compare this RfR program to what the Labor Party had when they were last in government and their regional development program was $20m per year it is chalk and cheese.
"Their smoke and mirrors case just doesn't stack up.
"In my opinion, the Labor Party would get rid of RfR as quick as (it could) to get elected."
WA Labor leader Mark McGowan said it was clear that RfR had not delivered what it promised for regional WA.
"Our position has always been clear we will keep RfR but we will spend the money more wisely," Mr McGowan said.
"It's clear that RfR has not delivered what it promised for regional WA.
"Under a McGowan Labor government, RfR will focus on the priorities of the people living in our regions. We will fix dangerous roads, provide education and health services and create local jobs in a range of industries.
"Our Plan for Jobs includes a big focus on ensuring RfR projects create more local jobs for people in the regions."
Mr Redman said RfR was designed to be over and above the State Government investment.
"If you look at the investments we have made since 2008, if it wasn't for RfR what would it look like?" Mr Redman said.
"I can tell you now, it would look nothing like it does today."
Mr Redman said the government's investment of $642m in the Regional Investment Blueprint Initiative reflects the commitment to develop strategic economic, social and community development projects across regional WA.
The government will also invest $49.3m in RfR funds to Transform Peel, which will comprise a business park, food zone and integrated water project in Nambeelup, and is expected to deliver 33,000 jobs by 2050.
Treasurer Mike Nahan said the investment would provide essential services and infrastructure that would attract investment, grow economies and create jobs and opportunities for regional communities.
"The government is determined to invest in initiatives that establish the socio-economic foundations for development and drive growth and new investment," Dr Nahan said.
Funding across the budget and forward estimates for RfR projects in the 2016-17 State Budget include:
p $20m for the WA Open for Business project to help the agriculture and food sectors increase trade and investment activities in the sectors
p $6.7m over five years to 2019-20 for the WA Biodiversity Science Institute
p $58.3m to provide an alternative route for the Margaret River Perimeter Road to reduce heavy vehicle traffic through the main street
p $14m for an industry adjustment package to help potato growers in the South-West and Wheatbelt make the transition to a deregulated market
p $29.5m towards the Carnarvon Community College Stage 2 to amalgamate the primary and secondary public schools.
p $6.7m in 2016-17 to replant 2200 hectares damaged by the Waroona bushfires
p $2.3m over four years to develop a multi-species shellfish hatchery in Albany
p $1.3m in 2016-17 for aquiculture development zones
p An extra $20m over four years for an innovation package.