Premier Mark McGowan has today paid tribute to his Cabinet colleague Dave Kelly, who has announced he will stand down as a Minister after almost six years.
Since 2017, Mr Kelly has served as Minister for Water, Forestry, Youth, Fisheries, Innovation and ICT, and Science, as well as playing a key role in Labor's Shadow Ministry following his election to Parliament in 2013.
As Water Minister, Mr Kelly has put managing the impacts of climate change front and centre of Western Australia's water future, including:
- securing funding required for Perth's third desalination plant at Alkimos;
- setting a net zero emissions target at Water Corporation by 2035 and securing development rights for what will be one of WA's largest wind energy projects;
- releasing two Waterwise Perth Action Plans to make Perth a waterwise city by 2030;
- releasing the Gnangara Groundwater Allocation Plan to save 70GL per annum of Perth's precious groundwater;
- delivering the $320 million expansion of the Water Corporations Groundwater Replenishment Scheme - doubling capacity to recharge aquifers;
- establishing the $25 million Healthy Estuaries WA program to protect seven key estuaries in the South-West.
- delivering 140 community water supply projects to increase water security for agricultural and regional areas impacted by climate change; and
- carted water to the regions during an unprecedented 12 water efficiency declarations.
Mr Kelly drove the return of privatised Water Corporation services back into public hands, providing job security to hundreds of local workers. He overhauled the Water Corporation Customer Hardship Program, delivering an 85 per cent reduction in the number of households having their water cut off for non-payment of bills and put in a range of programs to assist customers with financial hardship.
During his time as Minister for Water he also launched the Waterwise public housing project to retrofit 10,000 public housing properties with waterwise fittings to help public housing tenants reduce water use and lower water bills.
As Forestry Minister, Mr Kelly oversaw the visionary decision to transition away from native forest logging, securing $350 million to expand WA's pine softwood timber plantations and established the $80 million Native Forestry Just Transition Plan to support workers, businesses and communities in the South-West.
As Youth Minister, Mr Kelly provided the Youth Pride Network with its first funding source to ensure a voice for young LGBTQIA+ people, as well as funding Transfolk of WA to deliver support services for trans and gender diverse young people.
In the McGowan Government's first term, Mr Kelly established the Office of Digital Government, including the first whole-of-government Cyber Security Operations Centre.
Mr Kelly prioritised investment in projects to drive growth in WA's space industry including AROSE, SpAARC and the Square Kilometre Array. He established the $16.7 million New Industries Fund to accelerate new and emerging businesses and delivered WA's first Electric Vehicle Strategy including Australia's longest EV charging network.
As Fisheries Minister, Mr Kelly led a science-based approach to keeping our beaches safe, ended the former Government's shark cull program, established the world's first subsidy scheme for scientifically proven personal shark deterrents and rolled out the BEN sign program along the WA coast.
He played an important role in driving WA's aquaculture industry, including the $3.6 million expansion of the Albany aquaculture hatchery and a new aquaculture zone in Albany.
Mr Kelly will continue in his Cabinet role until a new Minister is sworn in this month, and will continue to serve his community of Bassendean into the future.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Dave has been an important part of the WA Labor team, both in Opposition and Government, and his contribution to the Cabinet should not be underestimated.
"Dave's deep commitment to equality and fairness has guided his entire career, in the labour movement and in Parliament.
"He has always focused on delivering for the future of our community - whether it's the important work he has done in climate change and climate action, or backing low-paid workers and bringing more essential services back into public hands at Water Corporation.
"His work in the Water and Forestry portfolios will leave an important legacy for our entire State - getting work started and funding secured for Perth's new desalination plant, and playing a key role in the transition away from native logging.
"I thank Dave for his service to the Cabinet and the Government, and know that he will continue to be a tireless advocate for WA and his local Bassendean community."
