by Prof David Black

Reporting the Government's Achievements

Throughout his nearly five years as Premier, Geoff Gallop ensured that substantial reports on the achievements and intended major policies of his government were produced on a regular basis to the extent where it can be said that no state government in Western Australia has ever documented its own achievements so systematically.

Initially reports were produced monthly but from mid 2003 they covered three monthly periods. In addition, there were four overall assessments dealing with key periods in office:

1. 'Meeting our commitments: the first 100 days of the Gallop Government' (dated 6 June 2001)
2. 'Laying the foundations: the first year of the Gallop Government' (dated February 2002)
3. 'Building our future: the second year of the Gallop Government'
4. 'The Gallop Government's First Term Achievements 2001 to 2005. Western Australia: A Better Place to Live' dated January 2005'

Subsequently, during Gallop's second term, monthly reports were produced from June to August 2005 and then a three monthly report from September to November.

Summary of reports

Meeting Our Commitments the first 100 days of the Gallop Government-6 June 2001

The emphasis in this first report was on
(a) meeting election promises
(b) a reform program
(c) 'bringing finances back on track
(d) highlighting commitments including ending logging in old growth forests, an approach to native title emphasising agreement rather than litigation
(e) and the 'Getting it Right literacy and numeracy program' in schools.

The headings used in the report included:

• Agriculture
• Attorney-General
• Consumer Affairs
• Disability Services
• Education; Employment and Training
• Energy
• Environment
• Family and Children's Services
• Fisheries Health
• Heritage
• Housing
• Indigenous Affairs
• Justice
• Labour Relations
• Local Government
• Native Title
• Planning and Infrastructure
• Public Sector Management (including reducing the size of the cabinet from 17 to 14 members)
• Racing and Gaming
• Regional WA
• Science
• Seniors
• State Development
• Small Business
• Tourism
• Treasury
• Water Resources
• Works and Services
  
  

Laying the Foundations. The first year of the Gallop Government - February 2002

Each subject area was dealt with under headings 'We have...' and then 'There's more to be done including...'.

The subject headings included:

• Promoting jobs and job security.
• Providing better health services
• Investing in education and training
• Creating safer communities
• Conserving our environment
• Protecting consumers
• Planning for the future (planning of city and communities)
• Extending support
• Encouraging active participation
• Delivering better government (reform of the public sector and executive arm of government)
  
  
  
  
  
  

Building Our Future. The second year of the Gallop Government February 2003

Headings included:

• Our growing economy
• A healthier state
• A quality education system
• Law and order
• Protecting our environment
• Transport into the future
• Developing the regions
• Supporting our communities
• Consumer and employment protection
• A better place to live
• Accountabilty
  
  

Western Australia A Better Place to Live. The Gallop Government's First term Achievements 2001 to 2005-January 2005

This is a 124 page document with a foreword dealing with 'Our Performance', 'Our Legislative Program' and 'Our Governance'.

The Highlights were summarised in terms of

• Economy - balance budgets, levels of economic growth and business investment, employment issues)
• Education - raise school leaving age to 17, additional teachers and reduced class sizes
• Community safety - anti hoon laws, more police, DNA identification laws
• Health - Recruitment of nurses, upgrading the system
• Environment - ended logging of old growth forests, protected Ningaloo Reef, large scale desalination plant
• Rail - Mandurah railways, extend northern line, more rail cars
• Regions - Regional Investment Fund, regional cabinet meetings, uniform electricity tariff policy

The detailed sections which followed were listed under

• Jobs and the economy
• Education and training
• Health
• Environment
• Community safety
• Planning and infrastructure
• Energy
• Consumer and employment protection
• Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
• Community development
• Culture and the arts
• Indigenous affairs and native title
• Housing and works
• Government Enterprises
• Racing, gaming and liquor
• Public sector management
• Citizenship and multicultural interests
• Science
• E Government and federal affairs
• Sport
• Recreation and tourism
• Local government and heritage
• In the regions
  
  

The Gallop Government Achievements Report Sep-Nov 2005

• Jobs and the economy
• Education and training
• Community safety
• New blueprint for State's health system
• Infrastructure (Australian Marine Complex, indoor stadium)
• Services
• Our water future