Regional move flagged for regional department

Opposition leader Mark McGowan has announced a $20 million plan to move the Department of Regional Development and Lands from Perth to Bunbury.

Mr McGowan said he plans to relocate a number of government departments from metropolitan Perth if Labor wins the March 2013 election.

The Department of Regional Development's 243 employees would be helped to move to a purpose built new office complex in the South West city, he said.

"Bunbury is an ideal location for a department of this magnitude, to me it is crazy to have the regional development department located on the mall in Perth," he said.

"It should be in the regions and if we are elected it will come to Bunbury, with 243 jobs and significant construction to provide a new office complex for those employees, including its chief executive, in Bunbury it will be a major addition to the local economy."

Mr McGowan promised yesterday the Department of Local Government would move to Albany if Labor wins the next election.

This morning he flagged further plans for government decentralisation in WA.

"I understand the needs for the regions to have a solid economic base," he said.

Premier Colin Barnett said yesterday that Bunbury should become WA's second capital. But Mr McGowan said the Premier was all talk.

"The Premier has said two or three years ago that he would take some action in this regard, he keeps saying that but nothing happens, yesterday he said that wouldn't happen," he said.