Punch appointment a boon to region

The head of one of WA’s leading disability service providers — which has significant operations in Bunbury — says the region will benefit from Bunbury MLA Don Punch’s promotion to Minister for Disability Services. VisAbility chief executive Elizabeth Barnes said the organisation, which provides services across the State for people with little to no vision, looked forward to having a minister on the ground. “We do work closely with the Minister because there are big decisions that they have input over that concern us greatly,” Ms Barnes said. The organisation was committed $5 million by the McGowan Government to establish a cadet program for staff and a breeding program for its guide dogs in Bunbury as well as Perth. “To have a minister actually on the ground in Bunbury to help get that started will be fantastic,” Ms Barnes said. “It is always harder to start things like that in the regions than it is in the metropolitan area ... it will be fantastic to have a minister who knows the region so well and has done so much work for the region in the past. I have no doubt he will be involved in it, as busy as I know he will be.” Mr Punch takes over the Disability Services portfolio from Stephen Dawson.