Premier accused of misleading voters, as he refuses to rule out more funding for the Perth Bears NRL

Roger Cook will not rule out spending even more taxpayers’ money on the Perth Bears rugby league side, as the price for the club inches towards $100 million. The club — owned by the NRL — was revealed as the major beneficiary of a $12.9 million WACA Ground upgrade on Sunday, on top of a $65 million deal signed with the league in May and a $20million multi-sport training facility in Malaga. The cricket venue — and a new training field at Waterbank in East Perth — have been described as an “interim” base for 2027, until the Bears’ Malaga quarters are finished. The Premier — who on Monday declared every single person in the State was supportive of the side — denied the mounting bill breaks a promise he made ahead of the State election in March that “not a single dollar of taxpayers’ dollars will go to the NRL”. “I made it very clear that any taxpayers money would be spent in Western Australia and not on the NRL, and that’s what we’ve done,” Mr Cook said. “We’re helping the Perth Bears set up, because every Western Australian is proud of the Perth Bears. “I know there’s detractors. I know that there’s people who are perhaps worried about a new code coming to WA. “I think every Western Australian is excited about the opportunity to cheer on another Western Australian-based team.” Pressed on Monday on whether further funding would be considered for the Bears, Mr Cook twice refused to rule it out. “We continue to work with the Bears and and with the department in relation to the issues that we need to be aware of in terms of establishing the Perth Bears,” he said. “But obviously giving them an interim base is a very important first step of establishing a great Western Australian team, a team that we’re all going to be very proud. “‘I’m not aware of any proposals for further support. I do know that we need to provide them with an interim base and that’s what this funding will allow.” The Bears on Monday deferred questions about who requested the interim base, and when, to the State Government. A Cook Government spokeswoman said WA Cricket raised the opportunity and that analysis undertaken following the Bears’ announcement in May identified the Waterbank development as “ideal”, but refused to say when the idea was first mooted. WA Cricket also declined to comment. The Bears have stated they hope to move into Malaga in 2028, but a construction timetable is not locked in. “The Government decided to build on these existing plans to upgrade this green space to a professional standard,” the Government spokeswoman said. “The State Government is working with the Perth Bears on a final timeframe for use of the Lillee Marsh Stand and they will use the Waterbank training field from October. “We will continue to work with them to secure a permanent home.” There was no mention of the WACA Ground or the need for an interim training location when the Bears deal was announced in May. But there were questions about the clear desire from rugby league boss Peter V’landys for WA to fund a major upgrade of HBF Park, set to host Bears’ home games, with estimates that could cost up to $200 million. “We certainly want an upgrade to the stadium and I think that will happen,” Mr V’Landys said in May. “The Government’s got to pay for it, because it’s going to get the return on investment.” Mr V’Landys confirmed it was not yet part of the deal: “Not at this point. There’s discussions being held.” The Premier laughed off the request as “cheeky” but agreed the stadium would need to be upgraded “over time”, while Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti argued the current facilities were already “incredible”. “In relation to further ambitions, the reality is this stadium isn’t utilised as much as it should be,” she said. “And the only way you can present the business case to do further developments is to get more usage, more people through the door. And that’s why I’m excited about the NRL team.” Mr Cook on Monday insisted other teams will continue to use the WACA Ground and Waterbank facility after the Bears move out. “This is an opportunity to upgrade existing facilities, make it available to Trinity College, make it available to other sports teams that will be filing or coming through Perth as part of their tours,” he said. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas slammed the Premier for breaking faith with voters. “It’s a betrayal of trust with the West Australian People,” he said. “At worst, he has lied to the Western Australian public. At best, he has misled them. He said no money would be spent on the Bears, and now we see another $13 million dollars being spent on the Bears. “This deal stinks because we didn’t have the full facts. Only now, only now are we starting to work out what the true arrangements are.” Mr Zempilas said the NRL should be footing the establishment costs itself. “They are a huge competition with incredible finances behind them,” Mr Zempilas said. “Western Australians have been sucked in, because the Premier said we won’t give any money to the NRL yet that is exactly what is happening. The Premier should apologise.” The Waterbank site will get new goal posts, subsoil drainage and new grass that will be counted towards Labor’s promise to deliver 2030 new or upgraded pieces of sports infrastructure by 2030. The 40ha patch between the WACA Ground and Trinity College had once been touted to become a booming housing and business development, with hotels, apartments and office buildings to be constructed on the site. The plans were scratched three years ago when proponent Lendlease exited the $1 billion after finding the soil was not suitable for high-density housing.