Your Greens in State Parliament
22 November 2013
Bills dealt with this week (very few) –
Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 [LA 13–1] –
Standing Committee on Legislation Report No. 20 tabled (TP 969)
Second reading – no debate
Taxi Drivers Licensing Bill 2013 [LA 31–2] –
Second reading - debated and agreed to
In committee – debated and adjourned
Electricity Corporations Amendment Bill 2013 {LA 40-1] –
Introduced and read a first time
Now stands second reading adjourned
Barrow Island Amendment Bill 2013 [LA 43-1] –
Introduced and read a first time
Now stands second reading adjourned
On Wednesday the motion moved by Rick Mazza of the Shooters and Fishers to disallow the Firearms Amendment Regulations 2013 which put up the firearm fees to reflect cost recovery, failed. Robin as the Deputy Chair of the Delegated Legislation Committee argued against the motion pointing out that over the last few years many fees had been increased to reflect cost recovery and all had been found to be in power. The vote and debatewas an interesting one with the ALP and two Libs supporting the Shooters and Fishers move to not accept the fee increase, whilst the Greens, the Nationals and the remainder of the Liberals voted to support the cost recovery fee increase.
Robin spoke against a motion moved by Rick Mazzaof the Shooters and Fishers to permit hunting on public lands. He highlighting one of the major problems is that there is no requirement for a firearms licence applicant to provide a medical certificate stating that he or she is physically and mentally fit to hold a licence and those currently bona fide shooters can have access to pastoral lands with the lessee’s approval. This motion on Recreational Hunting Systems still to run this week looks like it will be referred to a committee even though listening to the speakers it appears it will not be supported.
Robin asked several questions in Parliament regarding land clearing practices and the dune systems in Esperance; Aboriginal children in care; Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission’s regional blueprint; Mineralogy Pty Ltd versus Sino Iron Pty Ltd; electricity generation; pipelines and gas losses to the atmosphere; Nimbus Mines and Mount Goldsworthy Iron Ore project; Pluto LNG Project in the Burrup Peninsular; Buru Energy Ltd and the Canning Basin Joint Venture; Browse LNG Project and the EPA; Iron-Oxide dust in Port Hedland; dust emissions at the Thunderbox Gold Mine; and the Nyoongar Tent Embassy on Heirisson Island, just to name a few.
For more information about questions Robin has asked please visit his website: www.mp.wa.gov.au/rchapple
In addition to his work in Parliament Robin toured the East Kimberley where he met with several constituents and discussed issues such as homelessness, arson and climate change. Robin also met with an activist from El Salvador who is on a speaking tour of Australia to raise public awareness about the environmental and human rights impacts of Australian mining corporations in local communities abroad.
This week in Parliament Lynn supported an ALP motion against the Barnett Government decision to close the Quairading to York and Trayning to Merredin rail lines. She also supported a Nationals motion for a review into the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme that assists regional people in accessing specialist medical care. As this week was Transgender Day of Remembrance, where we pay tribute to members of the trans* community that have died at the hands of transphobia and hate, Lynn questioned the Minister for Mental Health on availability of crisis accommodation and the lack of specific provision for trans* people in the Mental Health Bill 2013.
While opposing a motion to permit hunting on public lands (see Robin’s description above), Lynn pointed out that it is not effective for amateur hunters to deal with feral animals. Allowing amateur hunters would, conversely, endanger native wildlife.
Following Lynn’s line of questioning on contracts of sale with the Forest Products Commission, the Auditor General released a report to Parliament, Opinions on Ministerial Notifications, stating that the Minister’s decision not to answer those questions was unreasonable and inappropriate. Lynn had asked these in order to shed some light on the questionable value of selling timber from our precious native forests. The Minister decided not to provide an answer, falling back on claims that they “contain commercially sensitive information.” In light of the AG report, we expect the information to be forthcoming...
With the impending release of the new Forest Management Plan, public scrutiny of the sell-off of native forests is extremely important. Lynn will continue to pursue this in the Parliament, and this week also asked further questions of the Minister for Forestry on the thinning of karri regrowth and on the Forest Product’s Commission’s overdue accounts.
The week ended with two estimates hearings: Lynn asked the Department of Parks and Wildlife about the conservation status of the woylie and the state of the predator-proof fence surrounding Port Kennedy Scientific Park (neither question could be readily answered). At the Corrective Services hearing, Lynn followed up progress of implementing the recommendations from her committee’s report into the Transportation of Detained Persons (following the death in custody of Mr Ward) and asked about youth diversionary programs and transgender prisoners.
In addition to Parliament work this week, Lynn participated in the media forum, Focus on Rockingham Wednesday night and spoke and marched at the Equal Love Rally on Saturday.
The details of upcoming bills can be found here:
Asbestos Diseases Compensation Bill 2013Legislative Council Second Reading - 31/10/2013, Private Members Bill introduced by Doust, Hon Kate
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Barrow Island Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Council Second Reading - 19/11/2013 |
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Climate Change Readiness (Coastal Planning and Protection) Bill 2013Legislative Council Second Reading - 20/06/2013, Private Members Bill introduced by MacLaren, Hon Lynn |
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Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Council Second Reading - 31/10/2013 |
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Custodial Legislation (Officers Discipline) Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 20/11/2013 |
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Declared Places (Mentally Impaired Accused) Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 17/10/2013 |
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Electricity Corporations Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Council Second Reading - 19/11/2013 |
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Liquor Control Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 12/06/2013, Private Members Bill introduced by Murray, Mr Mick |
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Local Government Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 30/10/2013 |
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Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Bill 2013Referred to Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and Statutes Review - 17/10/2013 |
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Mental Health Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 23/10/2013 |
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Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia Bill 2013Legislative Council Second Reading - 31/10/2013 |
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Mining Legislation Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 30/10/2013 |
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Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Council Second Reading - Committee Report Tabled - 19/11/2013 |
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Ports Legislation Amendment Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 23/10/2013 |
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Royal Perth Hospital Protection Bill 2013Legislative Council First Reading - 28/06/2013, Private Members Bill introduced by Cook, Mr Roger |
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Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 17/09/2013 |
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Statutes (Repeals) Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 20/11/2013 |
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Sunset Reserve Transformation Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 31/10/2013 |
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Taxi Drivers Licensing Bill 2013Legislative Council Committee of the Whole - 19/11/2013 |
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Unclaimed Money (Superannuation and RSA Providers) Amendment and Expiry Bill 2013Referred to Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and Statutes Review - 24/10/2013 |
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Western Australian Photo Card Bill 2013Legislative Council Second Reading - 24/10/2013 |
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Workforce Reform Bill 2013Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 23/10/2013 |
The Explanatory Memorandums for these Bills are available by clicking on the above links.
