2016-10-20
Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC
The long awaited Biodiversity Conservation Bill dominated much of this period in Parliament. A years worth of work culminated in the Greens achieving three successful amendments, which will now serve to make the legislation stronger. While I ultimately opposed the bill following a lengthy debate – I feel the States biodiversity deserves much better legislative protection on the whole – my amendments have improved new laws which represent a necessary modernisation and significant improvement to current Wildlife Conservation laws.
The Greens will continue to campaign at a state and federal level for better, stronger protection and enhancement of biodiversity – that doesnt stop. But the starting point in Western Australia has moved forward considerably. I already know which amendments I will need to advocate for in these new laws and the regulations which will need careful drafting and implementation.
Later, I had the opportunity to share my experience of working on the bill at Edith Cowan University in a panel discussion, New Environmental Legislation for WA: Understanding the Biodiversity Conservation Bill, alongside Minister for the Environment Albert Jacob.
It was certainly a matter of juggling many balls in Parliament this period as I moved significant amendments to the Pilbara Ports Assets (Disposal) Bill, in Robins absence as he was away on a scheduled trip in his electorate.
Even with all this Parliament business, we still found time to host two fundraiser film screenings: The Secret Life of Pets in Como and Embrace in Fremantle. I left the Luna on Essex feeling empowered and with renewed drive to stand up against the unrealistic expectations placed upon women and their bodies by the globalised mainstream media, following my screening of body image documentary, Embrace. Outside the cinema, following the first of my campaign fundraisers ahead of the 2017 State Election, I chatted to many women and their daughters, who shared my feelings of elation that someone, namely Australian mother-of-three Taryn Brumfitt, was challenging the worldwide culture of body loathing and body shaming.
The following week, re-energised and ready for the next challenge, I stepped up the Greens campaign for a WA ban on greyhound racing through the tabling of the first lot of petitions. Seven beautiful dogs joined me on the steps of Parliament House, along with their owners – supporters of the Free the Hounds group. Signatures continue to arrive at my office every day. I will table the next lot in the coming weeks as Parliament resumes and I will continue to push for a ban on a sport which exploits and abuses the gentle-giant that is the greyhound.
In a week which certainly satisfied my passion for animal welfare advocacy, I took part in a candlelit vigil as part of the Animals are not Freight Global Day of Action. I joined hundreds in remembering the 67,488 sheep who perished aboard the Uniceb vessel when the engine room exploded after leaving Fremantle for Jordan in 1996. At the time of the disaster, I was president of People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport (PACAT), now known as Stop Live Exports, and worked with Compassion in World Farming to draw international attention to the tragedy. The atmosphere was poignant outside E Shed twenty years on as Stop Live Exports president Katrina Love read out a long list of incidents and deaths of animals exported by air and sea over the past 35 years.
The next day, I spent the morning at the Cockburn Wetlands Centre, as part of the Natural Area Network (NAMN) Forum on Urban Fauna Management. Hosted by the City of Cockburn, attendees heard from speakers including Perth Zoos Peter Mawson, who shared his experiences of working to reintroduce native species to urban reserves. Later, Geoff Barrett from the Department of Parks and Wildlife provided an update on the Great Cocky Count, quendas, rakali and habitat management.
Sitting on a panel alongside Gosford Anglican Church minister Father Rod Bowers proved to be a recent highlight this period as I travelled south to Bunbury for the Edith Cowan University Community and Inclusion community event. It was a true pleasure to meet the Gosford, New South Wales, minister who has garnered frequent national attention for his outspoken support of Muslims, refugees and marriage equality. My esteemed fellow panel members included South West Aboriginal Medical Services chief executive Lesley Nelson and Dr Steve Thomas. Afterwards, I enjoyed catching up with Greens members from across the South West for dinner in Bunbury.
During this period too, planning begun in earnest for the 2017 State Election campaign. My team and I look forward to the months ahead and to ensuring a continued Greens presence in WA Parliament.
Photo: Lynn at the Community and Inclusion panel event at ECU Bunbury with Father Rod Bower, Lesley Nelson, the ABCs Clare Negus and Dr Steve Thomas Lynn MacLaren