2016-06-22
Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC
One of my recent highlights was meeting Professor Gillian Triggs, Australia Human Rights Commission president at the inaugural Human Rights public lecture from the Curtin University Centre for Human Rights Education. Listening to her, I reflected on how important its been to put in the long hours campaigning and debating in Parliament the Bill which would restrict peaceful protest in WA and my parliamentary work for LGBTIQA+ equality.
I also gave pause to reflect on this as I spoke at the vigil for Orlando held in Perth on the days following the shocking shooting deaths of 49 people in a gay club in Florida. Following my speech I bravely led the hundreds assembled in singing “We Shall Overcome” after inviting Stephen Dawson and Lisa Baker to stand beside me in solidarity demonstrating our common purpose in countering hatred, homophobia and transphobia in all its forms.
Sharks are back in the news. In May I met with WA inventor Craig Anderson, whose shark detection system was overlooked by the Barnett Government and successfully trialled in NSW. The Clever Buoy uses sonar to detect sharks distinct movements before sending a message via satellite to lifeguards on the beach, who can immediately alert swimmers to the danger.
I hosted Linda Oliver, Leah Vlatko, Evangeline Douglas and Sofiya Sam for lunch at Parliament following the Soroptimist International Fremantle Public Speaking Competition, where I was one of the judges in March. These young women shared their dreams for the future – and had me filled with optimism.
It was not my usual visit to the Court Hotel when I joined Senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam on a panel canvassing LGBTIQA+ issues at a special Greens event. Later, it was my pleasure to formally introduce candidate for Canning Aeron Blundell-Camden at his campaign launch. Together, we were inspired to host a similar event in Mandurah on 24 June with Brian Grieg (AME), Sandra Norma (Living Proud) and Paul van Lieshout Hunt (RTRFM). Elliott James will showcase his skills as Q&A master.
The RSPCA 2016 Million Paws Walk was held just days before we finally tabled the Committee Report into their operations. But all politics were set aside as I spent the morning with as many as 5,000 canines.
The Parliamentary inquiry into the RSPCA, of which I was a committee member, came to end in May after more than 12 months of investigations. The final committee majority report outlined 56 findings but was unfortunately based on a distortion of facts, obliging the ALPs Sally Talbot and myself to present our own minority report. The minority report makes nine recommendations and 38 findings which are in stark contrast to those in the majority report. Our report clearly reflected the fantastic work and good management of the RSPCA, concluding that public confidence in the organisation was well-placed. As I pointed out at the time, no other non-government organisation is doing more for animal welfare in WA.
The same day the RSPCA inquiry concluded, protestors gathered outside Parliament House for the annual March Against Monsanto while I tabled a petition at Parliament calling for a Royal Commission into the regulation importation, sale and use of pesticides, related illnesses, and environmental harm. I share the hope of petitioners that any inquiry would expose the systematic failure, and harm to humans, animals and the environment.
Earlier this month Mandurah surfer Ben Gerring was tragically killed after he was bitten by a shark off Falcon Beach. What followed was another round of drum-lining from the Barnett Government as part of its nonsensical “imminent threat policy.” I called on the Government to abandon the hunt for the white shark which bit Mr Gerring and instead focus on preventing shark bites through the wide range of technologies and innovation available.
This month, too, I gave my views on the Mangles Bay canal estate and marina development, telling the Department of Planning panellists that the project was a blot on the WA Environmental Protection Authoritys record that a development of this nature on a highly sensitive coastal site earmarked Bush Forever had ever received environmental approval.
I told the panel that it seemed extremely inappropriate to be considering an MRS amendment at this stage, given that there was a more appropriate marina site at Wanliss Street to meet the projected boat pen demand, the striking absence of any economic evidence in favour of the development, its likely high cost and lengthy period of construction before imagined benefits can be delivered, the proponents continuing omission to provide an economic case and key details including a 25-year maintenance plan and other requirements under Development Control Policy 1.8.
As the federal campaign heated up in mid-June, I took my team along to the re-launch of WA 2.0 at His Majestys Theatre in Perth. It was a fantastic way for senators Rachel Siewert and Richard Di Natale to outline their vision for our state.
Photo: A selfie with Gillian Triggs