2018-04-30
Hon. Alison Xamon
It has been a busy start to the Parliamentary year since the Legislative Council began sitting again in mid-March with most of the legislation falling into my portfolio responsibilities. There has also been much going on in the two committees of which I am a member – the Joint Committee on the Corruption and Crime Commission which has begun receiving submissions into the Inquiry into Corruption risks around Public Sector Procurement and the Select Committee into Elder Abuse. Issues arising from the Committees have been debated in Parliament and in particular I have been speaking about excessive police force and the CCCs response to this. Public hearings have also begun as part of the Inquiry into Elder Abuse.
There has been much going on in North Metro, with the community campaign to protect bushland at the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital ramping up. The Bush Not Bricks group has rallied twice in March to save the ecological linkage that runs from the Underwood Avenue Bush Forever site to the Shenton Park Bushland. I spoke at a rally of around 300 people at the site and detailed the way that LandCorp has put the clearing application on hold in order to pursue a subdivision application.
Meanwhile, the years long fight to save Underwood Avenue bushland is still very much active. Elsewhere in the electorate, I have been working hard to ensure best environmental practice is followed relating to the Ocean Reef Marina development and continuing to speak out about the need to retain the City Beach High School site for educational purposes, preferably a future High School, for the Western suburbs.
In Parliament this period, I re-introduced my Industrial Relations (Equal Remuneration) Amendment Bill 2018, seven years after I introduced an earlier version in October 2011. My bill, if passed, will go some way to addressing WAs 22% gender pay gap (the highest in the country) by allowing the WA Industrial Relations Commission to hear pay equity cases. Im also calling on the Government to reinstate the Pay Equity Unit. My Criminal Code Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2017 and Electoral Amendment (Access to Ministers) bill 2017 are still before the House awaiting debate.
Elsewhere, I have continued to respond to cuts to the Education budget and attended several rallies. Unfortunately, the Minister for Education has still not seen reason and refuses to reverse the decision to close Moora Residential College, and Tuart and Canning Colleges, and to defund six camp schools, Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre and Landsdale Farm School. The community has been incredibly strong and unified in voicing opposition to these cuts – it is time for the Minister to start listening and I am not going to stop raising the issue.
In the last sitting period I introduced a Motion to debate the Government response to the Senate Inquiry into Lyme-like illness in order to draw attention to the plight of many Western Australians living with this debilitating illness. The Senate Inquiry made many recommendations as to how State Governments could best respond in order to better understand what is causing this syndrome and to support those who are suffering.
It is vital that West Australian expertise is used and our operating environment and geographical context are properly represented when the recommendations are being implemented. I was able to get the Government on record as to what they plan to do to support the work happening federally. Needless to say that there is much more work to be done and I will continue to raise this important issue.
I have debated the majority of legislation which has come before the Upper House as they have landed within my portfolio areas. I was extremely pleased to contribute to the passage through parliament of the Civil Liability Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse Allegations) Bill 2017. This legislation addresses a significant injustice by removing limitation periods for civil litigation in child sexual abuse cases. While this legislation was very welcome, it is disappointing it only covers child sexual abuse – I know there is a strong desire in the community to see the provisions extended to cover all forms of child abuse and neglect, including physical, emotional, psychological abuse and neglect. I will keep advocating for this to occur and hope that there may be future legislation which will cover this.
I also debated the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill which seeks to implement some of the recommendations arising from a recent review. The Bill seeks to place further restrictions upon the sale and marketing of certain tobacco products, particularly those that have recently emerged as potentially marketing to children, and also makes it unlawful for children to sell tobacco products. The Greens have a long standing record of standing up to tobacco interests and I note it was only the Greens pointing out that even this good Bill did not go far enough.
I will continue to utilise every possible Parliamentary tool at my disposal to draw attention to a wide range of issues, both in my electorate and in the wider state.
Header photo: Unfortunately, the Minister for Education has still not seen reason and refuses to reverse the decision to close Moora Residential College, and Tuart and Canning Colleges, and to defund six camp schools, Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre and Landsdale Farm School. Jocasta Sibbel
Text photo: I met family and domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty, finally, at an event at Parliament in March. Australia owes Rosie a great deal for her work in this space over the last four years. Alison Xamon