2020-09-02
In a number of areas, there is increasing concern about the lack of transparency in Government processes
By Hon. Alison Xamon, MLC, Member for North Metropolitan Region
The Government’s lack of transparency in its decision making processes has very much emerged as a general theme weaving through much of this most recent sitting of Parliament. I am becoming increasingly concerned about the huge range of powers the government is granting to itself, for the duration of the pandemic. The consequences of some of these decisions are very long-term. Ministerial and police powers are growing at an alarming rate, buried in fast-tracked legislation. Worryingly, this creep of power is not being picked up by the wider community and, importantly, by the media. While the Government must of course have the ability to continue to respond to COVID-19, it is more important than ever that transparency, accountability and fair processes be maintained – and strengthened.
We have seen the Government grant an outrageous special exemption from its new domestic gas reservation policy to the Mutsui and Co./Beach Energy/Waitsia joint venture in the mid-West – the only project to receive such an exemption. Not by coincidence, Seven Group Holdings owns the biggest share of Beach Energy – and it’s owned by Kerry Stokes, who also owns the West Australian newspaper and is an ALP donor. Again, this raises huge concerns about transparency and what else this Government is doing behind closed doors. It is sadly just one example of how our democracy is distorted by special interests with lots of money. A Government which can be bought off by the fossil-fuel industry is a Government which will never act to adequately address threats to everyday Western Australians, like climate change. It also raises concerns about how fearless and independent our local news media can possibly be.
In response to my concerns regarding transparency in decision-making, as well as undue influence, I brought forward my Electoral Amendment (Access to Ministers) Bill 2017 for debate, during Non-Government business time in the Upper House. My Bill will ban political fundraisers such as the Government’s Leaders Forum, which sells tickets for up to $25,000, granting attendees special access to Government Ministers. The people attending these events are people with vested interests, they are big business, they are developers and they are lobbyists. As expected, despite support from my Parliamentary colleagues on the need for reform in this space, the Government chose to filibuster out the remaining time for debate, leaving us with no outcome.
In other matters which also touch on the theme of transparency, my constituents have been contacting me in considerable numbers with their concerns about the Ocean Reef Marina development. Residents are only now becoming aware of the scale of the development and destruction of precious bushland. My constituents are very concerned that Government agency DevelopmentWA quietly doubled the area allocated for housing as part of the project, burying plans deep in thousands of pages of planning documents. The Community consultation that has happened has not meaningfully communicated the change from the well-supported expansion of the boat harbour to a full marina and housing development. This raises stark concerns about transparency in the processes of Government.
I marked Homelessness Week 2020 (2-8 August) by calling for a bigger commitment to social housing from this Government. With the pandemic, the homelessness crisis in WA has increased, and is likely to further increase as extra welfare supports decline at the end of September, and the stay on rental evictions finishes. Homelessness not only means shelter for the night but involves health and mental health outcomes, likelihood of substance abuse, and diminished opportunities for gainful employment. Although the WA Government has plans to increase public housing it falls well short of the need. A more ambitious public housing program would stimulate post-pandemic economic activity, which is surely one of the Government’s aims. For my detailed analysis of this homelessness crisis please see here.
Meanwhile, I have continued to progress matters across my portfolio areas. I met with a group of First Nations people in Armadale to discuss their concerns about the working of the WA Child Protection system; continued debate in Parliament on the need for better protections for seniors against elder abuse; called for a ban on conversion practices still affecting LGBTIQ Western Australians; raised the issue of excessive use of force by WA Police; and spoke on a motion on the need to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
We are, of course, quickly moving towards the election and planning is well underway. I have been meeting with candidates and taking part in North Metro and wider campaign meetings and events.
Header photo: Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) lived experience meeting, 13th July 2020.