2019-07-04
By Hon. Alison Xamon, MLC, Member for North Metropolitan Region
It has been a particularly busy time in Parliament as we head towards the winter recess. In addition to my usual contributions (motions, statements, bills, committee work), the State budget was handed down in May giving an opportunity for members to make budget reply speeches and to ask questions during estimates hearings.
In my budget reply speech I raised a broad range of concerns across my portfolio areas. Disappointingly, the Government continues to underfund many important services, and I again called for more investment in prevention and early intervention across the health, mental health and child protection sectors. I raised the importance of continuity of support for people currently receiving disability services who will not be eligible for the NDIS, the need for support for students with a disability and those at educational risk, funding for Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre, and for free TAFE.
Among many other statements I also delivered my sixth speech about the Coroner’s report of her inquest into Aboriginal child suicides in the Kimberley, this time focusing on the child protection system. In four of the 13 deaths investigated, the Coroner made adverse comments about the Department of Child Protection and Family Support, finding a deficiency or failing in the department’s actions. Since then the Government released its preliminary response to the Coroner’s Inquest and the Message Stick Inquiry into Aboriginal suicide. I cannot emphasise enough that in addition to being Aboriginal led Government action must be backed with adequate resourcing and bipartisan commitment or it will run the risk of going the same way as the 40 previous reports and 700 recommendations made into Aboriginal suicide over the last 20 years or so.
During the early June parliamentary sitting period I was also pleased to call on the debate on my Bill to abolish ticket voting. Members from both the Liberals and the Liberal Democrats spoke on the Bill. In an odd turn of events the Liberals indicated their support for the reforms that I have put forward. The Liberal Democrats then spoke against the Bill. We ran out of time before someone from Labor could speak, however I understand they are unlikely to support the Bill despite independent experts in electoral reform backing the Bill. Consequently it looks like Western Australia will be not be returning control of the flow of preferences back to voters any time soon which is a shame.
If you would like to read my full budget speech, or any other transcripts of my parliamentary work, please check out my website at www.alisonxamon.org.au.
While there has been a lot going on in the House, I have had plenty of things to occupy me outside of Parliament as well. I was privileged to attend the WA Disability Support Awards on 11 May. The awards provide a fabulous opportunity to recognise those disability support workers who go over and above working in partnership with the people whom they are there to support. One of the things that I found encouraging about the night was that so many of the people who are providing support made a big point of ensuring that the people who they give support to, the people with disability, were there in partnership with them while they were lucky enough to be receiving those awards.
I am also excited to renew the WA Greens’ push to end intensive factory farming. I am beginning with a focus on hens and free range eggs. Industrial egg and poultry production in Australia continues to prioritise profits ahead of animal welfare. Accordingly I am working towards: banning cage egg production; enforcing genuine free range standards; and improving food labelling laws.
Keeping with the animals theme, I was very pleased to table a petition calling for an end to the greyhound muzzle laws. These laws are completely unnecessary and are not based on evidence. Greyhounds do not pose a greater risk to the public than any other type of dog, however, the fact that they have to be muzzled means that people often assume that they do. This misconception has ramifications for the rehoming of retired racing greyhounds, preventing many greyhounds from finding a new home.
In line with my calls to promote transparency and integrity in government, I am among the many Australians horrified about the recent AFP raids on ABC offices, and the implications these actions have for the freedom of our independent press. I have raised my deep concerns about the prospect of government interference in the media, and the importance of the protection of whistle-blowers. The idea that the ability and capacity of the independent press to uncover serious wrongdoings and corruption will be limited is deeply concerning and is something I will continue to speak against.
As a co-convenor of the Parliamentary Friends of Refugees group, I was very pleased to host a lunch for refugees, advocates and MPs from all parties to meet and discuss issues around access to healthcare. Many asylum seekers on temporary visas do not have access to Medicare and may also have very limited income and/or no working rights. Access to a range of essential health care services is often beyond their financial reach. Issues like these are often not widely understood in the community and as such the lunch provided a valuable opportunity to increase awareness among MPs.
Header photo: At a Parliamentary Friends of Refugees event, with refugee advocates Michelle Bui, Kate Leamey and Teresa Lee. Kirsten Richards
Text photo: Alison accepting the petition calling for an end to greyhound muzzle laws. She is pictured with Andrea and Alanna from Free the Hounds, along with dogs Max, Misty and Hope. Kirsten Richards