2018-11-09
By Hon. Alison Xamon, MLC, Member for North Metropolitan Region
The Parliamentary Select Committee into Elder Abuse, of which I was Deputy Chair, delivered its final report on 13th September. During the 12-month inquiry, the committee looked at a wide range of issues including what constituted elder abuse; who was at risk; the potential perpetrators; the need for education and awareness campaigns; as well as the role of the Government, the justice system and other agencies in preventing elder abuse. I encourage interested people to read the report, particularly the recommendations, and we now await the official Government response.
The issue of legal discrimination against LGBTI students, parents and staff at religious schools went national last month, following the leaking of the Ruddock Religious Freedom Review. The debate sparked an announcement from the WA Attorney General that the Government will now review the state Equal Opportunity Act. Whilst I am pleased that a review will be happening it does not excuse the immediate need for Parliament to pass my Equal Opportunity (LGBTIQ Anti-Discrimination) Amendment Bill as people and children are risking legal discrimination now.
I participated in a panel discussion about the importance of allies to the LGBTIQ community, as part of the Second National Australian Ally Conference 2018. Later, I was very pleased to meet his Honour Michael Kirby who also spoke.
I was pleased to receive bipartisan support for my motion to establish a Select Committee to examine alternative approaches to reducing the harm caused by illicit drug use in what proved to be an excellent 4 hour debate. Our current approach to drug use is clearly not working and the Committee, which I am now chairing, will inquire into other Australian state jurisdictions and international approaches to reducing harm to the community caused by drug use – including the experience of countries such as Portugal. We will be calling for public submissions very soon.
My Industrial Manslaughter Bill has continued to garner attention, most recently with a Senate Committee report calling for the introduction of such laws around Australia. The sudden death of a loved one is devastating and changes the course of many lives. It is particularly horrendous if the death was avoidable or the risk was foreseen and no worker’s life should ever be sacrificed in the pursuit of profit. My Bill, which I reintroduced to Parliament last year, will, if passed, make industrial manslaughter a crime. All that is needed now is for the WA Government and opposition to take on board the findings of the Senate report and support my bill as a matter of priority.
In early September I had the opportunity to visit Banksia Hill Detention Centre. It is very clear to me that this maximum security facility is a completely inappropriate setting in which to successfully rehabilitate vulnerable children and young people. We know that this model is an expensive failure because nearly 60% of young people leaving the Centre return within two years. I continue to be concerned that nearly half of the children and young people in the Centre are not even sentenced and that some of them are eligible and deemed suitable for release but remain incarcerated because there is either no suitable accommodation available for them, or no available placements in drug and alcohol programs. I also recently met with representatives from Amnesty International Australia to discuss their shared concerns with youth justice detention in WA.
In my Electorate, I’ve continued to highlight environmental issues connecting with proposed developments at Ocean Reef and Alfred Cove (in terms of the impact on the Swan River); while also pursuing the issue of the cost of relocation of the international school and subsequent loss of green open space. I have also continued to urge the Government to see sense and ensure the Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre is provided with sufficient funding so that it can continue its long history as a valuable environmental educator.
I took part again in this year’s Stop Live Exports Human Chain along with Hon. Tim Clifford. The Greens have long opposed this industry and continue to call for an immediate transition from live exports.
We officially have a moving date for the new office! By the next Green Issue my team and I (cross fingers!) should be settled into our new digs in West Leederville.
Header photo: With Michael Kirby at the Ally Conference. Alison Xamon
Text photo: With Tim Clifford at the live exports rally. Alison Xamon