2017-10-26
Hon Alison Xamon
It has been a busy couple of months, with much of it flavoured with the bitter taste of the Marriage Equality debate. Ive been very active in this space, speaking at rallies, advocating for LGBTIQ+ specific services and reminding Parliament about the importance of protecting the mental health and wellbeing of the community. I am sorry such a divisive debate has been forced upon all Australians – but I look forward to the announcement of a 'Yes result in the coming weeks.
Like many others, I was outraged in August to discover the Government has been providing access to Ministers for cash, as part of ALP fundraising. It was particularly concerning because the ALP in opposition had echoed concerns raised by the Greens about the Barnett Governments leadership forums, which did the exact same thing. It is a disgraceful use of government and raises serious issues about integrity. In response, I introduced my Electoral Amendment (Access to Ministers) Bill 2017, which seeks to improve the capacity of ministers to exercise their powers fairly and in the best interests of the entire community. On the subject of bills, I have spoken on a great many, including the Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Methylamphetamine) Bill 2017, Child Support (Adoption of Laws) bill 2017 and Sentence Administration Amendment Bill 2017. This period, too, Unions WA formerly endorsed my Criminal Code Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2017.
I have been appointed Deputy Chair of a newly established Select Committee into the issue of Elder Abuse. I anticipate that the committee could potentially look at a broad range of issues affecting older Australians, including inheritance issues, access to housing and disability. One of the key issues I would like to look at as part of the committees scope is the impact of elder abuse on mental health and the disturbing prevalence of suicide among older Australians.
Ive been working closely with the Bush Not Bricks community group to protect some of our last remaining urban bushland at Lemnos Street in Shenton Park. For too long, governments have ignored planning policies which aim to protect our precious few remaining urban bushlands. The bush at the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital site forms an important ecological link between the Shenton Park and Underwood Avenue Bush Forever sites. It contains significant portions of Banksia woodland, which was named a Threatened Ecological Community under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 2016. I share the communitys concerns that no attempt has been made to design the Montario Quarter development in line with policies, strategies and frameworks around bushland.
Bush Not Bricks: Alison receives a petition calling for the protection of Lemnos Street Bush, outside Parliament. Arran Morton
Ive also spoken in Parliament on a range of issues from the alarming drop in the rate of TAFE enrolments because of the extortionate fee schedule, workplace casualisation and workers rights to the link between homelessness and mental health and the need for a well-funded State Records Office. I have also brought the Legislative Councils attention to the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder crisis and spoke on a motion calling for more options for the families of deaf and hard of hearing children.
Header photo: Alison at the Yes Fest rally in Perths Russel Square on 7 October. Arran Morton