2021-02-27
The last four years summarized, and looking forward to four more
By Hon Diane Evers, MLC, Member for South West
Well, here we are in a new year, and I hope it is a year of change. A year to make a difference, a year to speak out on all the issues that need attention.
It has been an absolute pleasure representing the South West Region in Parliament these past few years. During this time I have met the most impressive people, working tirelessly to "right the wrongs’, ‘fix the ills’ and generally make the world a better place. I see so much promise in the decade ahead if we only take action urgently.
Parliament has been prorogued, which means it will not sit again until after the state election. The Greens are working hard to retain and build on the four seats we currently hold in the Legislative Council – including my own – and I am so fortunate to be surrounded by so much support in this space. It makes me very hopeful that I will be able to continue to represent you as your South West Green voice in Parliament after the election.
Just as we must stay strong in our actions to follow the science and keep COVID-19 at bay in this new year, we must also be strong and follow the science to address the causes of the climate crisis. For the past four years I have watched the WA Labor Government spend money on band-aid solutions to treat the direct consequences of the climate crisis: putting out fires, repairing washed-out roads and bridges, and shifting sand to combat beach erosion, to name but a few. However, instead of taking committed action to address the root causes of climate change – and in turn, listening to the majority of Western Australians who are calling for action – the Government continues to support new gas projects and has taken almost a full four years to release a climate change policy.
Driven by financial imperatives and the repeated advocacy of WA Greens Upper House Members, the Government has picked up the pace on renewable energy investment. What we need is a commitment to phase out coal, reject any new gas construction, and increase drawdown of carbon through forestry and agriculture. This is the decade we must see change, for every minute we collectively delay, the possibility of halting climate change becomes that much less likely. The genie may be out of the bottle but now is the moment to find a way to put it back.
I’d like to thank everyone who is reading this, for giving me your time and your interest. It means a lot to me that there are so many of you who believe I am doing a good job and want to see me continue. It means that I must be on the right track! As I see it, at the 2017 election I was given four years to ‘do some good’. I do hope my past newsletters have given you plenty of evidence of the positive impacts I have made on your behalf. In my mind, however, I am always looking toward the future – and the work I still have left before me.
This includes seeing:
- An end to native forest logging and a just transition of the forestry industry to plantation timber;
- A new Water Act that prepares us for an equitable future of water security for our agricultural and industry needs, as well as our cities and towns;
- Support for farmers and farming communities to transition away from industrialised agriculture, and towards sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices that produce highly nutritional foods, while restoring the soil and landscape;
- The recognition and ongoing protection of our environment and biodiversity;
- Improved avenues for the community to have their voice heard and prevent inappropriate development in the regions;
- The re-opening of hundreds of kilometers of unutilised rail network, including recommissioning the Tier 3 rail network to reduce the number of trucks on regional roads, improve road safety and further drive down transport emissions.
Western Australia has such incredible potential with the wealth of our resources, the enormous renewable energy opportunities, the breadth of our landscape for food production and the incredible biodiversity. Somehow, we must find a way to manage and protect all of this as we continue to provide for our people.
The population, the corporate world and the government must work together responsibly, collaboratively and with agreed aims as to where we want to head and when. My work has entailed numerous pleas, letters, questions, petitions — and more — to persuade and cajole the government to listen. I have also met with many business entities to understand how we can advance their needs while also meeting the needs of people and planet. The most inspirational part of my work, however, has been meeting with the numerous not-for-profit organisations and community groups, made up of people who care.
Our forests must be protected immediately and the WA Forest Alliance, among many others, is working day and night to see that the government recognises this and takes action. There are countless more environmental groups, including (but not limited to) the Jarrahdale Forest Protectors, Save Dwellingup Discovery Forest, Denmark Fire Study Group, Save Our Donnelly River, Nannas for Native Forests, … I could go on, but if you are interested, I would encourage you to find out more about these groups and how you can support them.
Our food production methods are on the brink of change, with regenerative agriculture ideas being taken up widely — to not only grow more nutritious food but also regenerate soils and our landscape. I have learned so much through these past four years about farming and what I hope to do is put pressure on the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to engage with the possibilities of a more traditional agricultural style rather than the industrial agriculture system, which has so depleted our landscape.
So many community groups have taught me lessons about caring. Just Home Margaret River and their passion for finding a home for people who need one. Pivot in Albany patiently explained to me how people in need, most often have many issues holding them back and not just the one that our siloed service structure might be trying to fix. Linkwest and the entire Community Resource Centre structure that this Labor Government tried to decimate with funding cuts. The CRCs do so much for their communities because of their flexibility and ability to work with the needs of the particular community they represent. Good on you, CRCs, you are right in there with my other favourite organisations such as the State Libraries and Lifeblood.
Then, there are the individuals who stand up to developers, local governments, the State Administrative Tribunal, the Environmental Protection Authority, and other government bodies to object to inappropriate development. These developments are nearly always clearing more of our fragile eco-system without concern for its loss. Greenpatch at Dalyellup, Lake Vancouver near Goode Beach, Bunbury Outer Ring Road dividing the Gelorup community, the Nullaki lime pit on land set aside for conservation, Cleanaway’s rapidly expanding landfill at Dardanup, Gnarabup being whittled away by continual pressure by developers, the motorplex in Albany approved in the water catchment area, the list feels endless sometimes. Without people who care, sometimes it looks like there would be nothing to hold back the tide of development and the clearing of our vast state, one tree, one hectare, one forest at a time until it’s gone and we have dried up and learned to live in a desert.
This is why I’d like to return for a second term. There is much to do, and many people to support, This government has said it is listening, so if they are not responding then we must not be loud enough. I can raise my voice and with your voices behind me, we can make change. We can influence, guide and see some change.
Changes such as getting Yoondadadaup Lake Jasper reinstated into the D’Entrcasteaux National Park. Changes such as getting funding restored to the CRCs. Getting the Education Department to recognise and provide funding for the swimming pool in Jerramungup. Stopping the Dunsborough Puma petrol station development. Introducing several Bills to parliament, including the Rights of Nature and Future Generations Bill, the Environmental Court Bill the Royalties for Regions Amendment Bill and — of course — the Forest Products Amendment Bill.
To continue this work, I need your support. When I was elected four years ago, in 2017, I was unknown and the WA Greens had not held the South West Region seat since 2008. Four years on, having achieved a good number of positive outcomes, and now being deep in the middle of efforts to have a real impact on the future of Western Australia, I hope to continue that work, and have another four years to fight for the issues that matter to you, to your community, to future generations and to the planet.
There is so much work to do in order to support this change and all of these community wins. On March 13 it will be determined whether I get to return for another four years. I would sincerely appreciate that opportunity.
Header photo: Diane with Mia Krasenstein, candidate for Vasse, and Jeff Pow, candidate for Warren-Blackwood, along with the winners of the raffle at the Cape-to-Cape campaign launch. Jack Hicken