2019-05-08
By Hon. Robin Chapple, MLC for Mining and Pastoral
In the run-up to elections it’s important to look at our achievements so far, as well as considering what’s left to do. All of us at The Greens (WA), our volunteers, constituents and the general public have been working tirelessly against the McGowan Labor government and their disregard for our environment, Aboriginal communities, and sustainable future.
We’ve been hard at work furthering our campaign against fracking in WA. The legislative mess that The Liberals left has been ignored by Labor and our pristine rural and remote areas – and the people that live here ‒ are under threat from big business in the Mining & Petroleum sectors. We’re committed to continue working to protect our Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields from indiscriminate and damaging industries. Our rural and remote communities, many of which have a special connection to the land, cannot be silenced by big business and I’m committed to helping them be heard.
I’ve also been working closely with individuals and corporations; protecting the Burrup Peninsula, its ecology and its outstanding cultural, historic sites. We, along with FARA (Friends of Australian Rock Art), locals, and others, have been striving to protect the world’s oldest rock art (some of which is over 30,000 years old) from threats old and new. Announced last year, the two newly-proposed industrial plants ‒ Perdaman Urea plant and Wesfarmers, Mitsubishi and Coogee Chemicals Methanol plant ‒ would be devastating to the land and anything that sits on top of it. The roads required for the infrastructure alone have damaged and destroyed countless artefacts and scarred the land in the process. Similarly, we’ve been busy holding Yara’s Pilbara Fertiliser Plant and Technical Ammonium Nitrate Plant accountable for its noxious emissions, and working to protect new species of underground microbes across the Goldfields and Pilbara from industry. I’m very fortunate to have seen the Burrup and these stunning artefacts several times in person over the years. In July this year I’ll be heading back up to the Burrup personally to meet constituents and other concerned parties; hoping to find ‒ and monitor ‒ a pragmatic, long-term solution to those problems industry has brought to our own little slice of Eden.
I’ve also been continuing work on End of Life Choices. With the ministerial discussion paper released, we’re a step closer to providing dignity and choice to people at that stage in their lives. It’s not been an easy fight but I’m glad that we’re following the examples, set both at home and abroad, of compassion and genuine understanding, at a time when people need it most.
I take this opportunity to wish Jordan Steele-John and all the supporting candidates the very best for the election, and to thank everyone for all that you do.
Header photo: Robin and Burrup rock art.