2018-08-17
By Hon. Robin Chapple, MLC for Mining and Pastoral
We have been incredibly active recently, and State politics seems more dynamic and capricious than usual. Much like chasing a bouncing footy, you never quite know which way it will go next! But try as they might to plough on through, we are there at every turn holding the Government to account and making sure that WA gets the best possible deal.
As you will all know, we will soon have a federal election on our hands and we are ready to rumble, having announced Johani Mamid as our candidate for Durack, which covers most of Mining and Pastoral.
Johani is more than up to the challenge, as are the tireless members and supporters from the Kimberley down to Geraldton. It was my absolute pleasure to join Johani and Greens members in Broome last month to launch their campaign.
With the plastic bag ban coming into effect on 1st of July, I have been pursuing the Government to support The Greens’ Bill to ban all single use plastics. The plastic bag ban is a great start but the core issue here is that thicker plastic bags are not the solution – reusable cloth bags are. Likewise, we have had great success in pressuring the Government into considering a ban on plastic straws and potentially other unnecessary single use plastics that end up clogging our waterways and oceans. Premier McGowan indicated that they were considering a straw ban and potentially even more, which is an absolute testament to the work of activists like Lisa Jane Hills, of Boycott Balloons Fremantle, and Pat Lowe in Broome. See the video. Well Premier, our Bill is ready to go in the Parliament – get on board.
I also spoke on the importance of promoting tourism in WA’s North West, specifically with regards to facilities such as the Newman campground requiring upgrades. I’m pleased to report that this has provoked movement at the station, and some upgrades will be seen to link up the towns and provide for a better tourist experience, unlocking the North and injecting further expenditure into local economies.
As always, resources and industry are a focus for my office and I, particularly as one of the few voices in Parliament examining alternatives to rampant industrialisation in sensitive locations, and looking after country. The Burrup is under threat once again, and despite having a gazetted industrial area available on the mainland at the Maitland Estate nearby, Labor is intent on propping up big business at the expense of the environment and the amazing Aboriginal rock art on the Burrup Peninsula. You can check out the video we put together to explain the terrible effect further industrialisation is having on the rock art below. I have also called for a return to the bond system of mining rehabilitation, to ensure that miners are paying for the costs of full rehabilitation once a site or a feature is closed, rather than leaving it to the taxpayer, as will potentially happen with one mine in the Pilbara to the tune of $500 million.
Back down in Perth, I’ve been advocating for the Cockburn Cement operation to have strict controls placed on pollution, after ongoing complaints from residents of health issues and damaged property from dust. The dust has been seen to turn to a paste-like substance when in contact with water, and even the Government admitted that it was damaging people’s property in the Munster area. Let’s hope that the Environment Minister enacts restrictions once the current review into Cockburn Cement’s operation is complete.
Last but never least, a huge thanks to you. I couldn’t keep doing this work without your support, none of us MPs could. Get in touch with me at any point if you have something to discuss, or if you would like to catch up. The kettle at my office is always ready, and we would love to have a chat.
Header photo: Industrialization on the Burrup Peninsular. Photo credit: Connor Slight
Text photo: Johani and Robin. Photo credit: Liam Carter