Progress on the banning of forest logging, but not enough particularly in the Jarrah forests and considering dwindling drinking water supplies. And promoting stronger action in preventing violence against women and children.

By Hon Jess Beckerling MLC

It has been a huge couple of months for the forests! We announced our Bill to Ban Mining in Native Forests, along with a petition to back it, and the response has been incredible. In September, we secured unanimous support in the Parliament for a target of zero murdered women and children. And the next few weeks are set to be even bigger!

Here’s what’s been happening and how you can get involved.

Ban Forest Mining

In 2021, WA finally committed to end logging of native forests, with the Premier at the time acknowledging their profound values and the need to protect them. It was a huge victory, made possible by the relentless work of thousands of people over many decades.

But nothing has been done to curtail the clearing of approximately 1,000 hectares of native forest every year for mining. New applications are coming thick and fast, and vast areas of forest are now covered in exploration and mining applications.

Once a forest is mined, a healthy, ancient, intact ecosystem can’t be restored. Native forests are vital for wildlife, biodiversity, climate, culture and communities. Most of WA’s forests and woodlands have already been cleared for agriculture, urban development and industry, and what’s left must be protected.

Some places on Earth have to be off limits to mining, and WA’s forests belong at the top of that list.

That’s why the Greens (WA) are introducing a Bill to ban mining in native forests. I’ll be introducing it in the Legislative Council on Thursday 19 November, and I need your help to show the Government how much support there is for it.

Sign the Petition

• More than 1,100 people have already signed! When you add your name, the petition is emailed directly to WA’s key decision makers and urges them to back the Bill. Please sign and share it far and wide! Sign the petition here

Forests and Climate in Parliament: Fill the Public Gallery

• On 19 November, we’re filling the Legislative Council public gallery for an urgent debate led by our Greens MLCs on climate and environment, and I’ll be introducing our Bill to Ban Forest Mining in WA.

  We want MPs to look up and see a room full of people who care about protecting WA’s forests and taking real action on climate. Come along, take a seat in the gallery and stand with your WA Greens MPs to show decision makers that the community is watching – and that we expect action!

  When: Thursday 19 November, 9.45am

  Where: Meet at Solidarity Park, outside Parliament House

  RSVP here

Rally for the Jarrah Forest

• Join us in saying NO to Alcoa and rallying for the future of the Northern Jarrah Forests. This rally needs to be huge, so please save the date and bring everyone you know!

  When: Saturday 12 December, 4 – 6pm

  Where: Langley Park, Boorloo Perth

  Register here

Alcoa’s Latest Free Pass 

In September, FOI documents published by Peter Milne at Boiling Cold revealed something explosive. In March 2023, then-Premier Mark McGowan warned Alcoa that its future operations could be halted if it didn’t address the risks to drinking water in Serpentine Dam.

Months later, the Cook Labor Government did the opposite. It signed an Exemption Order giving Alcoa increased access to higher-risk areas around the drinking water dams. Water Corporation’s own advice on protecting water quality was not supported.

Then on 29 October, the Government handed Alcoa its latest free pass. A new 38-page Exemption Order lets Alcoa keep mining the Northern Jarrah Forest while the EPA is still assessing the impacts. Other companies normally have to wait for environmental approval. Alcoa should too.

There appear to be some minor improvements compared to the previous order:

• Mining is now banned within 2km of water reservoirs, up from 1km.
• Buffers around black cockatoo nesting trees and significant trees in the Huntly mining area have increased from 10 to 50 metres.

But these new conditions are a smokescreen. They completely fail to prevent potentially catastrophic impacts to WA’s forests, wildlife and water. Letting Alcoa mine before the EPA has even assessed the impacts remains completely unacceptable.

Want Alcoa out of WA’s forests? Sign the petition to ban native forest mining.

IN THE PARLIAMENT:

A Target of Zero 

In September, I put forward a Motion in the Upper House calling for action that matches the scale of the crisis of men’s violence against women and children in this State. It passed unanimously.

In agreeing to the Motion, the Cook Labor Government accepted that the only acceptable number of murdered women and children in WA is zero. Labor supported calls for stronger primary prevention, including the Respectful Relationships program, and for better access to perpetrator intervention programs. But it fell well short of any substantial new commitments that match this emergency.

The onus is now on the Government to pull every lever available to achieve that target, and we will be holding it to the agreements it made.

Children in the Pilbara

I spoke on a motion about protecting vulnerable children in the Pilbara. Aboriginal kids are more likely to be unsafe than non-Indigenous kids. Make no mistake however, this isn’t about culture, it’s about enduring structural inequality and intergenerational trauma. We need truth-telling, and we need to listen to and resource the First Nations people who have the solutions.

Petitions

Proposed Gonneville Mine and Associated Infrastructure – OPEN NOW

• I’m facilitating this petition on behalf of the Chittering community. It calls on the Legislative Council to investigate the whole-of-project and cumulative impacts of the proposed Gonneville mine. These include impacts on farmland, waterways, black cockatoo breeding habitat, human health and community wellbeing. WA residents can sign until 5 April 2027. Sign the petition here.

Purnululu World Heritage Area Joint Management and Management Plan – CLOSED

• This petition calls for joint management of Purnululu with its Native Title Holders, the Bungle Bungle Aboriginal Corporation, and an updated management plan. It closed on 3 September with 1,083 signatures. Congratulations to principal petitioner Ben Cross, who I met during my recent trip to the Kimberley, and thank you to Sophie McNeill for facilitating it.

IN THE COMMUNITY: 

Forest Events

It was a joy to spend a weekend in October in the forests with so many forest defenders.

On Saturday 10 October, Locals for Environmental Action & Protection (LEAP) ran bus tours out to Mt Saddleback near Boddington. People got to see the beauty of the Northern Jarrah Forest up close, and what bauxite strip mining is doing to it. Afterwards we headed back to the Quindanning Hotel for an afternoon of stalls, music, talks, art and performance by local First Nations folk. 

The next morning, I joined the Save Dalgarup team and a big group of walkers beneath the canopy of Dalgarup Forest. We explored long-lost tracks and mighty trees and talked about the mining threats to this magnificent forest. 

On Thursday 29 October, Sophie McNeill and I hosted a Politics in the Pub at The River Hotel in Wooditchup Margaret River. We talked about everything from Alcoa’s destruction of the Northern Jarrah Forest, to mining companies pegging out huge tenements across the South West’s forests, to the Albanese Government’s billions for AUKUS submarines.

The Bro-test

When One Nation’s new Member for Secret Harbour, Luke Herdegen, made his first visit to Parliament House, around 25 people were waiting for him on the front steps. They were there for a mass workout... or a bro-test!

Brad Pettitt and I were invited to speak and asked to reject the idea that family and domestic violence is a two-way street. That was easy, because it’s blatant rubbish. 98% of victim-survivors of family and domestic violence are women and children. Transphobia does not stand in for action on FDV. Huge thanks to Megan McLeod and Eve Gindein for organising it!

And by popular demand, there’s a new STFU, Pauline design that says “people everywhere”, available on tees and crops. The original “women everywhere” design is still available too. All profits go to family, domestic and sexual violence advocacy groups, including First Nations-led organisations. Purchase a t-shirt here.

Other Events

Housing Brainstorm in the Pub – Kinjarling Albany

Tim Clifford and I hosted a Politics in the Pub at The Premier Hotel on 23 September. We talked through what’s driving the WA housing crisis and the solutions already on the table, then heard ideas, questions and experiences from the room.

Global Citizen Conference

My dear friend John Butler brought the house down at the Global Citizen conference in Boorloo Perth. He reminded everyone that the goal is harmony where there is discord, and that we get there with determination, authenticity and direct action.

192 Years on From the Pinjarra Massacre

192 years on, the region is still named after one of the men who took part. Last year’s apology from the Governor was an important first step. Now the Cook Government needs to follow it with action: renaming the Peel region and starting a statewide truth-telling process.

Nup to the Cup

All four WA Greens MLCs teamed up to say Nup to the Cup. Seven horses have died on Melbourne Cup Day since 2013 alone. Horses deserve so much better than an industry that breeds them for profit, and governments should be backing the horses instead.

IN THE MEDIA:

Forests and Alcoa 

• ‘A free pass’: Alcoa pushed back from Perth’s drinking water, but not everyone is happy – WAtoday
• Alcoa faces tougher restrictions to protect Perth’s drinking water and endangered cockatoos – ABC News
• Alcoa was warned about its mining by the WA government – then handed an exemption – WAtoday
• Woodchips, charcoal the end result of ecological thinning in WA’s South West forests – ABC News
• Greens, environmentalists split over native forest carbon credit scheme – The Australian
• Chittering mining corridor petition – Echo News
• Ban Native Forest Mining – ABC Radio

Nanarup Desalination Plant

• Greens MLC Jess Beckerling urges Nanarup residents to keep fighting Water Corporation’s proposed desal plant – Albany Advertiser
• Water Corporation to stage community meeting and drop-in sessions to explain the proposed Nanarup desal plant – Albany Advertiser

Women’s Safety and First Nations Justice

• Greens want more DV prevention after Bali double murder-suicide – WAtoday
• Call for urgent WA roundtable on Aboriginal child and family safety in wake of South Hedland case – National Indigenous Times
• Cook points to migration amid Secret Harbour fallout as WA’s newest MP greeted by parliament ‘bro-test’ – WAtoday

Other

• Publicly Owned Supermarkets – ABC Radio

As always, enormous thanks to the whole team and to all of you, our members, supporters and community allies across WA.

Be sure to sign the petition to ban forest mining, and I hope to see you in the public gallery on 19 November and at the forest rally on 12 December!

WA’s forests need us now more than ever. 

Header Photo: Jess Beckerling MLC with a group of forest defenders at the Save Dalgarup Walk on Sunday 11 October. _{Photo credit: Craig Duncan.}