Your WA Greens in State Parliament
This week in the house has mainly been taken up with debate here, here and here on the Electricity Corporations Amendment Bill 2013 (the re-merger of Synergy and Verve) which Robin has been dealing with and the Taxi Drivers Licensing Bill 2013 which the ALP is dissecting paragraph by paragraph.
Robin spoke on the motion moved by Phil Edman MLC “That this Council calls on the State Government to implement Waste to Energy as an alternative to Landfill” Robin highlighted that Waste to Energy was the last option in the long line of options under the agreed model of a waste hierarchy: The waste hierarchy is a classification of waste management options in order of their environmental impact, such as: reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery and if we move towards zero waste there is no feedstock left for Waste to Energy.Edmond’s most probably moved this motion as he is a long-time supporter of the Phoenix Waste to Energy proposal at Kwinana.
The motion moved by Rick Mazza of the Shooters and Fishers to permit hunting on public lands was again debated and finalised this week with the result that it went off to the Standing Committee on Public Administration. Sending it to committee is quite bizarre when most speakers did not support the motion, it seems it has been referred so as not to upset the S&F, maybe this has something to do with the potential upcoming Senate rerun.
On the steps of parliament Robin also presented the Greens opposition to forced amalgamation to the Cockburn community rally opposing their forced Local Government amalgamation. The rally chant was Cockburn stays, Barnett goes, Robin says he couldn't have said it better himself!
This week Lynn’s focus turned to safe passing distances for bicycles, catching up with some of the board members and officers of Bicycling WA, CycleWest and various recreational groups. We are working toward a common strategy to improve cycling participation, infrastructure and safety.
She also had briefings on the Sunset Reserve Transformation Bill 2013 and new federal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.
In question time the Minister for Forestry revealed he wouldn’t be prioritising reforestation in spite of the research showing clearing 50% of native forests has decreased rainfall by 16%. He gave a lame excuse for hiding details of earnings from native forest logging.
Lynn also asked in Parliament about plans to carve up Cockburn. She has consulted mayors throughout South Metro on State Government plans to reduce the number of local councils. Scores of residents have complained about plans to divvy Cockburn up between Melville, Fremantle and Kwinana. At a Cockburn residents rally at Parliament Robin was cheered when he put the case that we oppose these forced amalgamations.
Lynn took the opportunity as keynote speaker at the Australian Institute of Environmental Accounting 3rd annual national conference to spruik the sustainability credentials of the Fremantle community, explain her planning for climate change bill, promote the Australian Greens (costed at $120m over 3 years) national Protecting Species Initiative and wax lyrical about climate change skeptics in high places and the fate of an ETS.
On Friday Lynn will be in Busselton for a forum on Climate Change Adaptation in Geographe Bay talking about her Coastal Planning and Protection Bill.
Bills introduced or dealt with in the week of 28 November 2013
Unclaimed Money (Superannuation and RSA Providers) Amendment and Expiry Bill 2013 [LA 22–1] –
Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and Statutes Review Report No. 83 tabled (TP 1046)
Criminal Code Amendment (Child Sex Offences) Bill 2013 [LC 49-1] –
Introduced and read a first time
Now stands second reading adjourned
Warehousemen’s Liens Amendment Bill 2013 [LC 53-1] –
Introduced and read a first time
Now stands second reading adjourned
Criminal Code Amendment (Unlawful Possession) Bill 2013 [LC 48-1] –
Introduced and read a first time
Now stands second reading adjourned
Electricity Corporations Amendment Bill 2013 [LA 40-1] –
Second reading - debated here and here and adjourned
Taxi Drivers Licensing Bill 2013 [LA 31–2] –
In committee - debated and adjourned
Disallowance Motions–
Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment 1225/41 – Upper Swan Urban Precinct– Notice given (Delegated Legislation)
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Bills to be dealt with |
LC 2nd Read Hansard |
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Climate Change Readiness (Coastal Planning and Protection) Bill 2013 |
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27/11/2013 |
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27/11/2013 |
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Custodial Legislation (Officers Discipline) Amendment Bill 2013 |
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Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 |
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Unclaimed Money (Superannuation and RSA Providers) Amendment and Expiry Bill 2013 |
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27/11/2013 |
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The Explanatory Memorandums for these Bills are available by clicking on the above links.
