WA Greens MLC Robin Chapple says the state government must change its attitude towards State Agreements Acts
WA Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple is concerned that the state government has not learned its lesson on the use of State Agreement Acts amid the recent rushed legislation to block Clive Palmers 30-billion-dollar lawsuit.
Mr Chapple says WA state governments have vested too much power into State Agreement Acts and that the legislation is not appropriate in this day and age given how difficult it is to amend.
“I, like many members of the Legislative Council, do not like such agreements they are anti competition, monopolistic and woefully outdated for how modern business should be conducted”
“I am deeply concerned that the current government has not learned the lesson of the past few weeks and will continue to consider State Agreements as a viable approach to business, which they clearly are not”
“We cannot have an effective economy and market when there are clear barriers to others – and who’s amending requires further legislation and immense strain on government and parliamentary resources”
Mr Chapple voiced serious concerns over the use of these Acts in the future stating that in the next inevitable instance of a State Agreement Act being brought into litigation, that WA may not be as lucky.
When the Iron Ore Processing (Mineralogy Pty. Ltd.) Agreement Bill 2002 was being debated, Mr Chapple raised concerns about the legislation and moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairsso as to be exposed to a higher degree of scrutiny. This motion from The Greens (WA) was supported by One Nation, however, Labor, Liberals and The Nationals blocked the referral.
MEDIA CONTACT
Colin Ebsworth,
Communications Advisor - 0449 911 427