Parliamentary Debates (HANSARD)
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Parliamentary Debates (HANSARD) THIRTY-NINTH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Tuesday, 18 October 2016 Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 18 October 2016 THE SPEAKER (Mr M.W. Sutherland) took the chair at 2.00 pm, and read prayers. WAROONA–YARLOOP BUSHFIRES — DR KEN MICHAEL Statement by Premier MR C.J. BARNETT (Cottesloe — Premier) [2.01 pm]: I rise to inform the house that Dr Ken Michael has completed his role as state recovery controller, coordinating the recovery from the January 2016 Yarloop– Harvey–Waroona bushfire. I thank Dr Michael for his work in this challenging role. Given the extensive scale of the bushfire and its consequences, Dr Michael’s expertise and efforts were remarkable. After the fire, Western Power, Main Roads Western Australia and the Water Corporation made extraordinary efforts to quickly restore essential services. The Department for Child Protection and Family Support addressed the immediate welfare and accommodation needs of local residents. Dr Michael was appointed the state recovery controller and, with agreement of the Shires of Harvey and Waroona, led the clean-up. He was assisted by a team from the Departments of the Premier and Cabinet, Planning, and Parks and Wildlife. Much has been achieved since Dr Michael’s appointment. The town of Yarloop was fully opened to the public on 12 August 2016. To date, approximately 60 000 tonnes of waste has been removed and over 200 properties have been cleaned up. Residents are now able to return and rebuild. Whilst undertaking the removal of fire-damaged material in Yarloop, evidence of historic environmental contamination, including asbestos and heavy metals, was also discovered in some areas. Most of the work has been completed within nine months, which is within the original six-to-nine-month time frame. The estimated cost to date of demolition, waste removal and site remediation alone is approximately $15 million, in addition to $26 million spent by Western Power, $1.5 million by Water Corp and $2.7 million by Main Roads. I thank the Shires of Harvey and Waroona for their assistance to Dr Michael’s team and to the communities affected by the fire. I also thank the Shire of Mundaring for releasing staff experienced in managing the 2014 Parkerville bushfire to provide essential project management services. The Department of Education provided valuable assistance by allowing the Yarloop Primary School to be used as a site office located close to the works. The recovery process is now transitioning to the Shires of Harvey and Waroona, with the Shire of Harvey taking responsibility for further investigation and development of options for the future of Yarloop. The government has committed in principle to contributing to the cost of construction of a new community centre in Yarloop to serve as a cornerstone for the town, and has invited the shire to prepare a proposal for government’s consideration. In addition, the Yarloop Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade is working with the Shire of Harvey and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services regarding a suitable replacement facility for the one destroyed in the fire. Lastly, I would like to recognise the resilience and community spirit shown by the people of Yarloop and surrounding areas during this trying time and the many people who assisted in the recovery process. I take this opportunity to table a copy of Dr Michael’s report, “Report of the State Recovery Controller”, which is available on the news.wa.gov.au website. [See paper 4784.] QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE ASSET SALES — WESTERN POWER 798. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier: I refer to the Premier’s commitment to sell Western Power. (1) Why is the Premier breaking a longstanding promise not to sell Western Power? (2) What negotiations is the Premier having with the Leader of the National Party on a joint position? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(2) The last state budget listed Western Power among a number of assets that the government was considering for privatisation. We are yet to make a decision on Western Power. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: We have not. The SPEAKER: Through the Chair. [ASSEMBLY — Tuesday, 18 October 2016] 7193 Mr C.J. BARNETT: We are yet to make a decision on the possible privatisation of Western Power. When cabinet makes a decision, if that is endorsed, in my case, by the Liberal party room, we will make a public announcement. I reiterate that if cabinet and/or the Liberal Party or the National Party make a decision to go down that path, nothing will be done beyond that prior to the election. We will go to the election with a policy position. That is what I have said from the very outset. ASSET SALES — WESTERN POWER 799. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier: I have a supplementary question. I repeat: what are the negotiations with the National Party about; and, if the government has not made a decision to sell Western Power, why has the Treasurer indicated on half a dozen occasions that it will be sold? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I think the Treasurer is very keen to sell Western Power. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: Are members interested or not? It is a very big decision. The Treasurer and I have had many discussions about it and we are formulating a position. We have yet to have a formal discussion with the National Party, but we intend to do so. I hope that we have an agreed position, but, again, nothing will be done this side of the election. We will have a policy position, as I clearly said, and we will take that to the election and go from there. Mr M. McGowan: When? Mr C.J. BARNETT: The election is on 11 March, I think. Mr M. McGowan: What’s your position? Mr C.J. BARNETT: We have yet to make a decision. When we make a decision — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Thank you! Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have said from the very outset — Mr J.R. Quigley interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Butler, I call you to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I repeat myself for the third time: I have said from the very outset that it is under consideration. I have been saying that for months. I have said that when we make a decision on our policy, we will announce it and we will take it to the election. That is entirely proper. Propriety is probably a foreign concept to members opposite. POLICE — CRIME RATES — MANDURAH AND PEEL 800. Dr K.D. HAMES to the Minister for Police: The minister recently attended a forum with business owners from across the Mandurah and Peel regions to discuss their law and order concerns. Can the minister please update the house on how police are working with the community across these regions to reduce crime? Mrs L.M. HARVEY replied: I thank the member for Dawesville for the question and for his interest always in community safety matters in his region. Last Friday morning I was very privileged to attend the Safer Mandurah and the Peel Local Business Breakfast Forum, jointly hosted by the City of Mandurah, WA Police and the Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I attend these sorts of forums regularly. They provide an opportunity for business owners and community members to raise issues about community safety with police, and for police, local government, business and members of the community to find ways that they can work proactively together to ensure that there is a safer environment for people to operate their businesses and for the community in general. The event was very well attended, member for Dawesville. The member will appreciate that this forum arose out of our regional cabinet meeting in Mandurah last April. A number of business owners raised issues with me about safety in the Smart Street Mall and the Mandurah shopping area. Out of that discussion, we undertook to do some work with local policing teams to try to drive crime down through the Mandurah area and to provide some solutions. The local policing teams started to put together the things they do best, including some local action targeting prolific priority offenders. The member for Dawesville will be very pleased to know that between January and August this year, the Mandurah LPT charged 859 people with 1 561 offences, which is more offences and more persons charged than during the entire 2015 calendar year. The Mandurah LPT has been very, very active under the care of its new officer in charge. From January to August this year compared with the same time last year, we had a 17 per cent reduction in the number of burglaries. There has been a 30 per cent reduction in car theft. 7194 [ASSEMBLY — Tuesday, 18 October 2016] Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mrs L.M. HARVEY: I know the member does not like it when I talk about police doing a great job, but I will continue to do so in this place. There has been a 68 per cent reduction in graffiti offences, down to seven reported offences in the period from January to August this year. I was very pleased to stand alongside police to report back to the Mandurah community and businesses on the great policing effort that has been put in place and the effect that police have had in driving crime down. I know the member for Mandurah will be pleased to hear this: I am very pleased to announce that police have said that they will now put foot patrols in place during the summer period through the Smart Street Mall and along the Mandurah foreshore just to make sure they keep the pressure on those prolific priority offenders so they do not continue to target that foreshore area and so the area can be preserved for the amenity of visitors and the enjoyment of locals, and to ensure that homes and businesses are safer.