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7 December 1995

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7 December 1995 12733 Thursday, 7 December 1995 THE SPEAKER (Mr Clarko) took the Chair at 10.00 am, and read prayers. PETITION - SWAN SHIRE COUNCIL, COUNCILLORS' REPRESENTATION LEVELS MRS van de KLASHORST (Swan Hills) [10.05 am]: I present the following petition - To: The Honourable the Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We, the undersigned people of Western Australia wish to Ask that: due to the implementation of the Swan Valley Planning Bill 1995 and therefore the level of representation required for same: the number of councillors representing the Swan Valley ward of the Swan Shire Council remain at 2 for the benefit of the tourism industry the future of the Swan Valley and its residents. Your petitioners humbly pray that you will give this matter earnest consideration and your petitioners in duty bound, will ever pray. The petition bears 157 signatures and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly. The SPEAKER: I direct that the petition be brought to the Table of the House. [See petition No 204.] PETITION - SCHOOL CLEANING, CONTRACTING OUT MR RIPPER (Belmont) [10.06 am]: I present the following petition - To: The Honourable the Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We, the undersigned residents of Western Australia oppose the State Government's decision to contract out school cleaning as we believe cleaners are committed and enthusiastic members of the school community who often contribute in a voluntary capacity in many school events outside the prescribed hours. We consider that such loyalty will be sacrificed by the contracting out of school cleaning. We are also appalled at the Government's callous treatment of school cleaners in that: It has not honoured its commitment to retain day labour even though cleaners have met targets for improved productivity; It has not justified economically how, or why, the decision was made; and It has not kept its promise to let school cleaners and the Miscellaneous Workers Union know of any decision before it was made public. Your petitioners therefore respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly call on the Government to reverse the decision to contract out school cleaning and release the Arthur Andersen Report which allegedly justifies this decision. And your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray. The petition bears 77 signatures and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly. The SPEAKER: I direct that the petition be brought to the Table of the House. [See petition No 205.] 12734 1734[ASSEMBLY] PETITION - MOTOR VEHICLES, CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP TAX MR BLOFFW1TCH (Geraldton) [10.07 am]: I have a petition couched in the following terms - To: The Honourable the Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. A 1%tax on the change of ownership of Motor Vehicles was introduced in 1968 by the Charles Court Government then raised to 3% by the Labor government This tax should be abolished. We the undersigned public demand this. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that you will give this matter earnest consideration and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. The petition bears six signatures and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly. The SPEAKER: I direct that the petition be brought to the Table of the House. [See petition No 206.] PETITION - CRIME, NORTHAM MR TRENORDEN (Avon) [10.08 am]: I present the following petition - To: The Honourable the Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We, the undersigned wish to express the concern of Northam residents regarding the recent series of break and enters which is causing fear and anxiety to many residents. We would like to see a more responsible approach taken by the relevant government departments Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that you will give this matter earnest consideration and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. The petition bears 514 signatures and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly. The SPEAKER: I direct that the petition be brought to the Table of the House. [See petition No 207.] PETITION - TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ACCURACY MR BLOFFWITCH (Geraldton) [10.09 am]: I have a petition couched in the following terms - To: The Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives - It should not be the House of Representatives. It should be to the Legislative Assembly and the Parliament assembled. The SPEAKER: Order! I gather that the member may have to make an alteration to an inaccuracy. He cannot alter it now. I suggest that he show it to the Clerk and I will determine whether it is acceptable. PETITION - COMPENSATION FOR LAND REMOVED THROUGH CONSERVATION NOTICE MR TRENORDEN (Avon) [10. 10 am]: I present the following petition - To: The Honourable the Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. I bring to the attention of the Legislative Assembly my deep concern that I am unable to receive a response from the Premier to my requests to meet with him personally to discuss compensation by the Western Australian Government. A [Thursday, 7 December 1995] 1273523 caveat has been placed on my property which has serious implications on my financial abilities. A Supreme Court injunction has removed a portion of my land from my use, through a conservation notice operative from the 30 June 1993. I have made the Minister for Primary Industry and the Premier aware of my plight. Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that you will give this matter earnest consideration and your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray. The petition bears one signature and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly. The SPEAKER: I direct that the petition be brought to the Table of the House. [See petition No 208.] STATEMENT - SPEAKER Amnendmnents to Bandyup Inquiry Report; Review of Children'sServices Report THE SPEAKER (Mr Clarko): I have received a request from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations to authorise the replacement of pages attached as appendix C of the report about the Bandyup investigation tabled in the House on 30 November 1995. As a result of an oversight the complainants' names were not deleted from the appendix, although they were deleted elsewhere in the report. I have also received a request from the Minister for Family and Children's Services to authorise an amendment to the review of children's services in Western Australia, tabled in the House on 28 November 1995. The amendment is to page 14 of the review where, due to an editing error, certain recommendation numbers have been repeated. Accordingly, under the provisions of Standing Order No 233, I advise the House that I have authorised the necessary corrections. SELECT COMMITTEE ON ROAD SAFETY Sixth Report "Driverand Vehicle Licensing, Education and Training", Tabling MR AINSWORTH (Roe) [10.13 am]: I present for tabling the sixth report of the committee entitled "Driver and Vehicle Licensing, Education and Training". I move - That the report do lie upon the Table and be printed. [Leave granted for speech to be continued.] Debate thus adjourned. [Continued on page 12747.] JOINT STANDING COMMITEE ON DELEGATED LEGISLATION Thirteenth Report on Young Offenders Regulations and Director General'sRules, Tabling MR BLOFFWITCH (Geraldton) [10.14 am]: I present the thirteenth report of this committee in relation to the young offenders regulations and the director general's rules. I move - That the report do lie upon the Table and be printed. It is the responsibility of this committee to check all regulations promulgated by departments. It is the watchdog of the Parliament for the scrutiny of regulations. The committee had problem with the vagueness of regulation 34 and it was thought to be ultra vires. As the committee was not 100 per cent positive about the regulation, it sought an opinion. It is worth bringing that opinion to the attention of the Parliament and to the Attorney General. I ask her to have her department reword the regulation so that there is no chance of a legal challenge which could be embarrassing to the Government. The committee noticed that 10 of the director general's rules should be regulations. In a previous report, the committee recommended changes to its terms of reference. Under 12736 [ASSEMBLY] those changes we would have had the ability to scrutinise these rules and regulations further. Members would realise that this is the only committee and of this Parliament that looks at regulations which, in essence, are laws that are binding on our citizens. It is up to us, through reports such as this, to bring these matters to the attention of the Attorney General. I ask her to take the report seriously and to address my request so that the Government will not be embarrassed by any legal challenge in the future about this regulation. Question put and passed. [See paper No 878.] MINISTERIAL STATEMENT - MINISTER FOR PRIMARY ]INDUSTRY Rabbit Calicivirus Disease MR HOUSE (Stirling - Minister for Primary Industry) [10.16 am]: Rabbit damage to Australian agriculture is estimated to be as much as $600m annually. The presence of the introduced rabbit has led to serious soil degradation in many areas, habitat destruction and a displacement of native species, and the spread of both exotic weeds and diseases. Rabbit calicivirus disease has been widespread throughout both Europe and China for at least 10 years.
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