Federal Political Update
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CCH Parliament Western Australian Political Update Issue: 6 of 2012 Date: 6 February 2012 For all CCH Parliament enquiries, contact: CCH Parliament Phone 02 6273 2070 Fax 02 6273 1129 A brand of CCH Australia, a Wolters Kluwer business. PO Box 4746 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Timely, Accurate, Relevant... CCH, The Professional's First Choice ISSN: 1442-7990 Western Australian Political Update A weekly summary report of political, government and legislative news Portfolio Index – please select: Aboriginal Affairs............................................................................................................................... 3 Education .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Energy............................................................................................................................................... 5 Environment...................................................................................................................................... 5 Food Industry .................................................................................................................................... 6 Foreign Affairs................................................................................................................................... 6 Health................................................................................................................................................ 6 Housing & Property........................................................................................................................... 7 Industry ............................................................................................................................................. 8 ICT .................................................................................................................................................... 8 Local Government............................................................................................................................. 9 Politics............................................................................................................................................... 9 Rural & Regional Affairs.................................................................................................................... 9 Sport & Recreation.......................................................................................................................... 10 Tourism ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Transport......................................................................................................................................... 11 Parliament: ¾ WA Parliament resumes 21 – 23 February 2012 ¾ Parliamentary sitting pattern Legislation: ¾ WA Bills are available at: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Bills+-+Current ¾ WA Acts are available at: http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/default.html WA Political Update – 6 February 2012 2 © CCH Parliament ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS Indigenous Scholarship Winners Announced CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY WESTERN AUSTRALIA 30/01/12 030P6000 Four indigenous resource sector employees have taken a step forward in their managerial careers by winning a scholarship through the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) in partnership with the Australian Institute of Management (AIM). CME Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith congratulated the successful candidates who he said were excellent examples of the leadership and diversity that exists within the WA resources sector. "I'm delighted we have such high calibre candidates who are keen to take that next step in their resources carer." Mr Howard-Smith said. The candidates are already acting as mentors to their peers and other Indigenous communities so the Certificate IV in Frontline Management through AIM will add to their natural abilities and provide them with a nationally accredited qualification. Wheels turn on new South-West health clinic BRENDON GRYLLS 2/02/12 033P6508 A new mobile clinic will soon be hitting the road to deliver health services to Aboriginal people in the South-West region, thanks to funding from the State Government. Officially launched in Bunbury today by Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls, the South West Aboriginal Medical Service's Kaarbapiny Maar mobile clinic will next month begin operating on a trial basis in Brunswick Junction and Collie. "I am pleased $200,000 in funding from Royalties for Regions and the South West Development Commission has helped the South West Aboriginal Medical Service get the wheels turning on this new health service," Mr Grylls said. Tracking system reveals Aboriginal transiency ELIZABETH CONSTABLE 3/02/12 034P6502 Figures obtained from 285 remote schools near the Western Australian, Northern Territory and South Australian borders quantify the level of Aboriginal student transience for the first time, Education Minister Liz Constable revealed today. "In June 2008, the Tri-border Attendance Strategy was launched," Dr Constable said. "This involved the use of a new live data system that allowed attendance, enrolment and learning information to be easily shared across public, Catholic and independent schools with the aim of addressing Aboriginal absenteeism and providing smoother transitions for students between schools." Recognition for traditional owners in South West CHAMB OF MINERALS & ENERGY WA 4/02/12 035P6100 WA's peak resources body has commended the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) and the State Government on an agreement to recognise the Noongar people as the traditional owners of the South West. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith said the announcement would provide greater certainty for resource companies operating in the region. The resources sector has a strong commitment to facilitating education, employment and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people right across the state, Mr Howard-Smith said. WA Political Update – 6 February 2012 3 © CCH Parliament EDUCATION 'iSchool' in as students head back to class COLIN BARNETT 1/02/12 032P6502 As almost 262,000 students begin lessons at public schools across Western Australia today, some of the smallest children are set to use touch technology to boost their literacy and numeracy skills. Premier Colin Barnett and Education Minister Liz Constable today announced a new Early Childhood iPad Initiative would provide nearly 900 iPads for Year 1 and 2 classes in 17 schools, and two mentor schools that have previously participated in a pilot iPad program. Experts to ensure high quality education for all ELIZABETH CONSTABLE 1/02/12 032P6506 The membership of the inaugural board of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA) has been announced by Education Minister Liz Constable. The new authority will replace the Curriculum Council when the Curriculum Council Amendment Act is proclaimed. Dr Constable said all seven members of the board, chaired by Emeritus Professor Patrick Garnett, met the State Government's criteria of being eminent educators or experts in their fields, as well as having no current involvement with the governing body of a school or system of schools. Parents must support school attendance ELIZABETH CONSTABLE 3/02/12 034P6503 Education Minister Liz Constable said parents and carers must do much more to get their children to school after 2011 attendance figures showed too many students were still regularly missing public schooling. Writing in today's The West Australian, Dr Constable said that, despite concerted efforts by the State Government, principals and teachers to encourage regular school attendance, data continued to show that while some schools were making progress, overall attendance rates were static despite some individual schools showing gains. DEC mops up after Carnarvon fire suppression BILL MARMION 3/02/12 034P6505 The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is wrapping up its biggest firefighting operation in decades after more than a month of battling multiple fires that burned through more than 800,000ha of mostly pastoral land near Carnarvon. Environment Minister Bill Marmion said in terms of the size and duration of the fires, it was the biggest single suppression campaign DEC had undertaken since the Dwellingup fires of 1961. The fire was started by lightning on December 27 on the former Mooka pastoral lease near Kennedy Range National Park. Since then, more than 350 people from DEC, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA); the shires of Carnarvon, Exmouth and Upper Gascoyne; WA Police, Main Roads WA, pastoralists, local volunteer bushfire brigades, SES, Forest Products Commission; the departments of Water, Agriculture and Food, and Child Protection; St John Ambulance and local volunteer organisations have all been involved in the fire response. WA Political Update – 6 February 2012 4 © CCH Parliament ENERGY Apache completes acquisition of 49-percent stake in Burrup Fertilisers plant APACHE ENERGY LTD 1/02/12 032P6507 Apache Corporation announced that its Apache Energy Limited subsidiary has completed previously announced plans to acquire an interest in Burrup Holdings Limited, owner of an ammonia fertilizer plant in the Burrup Peninsula region