Parliamentary Debates (HANSARD)

FORTIETH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION 2017

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Thursday, 11 May 2017

WESTERN AUSTRALIA ______

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) ______

First Session of the Fortieth Parliament ______

The Legislative Council was prorogued as from 30 January 2017. The Legislative Assembly was prorogued as from 30 January 2017 and dissolved on 30 January 2017. The Fortieth Parliament was convened for the despatch of business on 11 May 2017, and the first session was opened by Her Excellency the Governor (Kerry Sanderson, AC).

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT Legislative Council

Thursday, 11 May 2017

THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House) took the chair at 2.45 pm, and read prayers. The President welcomed members and guests and outlined the opening program. PROCLAMATION The Clerk of the Parliaments (Mr N. Pratt) read the Proclamation of Her Excellency the Governor (Kerry Sanderson, AC) summoning the first session of the fortieth Parliament. GOVERNOR’S SPEECH Address to Parliament Her Excellency the Governor (Kerry Sanderson, AC) entered the Council chamber at 2.50 pm; and, the members of the Legislative Assembly having also attended in the chamber obediently to summons, Her Excellency was pleased to deliver the following speech — Mr President and honourable members of the Legislative Council Mr Speaker and the honourable members of the Legislative Assembly May I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Noongar people, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present. I also acknowledge the members who have passed since these houses last sat: • The Honourable Bob Thomas, who served as MLC for the South West for twelve years from 1989 until 2001. • The Honourable Peter Vernon Jones, who served as the member for Narrogin for twelve years from 1974 until 1986, six of those as a Minister in the Court and O’Connor Governments. • The Honourable Lyla Elliot, who served as MLC for the North-East Metropolitan Region for fifteen years from 1971 until 1986. • The Honourable Kim Maurice Chance, MLC for the Agricultural region, serving for seventeen years from 1992 to 2009, seven of those as Minister and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council for the Gallop and Carpenter Governments. • The Honourable Winifred Margaret Piesse, who served as MLC for the Lower Central Province for six years from 1977 until 1983, and • Matthew Ernest Stephens, MLA for Stirling who served for 18 years from 1971 to 1989. We offer our condolences to their families and friends.

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1967 Referendum I thought it appropriate to begin by reflecting on the past and to note that May 27 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of a pivotal point in Australian history. The 1967 Referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australian voters support the removal of two references in the Australian Constitution which discriminated against Aboriginal people. Prior to the amendments the sections of the Constitution under scrutiny were section 51 which stated that: The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to: ...(xxvi) The people of any race, other than the aboriginal people in any State, for whom it is necessary to make special laws, and Section 127 which stated that: In reckoning the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, aboriginal natives should not be counted. The 1967 referendum removed the words ‘… other than the aboriginal people in any State…’ in section 51(xxvi) and the whole of section 127. Aboriginal people had the ability to vote prior to 1967, however the overwhelming support for the 1967 amendment is an important and symbolic recognition that this inequality should not exist. So too, the overwhelming endorsement of these constitutional changes pointed to a strong desire within the Australian community to work to redress inequality and disadvantage. There have been many developments since that time, although fifty years on, many would agree that there are still many challenges that we face as a community, and we need to continue to work together to overcome disadvantage and to build on respectful relationships. Introduction Members, turning now to look forward, since my appointment in October of 2014 this is my first opportunity to preside over the opening of Parliament and it is an honour and a privilege to do so. The Governor has a unique role in our civic life, possessing a responsibility to be consulted and act as a trusted advisor. I take the opportunity now to also thank the Member for Cottesloe, the Hon Colin Barnett MLA, for his service to the Parliament and particularly for eight-and-a-half years as Premier of Western Australia. And I now welcome and congratulate the new WA Labor Government led by Premier Mark McGowan MLA. As a result of the March 11 election, there are many new faces here in the chamber. In the 40th Parliament there are 22 new members of the Legislative Assembly, and as of the 22nd there will be 13 new members of the Legislative Council. Institutions such as Parliament are only as good as their members and its institutional memory. On that basis, I call upon the longer serving members amongst you to share the lessons you have learnt as members of Parliament and representatives of the community and to mentor the newer members, helping them to perform to their potential. The number of new members reflects the strong desire for change from the Western Australian public, and the Government understands it has been given a clear mandate to pursue the agenda it promised to the electorate. The new government has some early and significant challenges in the face of global instability and economic uncertainty. While these are challenging times, Western Australians have proven more than capable of meeting them in the past. The new Government will also be meeting these challenges head on. The people of Western Australia can be confident that they have elected a Government that is committed to the principles of fairness, opportunity and equality. Since being sworn in seven weeks ago, the government has: • redrafted the Skilled Migration List; • halted the sale of Western Power; • frozen TAFE fees; • embarked on a renewal of the public sector; • negotiated a $2.3b deal to reallocate Perth Freight Link funds to other infrastructure projects across Perth, including Metronet; • taken control of the Children’s Hospital Project; • ensured local fabrication of the stadium footbridge project;

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• reviewed and updated the electorate on the position of the State’s finances; • appointed the State’s first female Director of Public Prosecutions; • created the State’s first Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence; and • introduced reforms for liquor licensing to benefit the State’s tourism sector. Jobs, Economy and Finances The Government has advised me of its agenda for the 40th Parliament, and the clear priority will be to promote Western Australian jobs. The Government has a plan for jobs which will be implemented and involves diversifying the State’s economy, including supporting tourism, science and technology, manufacturing, agriculture, international education, defence and creative industries, whilst maintaining a strong mining industry. The Government will create Infrastructure WA, an independent body to advise on WA’s key infrastructure needs and drive job creation through the state. To complement this, the Government will develop a State Infrastructure Strategy to guide the planning for those needs for the next twenty years. Changes will be made to strengthen the Government’s procurement and purchasing practices, to ensure that WA companies and workers see greater benefit from Government spending, by legislating for WA Industry Participation Plans. The Industry Capability Network will be re-invigorated to assist local business to compete for Government contracts. The Government intends to exhibit its commitment to local content in the way it progresses Metronet. Beyond being a comprehensive transport plan to deliver connections to Perth and to Perth’s outer suburbs, Metronet will deliver jobs and training opportunities for Western Australia. The Government will develop the Rolling Stock Strategy to mirror the approach of other states in being able to manufacture its own rail carriages and return manufacturing capacity to the state. The Government advises me that Metronet is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs and apprenticeships, and the Government has a suite of priority projects to ensure that it is a continuous build. The $2.3 billion deal negotiated with the Federal Government will ensure that Metronet can progress while the Government pursues other road projects to reduce congestion across the city and the regions. The Government will first complete the Forrestfield–Airport line, while progressing the other priority measures, including: • extending the Joondalup line to Yanchep; • the new Thornlie to Cockburn line; • extending the Armadale line to Byford; • the new Morley to Ellenbrook line; and • new and improved services on the Australind line to Bunbury. At the same time, the Government will progress other measures, such as the removal of level crossings, upgrading the capacity of the existing lines, new and upgraded train stations, while also expanding WA’s cycling network. The Government believes that WA needs to expand its rail and transport network to ensure that Western Australians in the outer suburbs receive the same access to services and work opportunities as those who live closer to the city. As already mentioned, the Government is committed to diversifying the state’s economy, to grow employment, and ensure that the State’s fortunes are not solely dependent on commodity prices. Tourism will be a main focus of job creation, with certainty given to the industry in the form of a guaranteed spend from Government on destination marketing and events. This will be complemented by infrastructure upgrades for tourists to access the State and reduced red tape for operators. The Government has committed to supporting the defence industry and will establish Defence West, a high powered advisory body drawing on the best expertise of the State to advocate, with the newly established Minister for Defence Issues, for expansion of the State’s defence fabrication industry. Agriculture will also be a major driver of jobs and opportunities in Western Australia. The Government recognises that the role of government in agriculture goes beyond just marketing: it must invest in and drive the research capabilities needed to ensure a competitive edge for the industry in the 21st century. Financial Management Challenges A state cannot spend its way out of every problem and in any event the Government’s capacity to respond to the economic challenges facing our State is hampered by the strained state of the finances.

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The Government is facing deteriorating and highly volatile revenue streams, at the same time as the Commonwealth Grants Commission’s recommendations have resulted in a return to this State of only 34 cents in the dollar of GST raised in Western Australia. The State with the next lowest return is New South Wales with a return of 88 cents in the dollar, some two and a half times our 34 cents, and then Victoria with a return of 93 cents in the dollar, around two and three quarter times our return. This is patently unfair. There is bipartisan support in this State for the need to redress this inequity. If this is not quickly redressed as a result of the current Inquiry by the Productivity Commission of the distribution of GST recently announced by the Federal Treasurer, a change in approach is needed at the Federal level to overcome this patently unfair treatment of Western Australia. Just to illustrate the effect, if WA even received the same return in the dollar as NSW it would receive an extra $3.3 billion in the current assessment year. It is truly difficult to understand how this inequitable treatment of our State can be justified. This year will be an extremely difficult year but the Government is committed to responsible financial management and clever, considered and compassionate approaches will be needed to meet the challenges. As part of its responsible and prudent approach to financial management of the State, the Government has announced a major renewal of the WA Public Sector. There will be a 40% reduction in the number of departments, from 41 to 25, and reduction in the State’s senior executive service commensurate with that. The Government is committed to driving a change in public service culture, and hopes to encourage greater collaboration between departments to tackle problems and issues facing our State. It will implement a Service Priority review, to examine the role of Government and find areas of inefficiencies and duplication with a view to creating a more effective public service. Regions Regional Western Australia is a key focus for the Government’s plan for diversification of the economy. The Government has advised me that Royalties for Regions will remain a core component of the Government’s approach and that the funds, sourced from the economic activity occurring in the regions, will be reinvested in the regions, to deliver employment and opportunity for the people who live there. In addition, reforms will be made to ensure that local regional businesses remain competitive on government tenders and contracts, delivering jobs and local content to the regions. From Albany to Kununurra, the Government is determined to progress projects to deliver employment and improvements to regional WA. This includes the completion of the Albany Ring Road project, stages 1 and 2 of the Bunbury Waterfront project, the new classroom block at Collie Senior High School, $45m to begin the redevelopment of Geraldton Hospital, an expansion of the Indigenous Ranger program, the Peel Youth Medical Service Health Hub, mental health services in Kalgoorlie and the upgrade to the Karratha to Tom Price road. Community Safety and Services The Government is highly concerned for the welfare of the community. The alarming methamphetamine crisis in Western Australia today is a matter of huge concern to all. This is an issue spanning the length and breadth of the state; the inner city, the outer suburbs, the regions. It touches all aspects of society and presents challenges for families and our healthcare system, as well as the potential for increased crime and violence. Parents can’t understand what is happening to their child and what to do about it, others are affected by home invasions or threats to their safety, and hospital staff as well as police officers experience previously unknown levels of violence. The Government advises me that it will pursue an across Government approach, while focusing on enforcement, early intervention and rehabilitation. Two prisons will be re-purposed to become specialty rehabilitation prisons. Specialist drug services will be expanded in the regions, with the opening of two rehabilitation centres, one in the South-West, one in the Kimberley. The police will be resourced to double the number of roadside drug tests, and for the establishment of the Methamphetamine Border Force, to stop the flow of the drug and its components through WA’s borders. Prevention of domestic violence will also be a major focus. For too long domestic violence has been hidden, and not talked about, and many of those affected have not felt able to discuss their situation or to find help. The Government will expand women’s refuge services, as well as establishing “One Stop Hubs” to simplify access to support services. The Government intends placing victims of crime at the centre of our judicial system. The Government will legislate its law reform priorities, introducing measures such as tougher penalties for methamphetamine traffickers, “no body, no parole” laws, increased restrictions on dangerous sex

[COUNCIL — Thursday, 11 May 2017] 5 offenders, measures against the practise of “revenge porn” and reforms for the mentally impaired in our justice system. Legislation for “no body, no parole” and methamphetamine trafficking will be some of the first pieces of legislation this Parliament will consider. The Government believes that these reforms will lead to a more just, fair and compassionate legal system for the victims of crime. Health The Government is committed to delivering a health care system which puts patients first, and will be progressing a number of innovative measures to provide better services for patients. Urgent Care Clinics will provide a better option for patients who do not need an emergency room level of care to see a practitioner in a quicker and more cost effective way. Medihotels attached to major hospitals will provide care for regional patients to recover in the city under medical supervision, in a warm, homely environment where they can be visited by loved ones. The Government is committed to responding to the growing demand for mental health services with the expansion of acute and sub-acute mental health beds in the city and regions. New services will also be provided in the form of Recovery Colleges and observation areas around the metropolitan area. The Government is committed to pursuing innovation and excellence in medical research. As such, the interest earned on the Future Fund will be redirected towards medical research in Western Australia. The Government advises me that when the original fund was introduced it was described as “a financial gift, a transfer of wealth generated from finite resources, from present Western Australians to their children.” As such, the Government believes that discovering cures for the diseases that take our loved ones from us, while creating research jobs and capacity in Western Australia, fulfils that purpose. Education In this Government’s aim for a State that is fair, equitable and full of opportunity, no area is more crucial in the long term than education and training. To provide our primary and secondary students with the best chance of success, the Government will return 300 additional education assistants, 50 Aboriginal Islander Education Officers, and 120 teachers back into classrooms. The Government’s program includes providing quality educational facilities for our students. Over $381 million will be invested in public school infrastructure between new primary and secondary schools, redevelopments, new facilities, early learning centres and minor capital works. The Government will build Education Central in the heart of Perth City Link. This state-of-the-art facility will house an academically select school, which will be home to 1,500 gifted students by 2020, centrally located above the city busport and train station, and accessible for students from across Perth. The building will also be the new home to Scitech, providing it with an excellent new facility, an outdoor area, a larger space, with links to Education Central and the Perth Cultural Centre. The Government will also resolve the long standing need for another high school in the western suburbs by making the current Perth Modern School campus a local intake high school. By opening up this notable school to local students, the education choices for families in the area will expand, and the needs of students in the area will be better catered for. The Government will lift education standards for Western Australian students with a plan to expand science in classrooms. The program includes converting existing classrooms into dedicated science laboratories as well as ensuring coding, which will become part of the national curriculum, and can be rolled out in WA through the provision of professional development for teaching staff. In the training sector, this Government has already frozen TAFE fees at current levels, to ensure affordable training for those seeking skilled employment. The Government is committed to quality training, including a strong commitment to the employment of apprentices and trainees on Government projects and major government contracts. Environment Western Australia is blessed with some of the world’s most beautiful and unique landscapes and biodiversity. A key priority for the Government is to balance the need to provide economically sustainable growth into the future for the next generation, while ensuring future generations will enjoy the same natural wonders as we do today. The Government has halted the Perth Freight Link project and has begun the process for the recovery and revegetation of the Beeliar Wetlands.

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The Government is committed to expansion of the State’s parks including the new Fitzroy River National Park in the Kimberley, and the Preston River to Ocean Regional Park in Greater Bunbury. As part of its commitment to the environment the Government will commence consultation on the continued use of plastic bags in supermarkets and legislate for a container deposit scheme for WA. The Government will investigate and introduce innovative and sustainable energy projects to diversify the power mix of the state. The Government will support technologies such as wave energy in Albany and solar in Collie with a view to creating more jobs in our regions, diversifying our power mix, and reducing the intensity of the State’s emissions. Conclusion While the State faces major challenges, the new Government is absolutely committed to the task of taking Western Australia forward. We are very privileged to live and serve in a democracy like Western Australia and we need to remember that democracies are neither perfect nor self-perpetuating: they take work. They require everyone, from Government, to members, to the media and the citizenry to deal with each other with respect and act in the public interest. If we are to best the challenges this great State faces, we all must do so by working together; fairly and equitably. While even the healthiest of democracies can be messy, frustrating and unsatisfying, as we look around at the unrest and incivility in the world today, we can all agree what we have is preferable to the alternative. We do live in a wonderful State, and my hope is that the Parliament will work together to continue to improve our State. Mr President, Mr Speaker and members, it is now my duty and pleasure to declare the 40th Parliament open and extend my best wishes to you all. [Applause.] [Her Excellency and the members of the Legislative Assembly then withdrew from the chamber, and the President resumed the chair.] BILLS Assent Messages from the Governor received and read notifying assent to the following bills — 1. Sale of Land Amendment Bill 2016. 2. Biological Control Amendment Bill 2016. 3. School Boarding Facilities Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2016. 4. Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Search Powers) Bill 2016. 5. Oil Refinery (Kwinana) Agreement Amendment Bill 2016. 6. Statutes (Repeals) Bill 2016. 7. Road Traffic Amendment (Impounding and Confiscation of Vehicles) Bill 2016. 8. Aquatic Resources Legislation Amendment Bill 2015. 9. Restraining Orders and Related Legislation Amendment (Family Violence) Bill 2016. 10. Aquatic Resources Management Bill 2015. 11. Limited Partnerships Bill 2016. 12. Construction Contracts Amendment Bill 2016. 13. Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2015. 14. Disposal of Uncollected Goods Amendment Bill 2015. 15. Licensing Provisions Amendment Bill 2015. 16. Sentencing Legislation Amendment Bill 2016. 17. Executive Officer Remuneration (Government Entities) Legislation Amendment Bill 2015. 18. Pilbara Port Assets (Disposal) Bill 2015. MCGOWAN MINISTRY — RECONSTITUTION Statement by Leader of the House HON (South Metropolitan — Leader of the House) [3.26 pm]: I wish to inform the Council that as a result of the general election held on Saturday, 11 March 2017, Her Excellency the Governor has, since 17 March 2017, appointed the following persons as ministers and members of the Executive Council — Hon Mark McGowan, MLA, Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; State Development, Jobs and Trade; Federal–State Relations.

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Hon Roger Hugh Cook, MLA, Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health. Hon Suzanne Mary Ellery, MLC, Minister for Education and Training. Hon Stephen Noel Dawson, MLC, Minister for Environment; Disability Services. Hon Michelle Hopkins Roberts, MLA, Minister for Police; Road Safety. Hon Alannah MacTiernan, MLC, Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade. Hon Francis Michael Logan, MLA, Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services. Hon David Alan Templeman, MLA, Minister for Local Government; Heritage; Culture and the Arts. Hon John Robert Quigley, MLA, Attorney General. Hon Michael Philip Murray, MLA, Minister for Seniors and Ageing; Volunteering; Sport and Recreation. Hon Benjamin Sana Wyatt, MLA, Treasurer; Minister for Finance; Energy; Aboriginal Affairs. Hon , MLA, Minister for Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests. Hon William Joseph Johnston, MLA, Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Commerce and Industrial Relations; Electoral Affairs; Asian Engagement. Hon , MLA, Minister for Transport; Planning; Lands. Hon Peter Charles Tinley, AM, MLA, Minister for Housing; Veterans Issues; Youth. Hon Simone Frances McGurk, MLA, Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services. Hon David Joseph Kelly, MLA, Minister for Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science. It is also notified that the Governor in Executive Council has, since 17 March 2017, appointed the following persons as parliamentary secretaries — Amber-Jade Sanderson, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; State Development, Jobs and Trade; Federal–State Relations; Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet. Christopher John Tallentire, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science. Hon Alanna Therese Clohesy, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health. Hon Darren Legh West, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade. Hon Samantha Helen Rowe, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training. John Newton Carey, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; State Development, Jobs and Trade; Federal–State Relations. Reece Raymond Whitby, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer; Minister for Finance; Energy; Aboriginal Affairs; Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment; Disability Services. I also wish to announce the appointment of Hon Stephen Dawson as Deputy Leader of the House and Hon Martin Pritchard as Labor Party Whip. PAPERS TABLED Papers were tabled and ordered to lie upon the table of the house. PILBARA PORT ASSETS (DISPOSAL) REPEAL BILL 2017 Notice of Motion to Introduce Notice of motion given by Hon Robin Chapple. JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON DELEGATED LEGISLATION Message to Legislative Assembly — Notice of Motion Hon Sue Ellery (Leader of the House) gave notice that at the next sitting of the house she would move — That the Legislative Assembly be invited to agree to the rules and orders of the Legislative Council contained in the schedule to this motion for the constitution, powers and procedure of a Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation. A copy of clause 10 of schedule 1 of the standing orders was attached.

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JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON AUDIT Message to Legislative Assembly — Notice of Motion Hon Sue Ellery (Leader of the House) gave notice that at the next sitting of the house she would move — That the Legislative Assembly be invited to agree to the rules and orders of the Legislative Council contained in the schedule for the constitution, powers and procedure of a Joint Standing Committee on Audit. A copy of clause 7 of schedule 1 of the standing orders was attached. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE — THURSDAY, 11 MAY 2017 Standing Orders Suspension — Motion On motion without notice by Hon Sue Ellery (Leader of the House), resolved with an absolute majority — That so much of standing orders be suspended so that — (1) non-government business and private members’ business shall not be taken today; and (2) questions without notice shall be taken at a time today to be ordered by the house. STATUTES (MINOR AMENDMENTS) BILL 2017 Leave to Introduce HON SUE ELLERY (South Metropolitan — Leader of the House) [3.38 pm] — without notice: In order to assert and maintain the undoubted rights and privileges of this house to initiate legislation, I move — That leave be given to introduce the Statutes (Minor Amendments) Bill 2017. Question put and passed; leave granted. Introduction and First Reading Bill introduced, on motion by Hon Sue Ellery (Leader of the House), and read a first time. GOVERNOR’S SPEECH Distribution of Copies THE PRESIDENT (Hon Barry House): For the sake of accuracy, I have obtained copies of Her Excellency’s speech, which will now be distributed to members. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Motion HON SALLY TALBOT (South West) [3.39 pm]: I move — That the following address be presented to Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson, Companion of the Order of Australia, Governor in and over the state of Western Australia and its dependencies in the commonwealth of Australia — May it please Your Excellency: We, the members of the Legislative Council of the Parliament of Western Australian Parliament assembled, beg to express our loyalty to our most gracious sovereign and thank Your Excellency for the speech you have been pleased to deliver to Parliament. Mr President, as you know, I have been a member of Parliament for close to 12 years. It may surprise you to know that that is a bit more than 4 300 days, of which I can say that some have been better than others. I am not going to dwell on the bad days at this moment. For all of us, there is a sameness about the bad days; they are the days when the people who come to see us seem to have difficulties that are insurmountable. They are the days when the system feels like an immovable object against which the force we can exert makes no impression. Sometimes they are the days when the sadness of the stories people bring to us seems unending. The good days have invariably been the ones when I felt I was able to do something, or be part of something, that made things a bit better for the people I care about and the people I represent. In that category I would put the day in 2015 when we as a Parliament recognised Aboriginal people in our Constitution. I served on the select committee that made the unanimous recommendation to support the private member’s bill brought into the Parliament by the member for Kimberley, Josie Farrer. To make that political journey as a friend and a comrade with Josie was a joy as well as a privilege, and I look forward to our next four years together in this Parliament. What were the other good days? Somewhat perversely, I did enjoy our marathon debate in November 2009 on the waste avoidance and resource recovery bills. I see Hon Donna Faragher smiling. I know it is a little perverse to name that debate but I am proud of the fact that I played a not inconsiderable part in making sure that we left no stone unturned in pointing out to the government why it was wrong to change the excellent legislation that

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I had taken through this place as a parliamentary secretary. I would also cite as a good day the moment we tabled in this place the legislation committee report that ended the conservatives’ move to introduce stop-and-search legislation. And I would cite as a good day the day my close friends Stephen Dawson and Alanna Clohesy became MPs. I know that now as a minister and a parliamentary secretary, they will continue to do a fine job of bringing the Labor government’s plans to fruition. But when it comes to good days, this day, today, when we are marking the opening of the fortieth Parliament, is undoubtedly going to be remembered by all of us—by members of Parliament, by the guests who have shared this opening day with us, by the journalists who will have a lot to say about the ambience that we have established today, and by the wider community who will in some way or another note what has taken place today. All of us will mark today as one of the most exceptionally good days in our state’s history. Today is a day to remember not only the personal sense in which many of us will reflect on our contributions to the public life of this state, but also the historical moments on which our culture is built. Because of the nature of today’s formal proceedings, I cannot take anything like the amount of time I would both like and need to analyse in detail the content of the speech by the Governor to which we have just listened. I do want to raise a celebratory flag about a particular first—that is a first with a capital F—that we have just witnessed: the first time in WA’s history that the Governor’s speech has been delivered by a woman. I know that we all celebrated the appointment of Her Excellency Hon Kerry Sanderson, AC, when she took up her position as the thirty-second Governor of Western Australia in October 2014. This moment that we have just witnessed, in which she assumed one of the most solemn and historically significant aspects of her ceremonial and constitutional role as the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, is a moment to reflect on the significance of this Western Australian first. Today in Australia there is as much disagreement as ever about what it means to be a feminist. My preferred definition, which, incidentally, I also regard as one of the least controversial, is the one offered by the British writer Rebecca West. Her view was: “I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is; I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat …” Just by way of an aside, I once heard a great account of feminist ambition by Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Norwegian Prime Minister three times over in the 1980s and 90s. She said that she was often asked why she chose politics as a career. Her answer was that when she was a small girl, her father asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. “A sea captain” was her response, at which her father gently but firmly explained that girls could not be sea captains. Prime Minister was always her second choice. I make my comments about the significance of Her Excellency’s presence in this chamber in the full understanding that we, as women, have as many diverse experiences as we have characteristics in common. Indeed, I would go further to say that the assumption that we can correctly and clearly determine what is expected of men as opposed to women or what properly constitutes male as opposed to female traits and preferences is a false assumption and one that continues to blight the discussion about ways to promote gender equality. That assumption has also historically led to what I think are some fairly misleading platitudes about the difference gender equality would make to our common good. For example, the suggestion that having more women in Parliament would make our politics kinder and gentler has always seemed to me to be based on a rather dubious grasp of our political process as well as an inaccurate recollection about how passionately women have, in the past, gone into battle to fight for progressive social change. What women do have in common is that we have all—every single one of us—been born into a world in which gender inequality is rife. For men and women—even in 2017—this is not an equal world. The fact is that if one is born a girl: they are statistically more likely as an adult to be poor; they are statistically more likely as an adult to experience violence at the hands of an intimate partner; they are statistically more likely throughout their life to be repeatedly exposed to the feeling of being invisible; they are statistically less likely as a child to be praised for being clever as opposed to being pretty; they are statistically less likely as an adult to serve on a board or as the chief executive officer of a major company; they are statistically less likely as an adult to hold high office in the public sector; and they are statistically less likely to be a highly paid sportsperson. If we canvassed views in this Parliament today I have no doubt that, although nobody would find this situation acceptable, we would find a great many different and even contradictory views about how we should change things so that poverty, violence and invisibility cease to be experiences that are marked as, amongst other things, gendered. I certainly do not have time to examine all these views, or go into the complexities that surround the question of how to generate a policy agenda to address gender inequality. I want to say, however, that one of most effective and radical ways to bring about the theoretical and practical changes that will make the world fairer for both men and women is to lead by example. Most people these days know that girls can do maths and science, that women can be influential and powerful in the corporate world, and that women can be the leaders of social and political change in the world of education and community service. In the past, this knowledge—that women can do all the things men can do, and can do them at least as well and have at least as much fun doing them as men have—has often tended to be aspirational.

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Now, more than at any previous time, we are moving from the aspirational to a concrete reality where women are actually out there doing these things. The career of our esteemed Governor—as I am certain anyone who knows about the life experience and achievements of Her Excellency Hon Kerry Sanderson, AC, will agree— is a shining example of how the lives of women in our community have already changed to a significant degree, and of how they might change in generations to come for girls and young women in our community. Her Excellency studied mathematics, amongst other things, at tertiary level. She has had a very successful and productive career in the private and public sectors. She has made a distinguished contribution to discussion about Western Australia’s place in the global community through her work as co-chair of Murdoch University’s First Murdoch Commission, where she helped steer what has been hailed as a groundbreaking inquiry into the key issues and challenges confronting WA and the Asian region. On behalf of honourable members, I pay my deepest respects to Her Excellency and thank her for the service she is giving to Western Australia by playing this very public role as a model for a world that is marked by the fairness that gender equality signifies. On this same celebratory note, I want to draw the attention of the house to a second notable point about today’s ceremony. In 2008, Hon Sue Ellery, MLC, became the first woman to lead the opposition in the Legislative Council. Today, she becomes the first woman to take the position of Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. Like Her Excellency the Governor, Hon Sue Ellery has shown by example that a woman can be strong, courageous and determined in both the personal and political worlds. She was a fine Minister for Community Services in the previous Labor government, an extremely effective shadow Minister for Education and Training during our time in opposition and she will, I am certain, go on to make her mark on education and training in this state for the next decade or so. Again I say that a world in which our Governor and our Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council are women, showing by example that women can be effective leaders and drive change in our community, is a better world because it is a world marked by fairness and equality. A world in which women like Hon Sue Ellery and Hon Kerry Sanderson are leaders lays the ground for girls and women, as well and boys and men, to live in a better world, because equity and fairness are values that work for a common good that benefits us all. I turn now directly to the content of Her Excellency’s speech. In 2013 I put on the public record my concerns about the public’s perception of the Labor Party. Specifically, I identified as an urgent task the need to rebuild our relationships with those people in our community who share Labor’s central values. Those are the values of fairness, justice and equality. With those values guiding our actions, Labor stands up for working people and Labor stands up for the disadvantaged. My judgement in 2013 was that, as a former party official, as a former party president and as a lifelong member of the Labor Party, I could play a stronger part in rebuilding the Labor Party as a backbencher. The fact that I am now speaking from this, the government side of the chamber, shows how successfully Labor has rebuilt those relationships in the last three years. I am proud to have played my part in that rebuilding, but I pay wholehearted tribute to those alongside whom I have worked to build the foundations for Labor’s victory. There are simply too many for me to name this afternoon in the time available to me, but I know that many of my colleagues in the McGowan Labor government will join me in wanting to express our particular admiration, our regard and, indeed, our affection for Lenda Oshalem, who drove our statewide plan to rebuild with unstinting energy and unfailing enthusiasm over a period of many years to bring about the Labor victory on 11 March this year. Lenda, for many of us, has come to represent what Labor does when it is at its best. What we have built is a party full of true activists, hungry for change and tireless in our efforts to tell the Labor story. We believe that working people and disadvantaged people suffer when Labor is not in government. What we have just heard in Her Excellency’s speech is a detailed account of just how effectively the expression of Labor values translates into a legislative program that will transform the future of Western Australia. This is a legislative program built on the support and trust of a community that expects us to make sure that that transformation will always be guided by the values of fairness, justice and equality. What Her Excellency’s speech shows is that this government, led by Mark McGowan, will never be content to be elected because we are a least worst option. My prediction in 2013 was that the Liberal–National government would not be re-elected in 2017. I said that not only because I wanted it to be true, but also because having won a second term it sat back and assumed it was enough to play the stern parent, being clear only about what was not going to happen. What it did not do even once during that second term was give people a sense that government was on their side, that people had a voice, and that what they had to say mattered. The Labor members of Parliament who will carry out the day-to-day political task of listening to people’s voices, nurturing people’s ambitions for themselves and their families, and making sure that Labor values inform each and every part of implementing the program outlined by Her Excellency for this government are outstanding people. As a member for the South West Region, I particularly acknowledge , the new member for Murray–Wellington, and , the new member for Bunbury. As my comrade —now the member for the very safe Labor seat of Collie–Preston—said on election night, we can now drive from Bunbury to Perth without leaving Labor territory. Along with , Hon Adele Farina and Peter Watson, Mick Murray and I now have the best team possible for repaying the trust put in Labor by people in the south

[COUNCIL — Thursday, 11 May 2017] 11 west. My promise to our community is to work with that team to ensure the full and timely delivery of Labor’s plans for secure jobs, for decent health care and for an education system that helps every child to be capable and confident. On behalf of honourable members, I thank Her Excellency for her speech, and I look forward with a great sense of optimism to the next four years of Labor in government. Debate adjourned, on motion by Hon Alyssa Hayden. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME — ROLLOUT 1. Hon PETER COLLIER to the Minister for Disability Services: First of all, I congratulate the Labor Party on its victory—its very comfortable victory, I have to say. I particularly congratulate the ministers in the Legislative Council. It is a magnificent job—second only to teaching—so make the most of it; it is really good. I direct my question to the minister on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. (1) Can the minister confirm that the full NDIS rollout in Western Australia will occur on 1 July 2017? (2) If no to (1), when will it occur? Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question without notice. As many people will know if they have read stories in the paper, I have spent the last six to eight weeks consulting people in the disability sector. I have met with families, carers, service providers, trade unions and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia to see whether the deal that was signed at about five minutes to midnight by the last government was the right deal for Western Australia. In answer to the question — (1) This government is working towards a 1 July rollout. (2) Not applicable. PERTH MODERN SCHOOL — RELOCATION 2. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and Training: I also congratulate the minister on her appointment. I refer to the government’s education central policy, which includes the proposed relocation of the academic selective school currently at Perth Modern School to a high-rise inner-city school within Perth City Link. Given the former Liberal government announced significant changes to schooling in the western suburbs last year to deal with the growth in demand for places in this area, which did not include any change to Perth Modern School, which group or groups did the minister consult on the education central policy prior to making the announcement on 29 January 2017? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for her question. The member will recall that in 2014, 2015 and, indeed, in 2016, Hon Ken Travers and I asked a series of questions in the house, in estimates, and I think in annual reports hearings as well, about the government’s proposed ways of dealing with the pressure that was building in the western suburbs, particularly around the city side of the western suburbs. We did that and we held forums with a number of parent groups, in particular from inner-city suburbs—the inner north suburbs. We consulted a range of parents and people interested in the subject, basically from 2014 through to 2016. ROYALTIES FOR REGIONS — PROJECTS 3. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Regional Development: I extend my congratulations to the ministers in this house, in particular my colleague in the Mining and Pastoral Region Hon Stephen Dawson, and the first female leader of the Legislative Council. I interestingly listened to Hon Sally Talbot’s speech in the Address-in-Reply. I congratulate the Leader of the House on that role. I refer to publicly reported comments made by the Minister for Regional Development that there will be less royalties for regions funding available and that some projects being considered for funding might now get the chop. (1) Has the minister asked the Department of Regional Development to identify projects or business cases that could be reprioritised?

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(2) How many projects or business cases have been identified and provided to the minister for consideration to date? (3) How many of the projects under consideration already have a signed financial assistance agreement? (4) Has the minister decided which projects will be axed? (5) If yes to (4), can the minister detail those projects? (6) If no to (4), can the minister advise when this decision will be made? Hon DARREN WEST replied: I thank the honourable member for what I am sure will be the first of many questions to the Minister for Regional Development. Several members interjected. Hon DARREN WEST: I think members opposite are aware who the minister is. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon DARREN WEST: The answer is — (1)–(6) The government will be prioritising the election commitments it promised to deliver in the regions. All pre-existing projects are being reviewed. Some projects, such as the regional grants scheme and various tourism projects, have been approved to proceed and all decisions will be finalised between now and the budget. ROE HIGHWAY STAGE 8 — METROPOLITAN REGION SCHEME AMENDMENT 4. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Planning: I will reserve my congratulations to my valedictory remarks. I refer to the government’s commendable action to cancel the Roe 8 project. (1) What portion of the Roe 8 road reserve does the minister intend to delete from the metropolitan region scheme? (2) When does the minister intend to initiate this amendment? (3) If the minister does not intend to amend the metropolitan region scheme, why not? Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Planning I provide the following answer — (1)–(3) In January this year, the current Premier and current Minister for Transport announced that a McGowan Labor government would stop the Roe Highway extension through the Beeliar wetlands, despite the former government having entered into a contract to construct Roe 8. That commitment has been met. Work on that project ceased during the first week of this government taking office. The Roe 8 Alliance contract has been successfully varied so that employees have been able to keep their jobs and other projects, such as a new access to the Murdoch Specialised Activity Centre, can be undertaken. The focus at present is commencing a range of road projects across the suburbs and initiating the remedial works required on the Roe 8 corridor, which was decimated during the dying days of the former coalition government. I will turn to considering other matters regarding the Roe alignment once the remedial and revegetation works are well underway. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE — PRESCRIBED BURNS 5. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for Environment: I take this opportunity also to congratulate the Leader of the House, and also the parliamentary secretaries’ new appointments. I refer to the Department of Parks and Wildlife’s vitally important prescribed burning program in the south west forests. (1) Can the minister advise the progress of the season’s prescribed burning program in the south west? (2) Can the minister advise what factors contributed to the extent of the burns? (3) Can the minister advise the total area of prescribed burning predicted for this year?

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Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the Department of Parks and Wildlife — (1) The McGowan Labor government supports prescribed burning as a key management tool. From 1 July 2016, the Department of Parks and Wildlife’s prescribed burning program in the south west has treated over 220 000 hectares. (2) Favourable burning conditions in spring 2016, along with additional resources, were the main contributing factors. (3) It is difficult to predict, given the impact weather has on the program; however, the Department of Parks and Wildlife expects to build on this total before a cold front is forecast to pass through parts of the south west with moderate to heavy rainfall from late Sunday to Monday. The PRESIDENT: I know there might have been some discussion about the number of questions but I see one more member who wants to ask a question. URANIUM MINING 6. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum: I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the new Labor front bench and look forward to meeting the expanded membership on 23 May. It will be quite a show. I refer to comments made by Premier Mark McGowan reported in on 7 March, prior to the 2017 March state election, when he stated in relation to Uranium mining — “If all necessary approvals are in place for them to operate, they will proceed under a McGowan Labor government,” With reference to proposed uranium operations in Western Australia— (1) Do the Mulga Rocks, Yeelirrie, Kintyre and Toro Energy Wiluna uranium projects have all necessary approvals to begin mining operations? (2) If unknown, when will the information be available and will the minister table it? (3) What was the government’s process for establishing whether these projects have necessary approval? (4) What level of consultation was undertaken with communities, traditional owners and stakeholders who opposed these uranium projects under the Barnett government as part of this process? Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied: On behalf of the Minister for Mines and Petroleum I provide the following answer — (1)–(4) The McGowan Labor government is continuing to work through the details in implementing its uranium policy. In the short time the government has been in office a range of stakeholder groups have provided feedback on this issue. The government has welcomed this feedback. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT — AFTERNOON TEA Statement by President The PRESIDENT: Members, thank you very much for your attendance at the first session of the fortieth Parliament. I thank past members, future members, former Governors, former Presidents of the Legislative Council, public servants, guests of members and the general public who witnessed the opening of the fortieth Parliament. I invite you all to join us for afternoon tea in the courtyard. House adjourned at 4.13 pm ______