Legislative Council
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Legislative Council Tuesday, 28 August 2007 THE PRESIDENT (Hon Nick Griffiths) took the chair at 3.30 pm, and read prayers. BLACKMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL Petition HON PETER COLLIER (North Metropolitan) [3.31 pm]: I present the following petition - To the President and Members of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We, the undersigned residents of Western Australia, respectfully and strongly support the retention of the Blackmore Primary School in its current location in Girrawheen, and with not less than its current educational capacities. Blackmore Primary School is a highly effective and highly regarded centre for primary education and learning in the suburb of Girrawheen. In Girrawheen it is a leading school in terms of both education results and initiatives. It’s students and school community are well served by both the teachers and the school’s leadership The school is the only school in the West of Girrawheen and is therefore best placed to serve that half of the suburb. Blackmore Primary School also has excellent parking facilities, which result in no disruption to local residents or traffic passing along major roads through the suburb, an advantage not shared by other schools in Girrawheen. Your petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council do everything in its power to ensure that Blackmore Primary School is not closed and remains to serve the interests of children in the West of Girrawheen, from its current location and with its current education capacities. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will every pray. The petition bears 962 signatures and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Council. [See paper 3022.] LAKE CLAREMONT PRECINCT - REZONING Petition HON PETER COLLIER (North Metropolitan) [3.33 pm]: I present the following well-presented petition - To the President and Members of the Legislative Council of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We the undersigned residents of Western Australia are opposed to: a) The rezoning of the A Class Reserve for the use of high density housing at the corners of Davies Road/Shenton Road/Shenton Place Claremont b) The relocation of the Claremont Tennis Club onto the Par 3 Golf Course at Lake Claremont c) Removal of the Par 3 and Long Nine Golf Courses which would reduce the recreational facilities in the Lake Claremont Precinct d) Any further disturbance of the environment in this valuable wetland area Your petitioners, therefore, respectfully request the Legislative Council to oppose the rezoning of the A Class Reserve on which the Claremont Tennis Club and the Par 3 Golf Course are currently situated. And your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray. The petition bears 2 654 signatures and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Council. [See paper 3023.] WESTERN POWER TRANSMISSION LINES - NARRIKUP Petition HON ROBYN McSWEENEY (South West) [3.35 pm]: I present the following petition - Petition in Relation to Proposed Wetern Power Transmission Lines 4274 [COUNCIL - Tuesday, 28 August 2007] To the President and Members of the Legislative Council of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. The proposed Western Power transmission lines adjacent to Narrikup will critically affect many properties. If the proposed routes were moved further to the West, a route could be made through, or adjacent to undeveloped land. We the undersigned residents of Western Australia are strongly opposed the current proposed routes. Your petitioners therefore respectfully request the Legislative Council to recommend the proposed transmission line routes be altered so that their impact upon affected landowners is minimal. And your petitioners as in duty bound, will every pray. The petition bears 216 signatures and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Council. [See paper 3024.] EQUINE INFLUENZA Statement by Minister for Agriculture and Food HON KIM CHANCE (Agricultural - Minister for Agriculture and Food) [3.37 pm]: I wish to make a statement about the outbreak of equine influenza in some eastern states and its impact on Western Australia. Equine influenza is a serious disease of horses, donkeys and mules, but transmission of the virus to humans has not been reported to occur. Australia and New Zealand are among the few countries with major equine industries that are free of equine influenza. Last Thursday, the national Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease considered advice from Japan that an outbreak of equine influenza due to the H3N8 virus had been detected in horses in Japan. At this time of the year, a number of horses come into Australia from many countries and all are subject to post-arrival quarantine, which is managed by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. All horses imported into Australia are held at the Eastern Creek Quarantine Station in New South Wales or the Spotswood Quarantine Station in Victoria for post-entry testing. Equine influenza was first detected at Eastern Creek Quarantine Station on 17 August 2007 and confirmed on 20 August 2007. Horses at Centennial Park Equestrian Centre have also been confirmed as having equine influenza. Equine influenza has now been confirmed at a further 11 locations in New South Wales and one location in Queensland. On Saturday, Western Australia imposed a standstill on the movement of all horses, donkeys and mules within the state as part of the national effort to prevent the spread of the virus. As part of the standstill, all equine events and gatherings have been cancelled throughout the state. At this stage it is proposed that the standstill will remain in place until 11 am Western Standard Time this Friday. There is national agreement that there may be regional variation to the national standstill on the movement of horses, donkeys and mules provided that certain criteria are met. The standstill will provide the necessary time to conduct tests to ensure the incubation period of the virus has passed. The Department of Agriculture and Food acted quickly to ensure that horses that had recently moved into the state were located, isolated and inspected by veterinarians. There were 15 horses from New South Wales, three from Queensland and one from South Australia. The horse from South Australia had travelled with the Queensland horses. All horses imported into Western Australia from liver fluke susceptible areas are routinely subjected to movement restrictions for 100 days; therefore, tracing where the animals came from and the property to which they were going was able to be done very quickly. The 19 horses remain quarantined and are being closely monitored for signs of ill health to ensure the protection of Western Australia’s equine industries. All results from the blood and swab tests taken from the 19 horses are expected to be available tomorrow. I am pleased to report - this information has only just come through - that 14 of the 19 horses have now been cleared. All tests have been negative. The remaining horses will be tested tomorrow. If all tests are negative, Western Australia should meet the nationally agreed criteria to allow the standstill on horse movements in Western Australia to be varied ahead of the Friday headline. An outbreak of equine influenza would have a major impact on the Western Australian equine stud, racing, leisure and event sectors, so all horse owners are being urged to be vigilant for any signs of respiratory disease and to contact the emergency disease hotline should their animals show any symptoms. The Department of Agriculture and Food will continue to manage the emergency response for Western Australia, contribute to the national disease containment strategies and participate on the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Food will also participate in a community briefing that is being held at the State Equestrian Centre in Brigadoon tomorrow night. The briefing will provide an opportunity for people to ask questions about equine influenza, the detection of the disease in New South Wales and Queensland, the stock standstill, how to recognise symptoms of the virus [COUNCIL - Tuesday, 28 August 2007] 4275 and manage hygiene in stables, and understand the national disease containment strategies that are in place. While there is no evidence of equine influenza in Western Australia at present, the Department of Agriculture and Food will remain on high alert and will continue to closely monitor the situation. I also acknowledge the proactive and highly cooperative response that has been received on this issue from Racing and Wagering Western Australia, and the whole commercial and leisure horse industry. There was immediate and rapid cooperation and coordination by all sectors. As a former Minister for Racing and Gaming, the President would be pleased to hear that and would expect no less than that. It has been a very good process, and people have been aware of their responsibilities and have fulfilled them well beyond the letter of the law. Consideration of the statement made an order of the day for the next sitting, on motion by Hon Bruce Donaldson. EQUINE INFLUENZA Statement by Minister for Racing and Gaming HON LJILJANNA RAVLICH (East Metropolitan - Minister for Racing and Gaming) [3.41 pm]: The Western Australian racing industry has in place a single racing body, RWWA, that can take firm and rapid action to manage major industry issues such as equine influenza. I would like to summarise the chain of events and how RWWA has responded to them. On Wednesday, 22 August, the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Hon Peter McGauran, issued a media release stating that a horse in quarantine was showing signs of equine influenza and that blood tests indicated suspicion of a recently acquired infection. Minister McGauran advised that all horses in quarantine would remain in quarantine for 30 days, which could have a strong impact on breeding, as leading breeding stallions are in quarantine.