Legislative Assembly Thursday, 24 February 2011 THE SPEAKER (Mr G.A. Woodhams) took the chair at 9.00 am, and read prayers. ANIMAL WELFARE UNIT INSPECTORATE Petition MS L.L. BAKER (Maylands) [9.01 am]: I have a petition that has been certified as conforming to the standing orders of the house and contains 470 signatures. It reads — To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly in the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We, the undersigned, say that the welfare of livestock animals in Western Australia is not being properly protected, and the Animal Welfare Act 2002 is not being enforced, because the State Government has refused to adequately fund the Animal Welfare Unit Inspectorate to employ six permanent, full-time General Inspectors. Only a fully funded Animal Welfare Unit Inspectorate — which regularly monitors the welfare of livestock animals involved in live export, transportation, saleyards, knackeries or abattoirs — is capable of ensuring that the millions of livestock animals who are transported, exported, sold or slaughtered every year in this State are more likely to be treated humanely, without neglect or cruelty. Now we ask the Legislative Assembly to fully fund the employment of six permanent full-time General Inspectors in the Department of Local Government’s Animal Welfare Unit Inspectorate to ensure that the welfare of livestock animals involved in live export, transportation and the abattoirs is regularly and routinely monitored and reports of cruelty or neglect are investigated promptly. [See petition 368.] A similar petition was presented by Mr J.C. Kobelke (43 signatures). [See petition 371.] MOORE RIVER — HOUSING LOTS SOUTH OF ESTUARY Petition MS L.L. BAKER (Maylands) [9.02 am]: I have another petition that has been certified as conforming to the standing orders of the house and contains 159 signatures. The petition is headed “No urban development south of the Moore River” and reads — To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We, the undersigned, say that the announcement by the Minister for Planning on 9 June, 2009, to approve of the development of 2,000 housing lots on the south side of the Moore River Estuary, is contrary to the findings of the Gingin Coast Structure Plan and to the view that has been consistently and strongly put forward by the community since 1995. Now we ask that the Legislative Assembly recommend that the land adjoining the proposed Wilbinga Conservation Park which is subject to the Moore River Company’s plans, be: 1. purchased by the Government at a fair price to the landowner, given the present rural zoning of the land; 2. be managed in perpetuity for the benefit of the whole community, for the protection of the estuary of the Moore River; 3. purchased to stop suburban Perth sprawling to the Moore River and beyond; and 4. saved from any form of urban development so that Western Australian tax payers are not forced to contribute to or subsidise the massive infrastructure costs (roads, bridges, sewerage, water supply, electricity supply) that would be caused by a development at the extreme outer limits of the city). We make this request because of the unique aesthetic and environmental features which this area contributes towards the natural capital of Western Australia. [See petition 369.] 2 [ASSEMBLY — Thursday, 24 February 2011] COAL MINING — COAL-FIRED POWER STATIONS Petition MR C.J. TALLENTIRE (Gosnells) [9.05 am]: I have a petition that is part of an 8 000-signatory petition. I am tabling the first part of it, which has 110 signatures. The petition concerns proposals for coal developments in Western Australia, and I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of petitioners. The petition reads — To the Speaker and the Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia. We, the undersigned, express our opposition to the further development of coal mining and coal-fired power stations in Western Australia at a time when immediate and substantial cuts in carbon emissions are needed and when it has been demonstrated that this country can supply its power needs with 100% renewable energy. For these reasons, we call on the Legislative Assembly to: 1. Establish as policy that there be no further expansion of coal infrastructure (including coal mines, coal-fired power stations or port/rail facilities dedicated to coal transport) in WA; 2. Cancel the approval given to new or refurbished coal-fired power stations (Muja A&B, Bluewaters 3&4, Coolimba) and refuse approval of the Perdaman proposed coal-to-urea plant; 3. Ensure that Verve Energy, which is government-owned, uses only renewable energy sources to supply new power needs; 4. Embark on a massive and immediate development of publicly-owned renewable energy infrastructure (including wind and concentrating solar thermal); and 5. Ensure that workers in coal communities have priority access to new jobs in renewable energy with equivalent pay and conditions. I table this part of the petition with 110 signatures. [See petition 370.] PAPERS TABLED Papers were tabled and ordered to lie upon the table of the house. URANIUM MINING PROHIBITION (KEEPING WA FREE FROM THE NUCLEAR FUEL CHAIN) BILL 2009 Removal of Order of the Day — Statement by Speaker THE SPEAKER (Mr G.A. Woodhams): I advise that in accordance with standing order 144A, the order of the day that appeared on the last notice paper as private members’ business order of the day 1, Uranium Mining Prohibition (Keeping WA free from the Nuclear Fuel Chain) Bill 2009, has not been debated for more than 12 calendar months and has been removed from the notice paper. For the information of members, I advise that a bill removed under this standing order may be restored by motion to the point it had reached prior to its removal. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE — INQUIRY INTO THE ADEQUACY AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF SOCIAL HOUSING IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Extension of Reporting Date — Statement by Speaker THE SPEAKER (Mr G.A. Woodhams): I received a letter today from the chairman of the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee advising that the committee has resolved to extend the tabling date for its inquiry into the adequacy and future directions of social housing in Western Australia to 8 September 2011. GOVERNMENT OFFICE ACCOMMODATION Statement by Premier MR C.J. BARNETT (Cottesloe — Premier) [9.09 am]: The government proposes to consolidate ministerial offices and central government departments within the parliamentary precinct over the next several years. It is also proposed to consolidate other government departments into a smaller number of leased premises. A number of factors have lead to this position, including: the lease on Governor Stirling Tower expiring in June 2012; the previous government’s commitment to lease at least nine floors in a new building at 140 William Street; increasing lease costs in the CBD; the government having approximately 40 separate tenancies in the CBD; and the opportunity to make long-term savings by occupying government-owned buildings rather than leased premises. [ASSEMBLY — Thursday, 24 February 2011] 3 In March this year, the process of refurbishing Dumas House will commence. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Public Sector Commission will be relocated to Dumas House by the end of the year. By June 2012 the remaining floors will be occupied by 13 ministerial offices. The Departments of Planning, Local Government, Transport, Communities, Regional Development and Lands, Treasury and Finance, Culture and the Arts, the Heritage Council, the Office of the Government Architect and the Small Business Development Corporation will be located in 140 William Street by June 2012. The cost for the refit of Dumas House is approximately $26 million and a further $21 million will be spent on ensuring the 45-year-old building is compliant with today’s building and disability access codes. This includes the installation of a compliant fire sprinkler system, standby generator, upgraded switchboard and fire pumps, and improvements to the accessibility of the entrance. A further $9 million will be spent on remedial works to the external facade, which has been neglected over the years. Because of the requirement to leave Governor Stirling Tower, the office of the Premier and the cabinet room will also need to be relocated. A number of options were considered before a final decision was made to refurbish the government-owned Hale House in the parliamentary precinct. Hale House is a heritage-listed building that is falling into disrepair and it is in immediate need of at least $3 million in works to prevent further deterioration. It is proposed that the office of the Premier, the cabinet room, and the staff from the cabinet secretariat— currently located on two floors of Governor Stirling Tower—will relocate to the refurbished Hale House by late 2012. The potential lease saving is $1.2 million a year. The construction, site costs and most of the fit-out for the redevelopment of Hale House are estimated at $17 million plus planning, design, and other fees. The cost of restoring Hale House is significant given its heritage status, but it will be paid off within 14 years due to savings in lease costs. Work on Hale House will commence in the next few months and is expected to be completed by October 2012. Once complete, Western Australia will have a permanent Premier’s office and a cabinet room in a government-owned building for the first time in 28 years. While not immediately required, these changes will require the opposition to relocate from the so-called “Summer Palace”. We will begin discussions with the opposition on this matter to ensure that suitable alternative accommodation is found.