Federal Political Update
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CCH Parliament Western Australian Political Update Issue: 47 of 2010 Date: 29 November 2010 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 .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Emergency Services ......................................................................................................................... 4 Energy............................................................................................................................................... 4 Environment...................................................................................................................................... 4 Family & Community Services .......................................................................................................... 5 Finance ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Foreign Affairs................................................................................................................................... 6 Health................................................................................................................................................ 7 Housing & Property........................................................................................................................... 8 Industry ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Legal ................................................................................................................................................. 9 Local Government........................................................................................................................... 10 Politics............................................................................................................................................. 10 Rural & Regional Affairs.................................................................................................................. 11 Social & Moral................................................................................................................................. 11 Sport & Recreation.......................................................................................................................... 11 Tourism ........................................................................................................................................... 12 Transport......................................................................................................................................... 12 Workplace Relations ....................................................................................................................... 14 Parliament: ¾ WA Parliament resumes 15 – 17 February 2011 ¾ Legislative Assembly 2010 sitting pattern ¾ Legislative Council 2010 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 – 29 November 2010 2 © CCH Parliament ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS Barnett Government must respond to Indigenous wages report ROGER COOK 22/11/10 326N6300 The Barnett Government must respond to recommendations of the report into the stolen wages of Indigenous people, Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Roger Cook said. Mr Cook said the Barnett Government has had the Stolen Wages Taskforce Report for over two years and had failed to do anything. "An estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people have been affected by State Government policies over the years," Mr Cook said. State Government funding for rock art research COLIN BARNETT 24/11/10 328N6300 The State Government will provide $300,000 over three years to The University of Western Australia for rock art research in the Kimberley. Premier Colin Barnett said the research would involve traditional owners and aimed to improve the protection, management and maintenance of Kimberley’s rock art. The ancient rock art is of immense importance to WA and also of huge significance to the rest of Australia and the world, Mr Barnett said. EDUCATION Government to apply pressure to retain regulation of State Training Providers PETER COLLIER 25/11/10 329N6501 The State Government will continue to apply pressure to ensure Western Australia maintains control of the regulation of its State Training Providers (formerly TAFE colleges). Following a meeting of national training ministers in Sydney last week, Training and Workforce Development Minister Peter Collier is concerned that WA could lose regulatory responsibility for the quality assurance of its State Training Providers, with legislation expected to be introduced into Federal Parliament this week. Funding boost to rural boarders as country hostels mark 50 years ELIZABETH CONSTABLE 26/11/10 330N6200 The State Government has boosted financial assistance to families whose children board away from home in the 50th anniversary of one of the State's best-known country boarding services. The Country High School Hostels Authority (CHSHA) has celebrated half a century of providing accommodation to high school students from some of the most remote parts of Western Australia. Speaking at the 50-year celebrations, Education Minister Liz Constable said the authority's nine co-educational boarding facilities had been a vital provision for students attending country schools from Broome to Esperance. WA Political Update – 29 November 2010 3 © CCH Parliament EMERGENCY SERVICES Western Suburbs Police Station to open in 2014 COLIN BARNETT 22/11/10 326N6506 Premier Colin Barnett has announced funding for the new $27.4million Western Suburbs Police Station to service the Claremont, Cottesloe, Wembley and Subiaco police sub districts had been brought forward by two years. Mr Barnett said the design work on the project would commence in mid-2011, with expected completion by 2014. ENERGY Fuel price advice for Perth drivers DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 23/11/10 327N6100 On Wednesday 24 November 2010, 19 BP sites are increasing their ULP price to a maximum of 131.9 cents per litre (cpl) - an increase of up to 14.0 cpl. However, most petrol stations in Perth will be selling for less than 117 cpl on 24 November. Given that Perth ULP prices follow a weekly cycle, with Thursday and Friday being the most expensive days, FuelWatch recommends filling up today or tomorrow and paying no more than 117 cents per litre. HUGS funding desperately needed as utility customers struggle ERIC RIPPER 25/11/10 329N6200 The Barnett Government must reinstate funding for the Hardship Utilities Grant Scheme (HUGS) after a Parliamentary inquiry revealed a huge number of Atlinta Gas customers have accessed the grants this year. Labor Leader Eric Ripper said evidence given by the Western Australian Council of Social Services to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Domestic Gas Pricing revealed huge increases in the number of people applying for hardship grants to avoid disconnection. City signs up for underground power PETER COLLIER 26/11/10 330N6505 Energy Minister Peter Collier joined the City of Canning in a signing ceremony to mark the start of the Bentley East Underground Power Project. This is the latest project to be launched through Round Four of the State Underground Power Program (SUPP) and is expected to be finished by January 2012. Mr Collier said it would deliver underground power to almost 760 homes in the project area at a cost of $8.13million. ENVIRONMENT WA Government fuels debate about offshore regulator model NORMAN MOORE 24/11/10 328N6506 The release of the Montara Commission of Inquiry Report has been welcomed by the Western Australian Government. Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore said the report would provide understanding of how the 2009 oil spill occurred off the Northern Territory coast. I will be carefully studying this report and the Federal Government's response as I view this blowout incident as very serious. What we can learn from the report will impact the way environmental and safety regulation is carried out in WA, Mr Moore said. WA Political Update – 29 November 2010 4 © CCH Parliament New reforms streamline environmental assessments JOHN DAY 26/11/10 330N6701 A new opportunity for the public to comment on significant proposals referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will be available as part of a suite of reforms to environmental assessments which come into effect today. Environment Minister John Day said the new legislative, administrative and funding arrangements would allow for early community input on key proposals and a clearer, streamlined assessment process. Minister opens new waterwise development GRAHAM JACOBS 27/11/10 331N6201 A new village development south of Perth will achieve significant water