Legislative Assembly
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Legislative Assembly Thursday, 18 September 2003 THE SPEAKER (Mr F. Riebeling) took the Chair at 9.00 am, and read prayers. RSPCA OFFICER, SOUTH WEST Petition Mr J.L. Bradshaw presented the following petition bearing the signatures of 1 066 persons - To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We the undersigned, citizens of the South West of Western Australia disagree with the action being taken by the RSPCA Perth in removing the one RSPCA officer who covers the entire South West of Western Australia. Shires include Harvey, Bunbury, Dardanup, Busselton, Waroona, Donnybrook, Capel, Collie, Manjimup, Augusta-Margaret River, Nannup, Bridgetown and Boyup Brook. We believe that this action by the RSPCA will be detrimental to all animal welfare cases in our region. We request the support of the Legislative Assembly in trying to maintain this important service to the South West Region. Now we ask the Legislative Assembly, and humbly pray, to give this matter earnest consideration and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. [See petition No 257.] WIRELESS HILL PARK, LAND EXCISION Petition Dr J.M. Woollard presented the following petition bearing the signatures of 29 persons - To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. WE, the undersigned, all being residents of Western Australia, are opposed to the proposal to excise land from Reserve A28913 (Wireless Hill Park) Ardross and rezone it from Parks and Recreation to Residential for the following reasons: The heritage-listed buildings are a unique, historical and valuable community asset. Community consultation on this proposal has been grossly inadequate. Development will pose a serious detriment to the character and amenity of this area if the land is excised and passes into private ownership or control. We ask that the Legislative Assembly: Reject the proposed excision (Notice of Intention to Excise Class A Reserve 28913 Wireless Hill Park), and Ensure that the heritage values of Wireless Hill Park, including existing buildings on Hickey Street, are adequately protected. [See petition No 258.] POLICE ENTERPRISE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS Statement by Premier DR G.I. GALLOP (Victoria Park - Premier) [9.06 am]: The campaign by our State’s police officers for a new enterprise agreement has been ongoing for five weeks. I have become most concerned about the effects that the Western Australian Police Union’s campaign of industrial action could ultimately have on law and order in this State and on the confidence of the community in its Police Service. I will not allow the community to suffer and criminals to benefit from the adverse effects of a long industrial campaign by the Police Union, nor will I allow our police officers to continue to be torn between their commitment to serve the Western Australian community and their salary aspirations. It is essential that the pay matter be resolved so that they can, without distraction, continue their essential public service. Unlike the former coalition Government, which allowed its last negotiations with the Police Union to drag on for more than seven months, I intend to bring these negotiations to a timely and satisfactory conclusion. Recent negotiations 11498 [ASSEMBLY - Thursday, 18 September 2003] between the parties under the auspices of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission have been positive and have helped to produce a climate of mutual understanding of the issues that remain in contention. At my instigation, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services has established a basis for moving forward with Mr Michael Dean of the Police Union. It is apparent that, without further improvements to the offer, a resolution will not be possible. I have given the Government’s most senior negotiators the authority and greater flexibility to reach agreement on a new deal for our police officers under a framework that does not jeopardise the Government’s responsibilities. With the commitment of the State Government and the Police Union, I believe we will be able to settle on common ground and reach a satisfactory, and speedy, resolution. My government colleagues and I hold the dedication and work of Western Australia’s police officers in the highest possible regard, none more so than that of officers serving in rural and remote areas. For 150 years, men and women have joined the Police Service because of their desire to serve the community. In that time, our police have seen many changes - changes in technology, in society and in the degree of accountability and responsibility placed on them; yet their underpinning desire to serve the community, to support victims of crime and bring the perpetrators to justice has remained resolute. Equally strong is my Government’s commitment to enhance the safety and security of our community. The Police Service is at the forefront of these efforts and our expectations are great. We have significantly increased resources to the Police Service, and I am confident that the outcome of these negotiations will ensure the Police Service is able to recruit and retain the brightest and best police officers. My decision to intervene in these negotiations signals the Government’s commitment to the uninterrupted provision of policing services throughout the State and the achievement of an equitable and just solution to police officers’ pay concerns. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I also call the member for Warren- Blackwood to order for a minor breach of the Code of Conduct. STAND ALONE PREPRIMARY CENTRES, 40 KILOMETRE AN HOUR SCHOOL ZONES Statement by Minister for Planning and Infrastructure MS A.J. MacTIERNAN (Armadale - Minister for Planning and Infrastructure) [9.11 am]: I am pleased to advise that 40 kilometre an hour school zones will now be provided at stand-alone preprimary centres where the hours of operating conform to standard school start and finish times. Until recently, an individual or stand-alone preprimary centre was not eligible for a 40 kilometre an hour school zone. However, a preprimary centre that was located with a primary school was eligible. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is fascinating stuff Mr Speaker; I do not know why members are not listening. The previous school zone policy was prepared by Main Roads in consultation with the Police Service and the education department a number of years ago. Approximately 500 high schools and primary schools - with or without attached preprimary centres - located in the metropolitan area have school zones. There are approximately 100 stand-alone preprimary centres in the metropolitan area, none of which currently have school zones. I understand that the primary reason the policy did not support stand-alone preprimary centres having school zones was that in some cases their start and finish times did not correspond with high schools and primary schools. It is important for the effectiveness of school zones that they operate consistently and are familiar to motorists. Following a number of approaches, including those from parents whose children attend the Inglewood Preprimary Centre and my colleague the member for Maylands, I asked Main Roads to review its policy relating to the installation of school zones and to consider options for expanding the coverage of preprimary centres, while maintaining driver acceptance and familiarity of the standard school zone operating times. Main Roads has now concluded its review of the policy and school zones will be implemented at stand-alone preprimary centres with standard school operating times. Arrangements are being made to install a school zone at the Inglewood Preprimary Centre. In addition, Main Roads is liaising with the Department of Education and Training so that the remaining preprimary centres are advised of the revised policy and how they can apply for a school zone. It is recognised that some preprimary centres do not operate on standard school start and finish times. While the installation of a school zone may not be appropriate for these locations, Main Roads is more than happy to investigate their particular circumstances and to assist or provide advice to the relevant local government on possible measures that may be required to enhance the level of safety for all road users, including the young children attending these centres. The revised policy will go a long way to making the road environment around preprimary centres a safer place for all concerned, particularly for the group that is considered to be the most vulnerable of all road users. [ASSEMBLY - Thursday, 18 September 2003] 11499 CARNARVON-NINGALOO COAST, FUTURE DIRECTIONS Statement by Premier DR G.I. GALLOP (Victoria Park - Premier) [9.14 am]: I am pleased to advise that, at the end of the public comment period, over 1 350 submissions have been received on “Future Directions: Sustainable Tourism and Land Use Scenarios for the Carnarvon-Ningaloo Coast”. The response is proof that the public of Western Australia is enthusiastic about ensuring we plan the future of Ningaloo correctly. A web site established for the Ningaloo coast received more than 439 000 hits and 19 700 visits in eight weeks. Of the 1 350 submissions received, 240 were made on-line, while the remaining 1 100 were submitted in hard copy. Submissions sent on 10 and 11 September are still being received and have to be counted. Public information sessions seeking community involvement in the future directions paper were held around the State during the two-month submission and public information days were held in Carnarvon, Coral Bay and Exmouth. The submissions will now be analysed and a report is expected to be published in November this year.