Legislative Assembly Wednesday, 6 April 2011 THE SPEAKER (Mr G.A. Woodhams) took the chair at 12.00 noon, and read prayers. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Statement by Speaker The SPEAKER: Members, before I call for petitions today, I remind everybody that question time will be taken at 3.15 this afternoon. NORTHERN SUBURBS RAILWAY — OVERCROWDING Petition MR A.P. O’GORMAN (Joondalup) [12.01 pm]: I present a petition with 373 signatures that reads as follows — To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We, the undersigned, are opposed to the Barnett Government’s decision to ignore the train overcrowding occurring on the Joondalup line by refusing to order any more train carriages. Commuters are struggling to get to work and appointments on time. Now we ask the Legislative Assembly to ensure the Barnett Government immediately order at least thirty additional train carriages. [See petition 388.] PRESTON RIVER TO OCEAN REGIONAL PARK ESTABLISHMENT PLAN Statement by Minister for Planning MR J.H.D. DAY (Kalamunda — Minister for Planning) [12.02 pm]: I am pleased today to announce that cabinet has recently endorsed the Preston River to Ocean Regional Park establishment plan proposal and its final release. This is a significant step in the creation of a regional park within the greater Bunbury area. The concept of a continuous reserve from the Preston River to the coast has been central to planning in greater Bunbury for over 20 years and has received strong, ongoing community support. The greater Bunbury region scheme came into effect at the end of 2007, reserving the land areas within the proposed park as regional open space. The proposed park includes Manea Park, Shearwater Tuart Forest and the Maidens, extending east–west over a total of seven kilometres. In total, the area covers 893 hectares. The proposed park contains a unique sequence of landform and vegetation complexes, characteristic of the Swan coastal plain. The draft version of the plan was advertised for public comment for a period of three months. Eight submissions were received in total. No submissions objected to the park. The majority of submissions were from government agencies involved in the park and some interested members of the public. The submissions were discussed with both the community consultative committee and the technical advisory group, prior to being finally considered by the Western Australian Planning Commission. The majority of issues raised are more appropriately addressed though a management plan, and as such have been noted and will be considered during the preparation of a management plan. Dr Bernard Bischoff, who has had extensive and ongoing involvement in the park, requested that in the plan the park be renamed Preston River to Ocean Regional Park to reflect the park’s geological evolution. Given Dr Bischoff’s contribution and involvement, this request was supported and the text amended accordingly. The majority of the land that will make up the new Preston River to Ocean Regional Park was already reserved for parks and recreation under local planning schemes; however, consolidating these areas into a new regional park coordination will make management of the area more efficient. I thank all the people who have contributed to the Preston River to Ocean Regional Park, and encourage the community’s ongoing input in its future use and management. I am, accordingly, pleased to now table the documentation for the Preston River to Ocean Regional Park establishment plan proposal. [See paper 3279.] 2442 [ASSEMBLY — Wednesday, 6 April 2011] MAGELLAN METALS — LEAD CONTAMINATION Statement by Minister for Environment MR W.R. MARMION (Nedlands — Minister for Environment) [12.05 pm]: On Monday afternoon the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority was advised that a Magellan Metals Pty Ltd shipping container at Fremantle port had been found with soil or dried mud on the outside of the container. As part of its health, hygiene and environmental management program, Magellan is required to ensure that all vehicles and containers transporting lead carbonate pass through a wash-down facility, after which they are individually inspected by Inspectorate Australia before leaving the mine site. A sample of the soil was sent for analysis at the ChemCentre and the results indicated a lead reading of 2 800 milligrams per kilogram. This is above the investigation level for industrial sites. Isotopic analysis results received late yesterday indicate that the lead is highly likely to have come from the Magellan ore body. Inspectorate Australia has advised the OEPA that all containers have passed through the wash-down facility and were free of visible lead dust prior to leaving the mine site for the month of March 2011. Magellan’s preliminary investigation has identified that heavy rainfall in Leonora caused muddy soil on the edge of the hardstand where the containers were stored prior to being shipped by rail; however, this has not been independently confirmed. The rail yard at Leonora is owned and operated by another party and may have residual Magellan lead on it from previously approved operations between 2005 and 2007. Magellan voluntarily stopped the transport of lead carbonate from the mine site and has also decided to suspend its operations indefinitely and undertake a comprehensive review of all of its activities. That is the right decision in view of the government’s complete loss of confidence in the company’s ability to meet the high standards expected by the Western Australian community. A further four containers stored in Fremantle have been identified with dried mud or soil on them and will be cleaned under supervision of the OEPA and the soil will be removed by a waste management company. I have asked regulatory agencies to commence a full investigation into the source and extent of the soil on the exterior of the containers. The Department of Environment and Conservation is sending a pollution response team to Fremantle port container terminal and to Leonora rail yard to conduct investigations. OEPA officers will also inspect any containers in the Forrestfield marshalling yard. I want to reassure the community that there is no evidence of an escape of lead concentrate from the sealed bags or containers or indeed, any airborne lead. The government will use all powers at its disposal to protect public health and the environment. TRACK CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 Statement by Minister for Sport and Recreation MR T.K. WALDRON (Wagin — Minister for Sport and Recreation) [12.07 pm]: Mr Speaker, last month seven young Western Australians participated in the 2011 Union Cycliste Internationale Track Cycling World Championships held in the Netherlands. The strong national team featured the biggest names in Australian track cycling and included a complement of seven Western Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holders. This is in itself a fantastic achievement for the team at WAIS; with 35 per cent of the national team coming from WA. Competition at these championships was extremely fierce with the event representing an important opportunity for athletes to tune up prior to the London Olympics. I take this opportunity to highlight some of the outstanding performances of our athletes and the Australian team in general. In Australia’s best ever result at a world championship, WAIS athletes contributed three gold medals out of an Australian total of eight. Congratulations to Cameron Meyer in the madison, Luke Durbridge in the team pursuit, and Michael Freiberg in the omnium. I note that Cameron Meyer also achieved a silver medal in the points race, one of two silver medals achieved by the Australian team. To put these achievements in context, the 2011 result follows efforts in 2010 when three WAIS athletes contributed four gold medals and in 2009 when two Western Australian athletes contributed two gold medals. Cameron Meyer, at 23 years of age, has now won a world title in each of the past three years, for a total of five gold medals. Luke Durbridge at 19 years, and Michael Freiberg at 20, were both first-year seniors in this year’s event, winning world titles at their first attempt. Cameron Meyer is the reigning WAIS athlete of the year, and Luke Durbridge is the reigning WAIS junior athlete of the year. These achievements would not be possible without the support of the staff and coaches at WAIS. I commend cycling coach Darryl Benson, who has been involved with all three riders, nurturing them from their club, through Cycling WA programs, and into WAIS and the Australian Institute of Sport. Darryl’s efforts and those of his riders continue a record of success for the WAIS cycling program, which started with Darren Hill, continued with Ryan Bayley, and is now being forged by a new generation of riders. On behalf of the government of Western Australia I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the cycling team at WAIS and wish them every success as they head to the London Olympics next year. [ASSEMBLY — Wednesday, 6 April 2011] 2443 COMMERCIAL TENANCY (RETAIL SHOPS) AGREEMENTS AMENDMENT BILL 2011 — EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM Statement by Speaker THE SPEAKER (Mr G.A. Woodhams): Members, I will provide some information to you. I have received advice that the explanatory memorandum for the Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Amendment Bill 2011 did not reflect an aspect of clause 4 of the bill. The explanatory memorandum for that bill has been updated, and members who previously obtained a copy of that document are advised to obtain the updated version from the Legislative Assembly office. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE — PRECEDENCE OF PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS Standing Orders Suspension — Motion MR R.F. JOHNSON (Hillarys — Leader of the House) [12.10 pm]: I move — That so much of the standing orders be suspended as is necessary to enable private members’ business to have priority from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm on Wednesday, 6 April 2011.