Legislative Council
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Legislative Council Tuesday, 26 June 2007 THE PRESIDENT (Hon Nick Griffiths) took the chair at 3.30 pm, and read prayers. CLERK ASSISTANT (COMMITTEES) - MR PAUL GRANT Statement by President THE PRESIDENT (Hon Nick Griffiths): Honourable members, a selection process commenced in May this year to fill the vacant position of Clerk Assistant (Committees). I am delighted to announce that Mr Paul Grant has been appointed Clerk Assistant (Committees) for the Legislative Council. Paul is well regarded for his high level of professionalism, and brings with him seven years of parliamentary experience as an advisory officer (legal) in the Legislative Council Committee Office. I wish Paul all the best in his new role. Members: Hear, hear! HON MARGARET ROWE Apology for Absence from Legislative Council - Statement by President THE PRESIDENT (Hon Nick Griffiths): Honourable members, I advise the house that on Thursday, 21 June 2007, I received the following letter from Hon Margaret Rowe, MLC - Mr President I have received from the Deputy Clerk an order to attend to answer a question of why I have been absent for more than six sitting days. I wish to formally apologise to the house for my lack of attendance. Resignation from Legislative Council - Statement by President THE PRESIDENT (Hon Nick Griffiths): Honourable members, I advise the house that on Friday, 22 June 2007, I received the following letter from Hon Margaret Rowe, MLC - Mr President Due to ill health I have decided to resign as a member of the Legislative Council as of today. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - VACANCY Motion HON KIM CHANCE (Agricultural - Leader of the House) [3.34 pm]: Mr President, in light of your statement, I move without notice - That a vacancy in the membership of the Legislative Council is declared by reason of the resignation on Friday, 22 June 2007, of Ms Margaret-Anne Rowe, member for the Agricultural Region. Question put and passed. REGIONAL RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTRE - WASTE COMPOSTING FACILITY, CANNING VALE Petition HON SIMON O’BRIEN (South Metropolitan) [3.35 pm]: I present a petition containing 54 signatures, couched in the following terms - 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 the continued operation of the Regional Resource Recovery Centre’s Waste Composting Facility in Canning Vale. This facility creates a noxious odour, affecting the health and lifestyle of the residents in surrounding suburbs. Your petitioners therefore respectfully request the Legislative Council to support residents and others affected by this Waste Composting Facility and recommend to the Government that the South Metropolitan Regional Council relocate the facility away from any residential area. And your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray. [See paper 2835.] 3592 [COUNCIL - Tuesday, 26 June 2007] MENTAL HEALTH - COMMUNITY SUPPORTED RESIDENTIAL UNITS Petition HON HELEN MORTON (East Metropolitan) [3.36 pm]: I present the following 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 call on the Legislative Council to oppose the establishment of clusters of 25 or more community supported residential units (CSRU) on hospital sites throughout WA for people with a mental illness, and, seek the support of the Legislative Council to ensure that CSRU are established for no more than eight people in one cluster in normal homes in normal streets, and adequately resourced to ensure that residents successfully integrate within communities throughout Western Australia. Further, we the undersigned residents of Western Australia, call on the Minister for Health to provide balanced, truthful, and objective information to the public; genuine and honest consultation with the public; and transparency and accountability as it pertains to this matter. And your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray. The petition bears 68 signatures and I certify that it conforms to the standing orders of the Legislative Council. [See paper 2836.] GENETICALLY MODIFIED FREE ZONE - WESTERN AUSTRALIA Petition HON GIZ WATSON (North Metropolitan) [3.37 pm]: I present a petition containing 3 513 signatures, couched in the following terms - 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 say that Genetically Modified (GM) foods (and products from GM crops) pose a great risk to human health and the environment and are opposed to commercial growing of GM crops and the introduction of GM foods in this State. Your petitioners therefore respectfully request the Legislative Council to maintain Western Australia’s status as a Genetically Modified Food (and products from GM Crops) free State in perpetuity. And your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray. [See paper 2837.] STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES Thirteenth Report - “Absence of a Member: Hon Margaret Rowe MLC” THE PRESIDENT (Hon Nick Griffiths) tabled the thirteenth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges, in relation to the absence of a member. [See paper 2828.] HON GEORGE CASH (North Metropolitan) [3.38 pm]: I move - That the thirteenth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges, “Absence of a Member: Hon Margaret Rowe MLC”, as tabled by the President, be printed and that the recommendation be adopted and agreed to. Mr President, for the benefit of members I indicate, pursuant to the order of the house, that on 21 June 2007, Hon Margaret Rowe was served with an order to attend before the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges at 1.00 pm on Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at the office of the President. On 21 June 2007, the President received a facsimile letter from the member dated 21 June 2007, apologising for her absence. On 22 June 2007, the President received a facsimile letter from the member, dated 22 June 2007, advising of her resignation as a member of the Legislative Council. The committee, pursuant to the order that the member was required to appear before the committee at 1.00 pm on Tuesday 26 June 2007, considered the issue, and in light of the member’s apology and resignation due to ill health, the member did not appear before the committee. The committee indicates in its report that although the member is noncompliant with the order, it considers, in view of all the circumstances, that no further action should be taken in relation to the contempt of the member pursuant to standing order 57. The committee recommends that no further action be taken in relation to the contempt of Hon Margaret Rowe MLC, pursuant to standing order 57. Question put and passed. [COUNCIL - Tuesday, 26 June 2007] 3593 PAPERS TABLED Papers were tabled and ordered to lie upon the table of the house. STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION Criminal Law and Evidence Amendment Bill 2006 - Extension of Reporting Time Hon Graham Giffard presented a special report of the Standing Committee on Legislation, in relation to the Criminal Law and Evidence Amendment Bill 2006, seeking an extension of time in which to report from Tuesday, 7 August 2007 to Thursday, 16 August 2007, and on his motion it was resolved - That the report do lie upon the table and be adopted and agreed to. [See paper 2839.] Eighth Report -“Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Western Australia) Bill 2005” Hon Graham Giffard presented the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Legislation, in relation to the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Western Australia) Bill 2005, and on his motion it was resolved - That the report do lie upon the table and be printed. [See paper 2838.] JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE CORRUPTION AND CRIME COMMISSION Twenty-seventh Report - “Hearing with the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission on 9 May 2007” Hon Ray Halligan presented the twenty-seventh report of the Joint Standing Committee on the Corruption and Crime Commission, in relation to the hearing with the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission on 9 May 2007, and on his motion it was resolved - That the report do lie upon the table and be printed. [See paper 2840.] SELECT COMMITTEE INTO PUBLIC OBSTETRIC SERVICES Extension of Reporting Time HON HELEN MORTON (East Metropolitan) [3.42 pm]: I am directed to report that the Select Committee into Public Obstetric Services has resolved that the time in which it has to report be extended from Thursday, 28 June 2007 to Thursday, 30 August 2007. The inquiry’s terms of reference require the committee to inquire into the adequacy of government decision making in relation to maternity services in Western Australia. The health department’s “Future Direction in Maternity Care” consultation and policy development process has been made public in stages that have essentially run parallel to this inquiry. Consequently, in order to give the current process due consideration, an extension of time to report is requested. I move - That the report do lie upon the table and be adopted and agreed to. Question put and passed. [See paper 2841.] FINANCE BROKERS CONTROL (GENERAL) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS (NO. 3) 2007 - DISALLOWANCE Notice of Motion Hon Ray Halligan gave notice that at the next sitting of the house he would move - That the Finance Brokers Control (General) Amendment Regulations (No. 3) 2007, published in the Government Gazette on 20 April 2007 and tabled in the Legislative Council on 3 May 2007 under the Finance Brokers Control Act 1975, be and are hereby disallowed. VEHICLE LICENSING OPERATIONS Urgency Motion THE PRESIDENT (Hon Nick Griffiths): Members, I have received a letter in these terms - Dear Mr President I hereby give notice that pursuant to Standing Order 72 I intend to move today: 3594 [COUNCIL - Tuesday, 26 June 2007] “That this house consider as a matter of urgency the Carpenter Government’s chaotic approach to vehicle licensing operations reflected in the mixed messages being sent to the motor trade industry and the public over the outsourcing of inspection services.