CCH Parliament Western Australian Political Update Issue: 13 of 2012 Date: 13 March 2012 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 Energy............................................................................................................................................... 4 Environment...................................................................................................................................... 5 Family & Community Services .......................................................................................................... 6 Health................................................................................................................................................ 7 Housing & Property........................................................................................................................... 8 Legal ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Mining & Minerals ............................................................................................................................. 8 Rural & Regional Affairs.................................................................................................................... 9 Sport & Recreation.......................................................................................................................... 10 Transport......................................................................................................................................... 11 Workplace Relations ....................................................................................................................... 11 Parliament: ¾ WA Parliament resumes 20 – 22 March 2012 ¾ Parliamentary sitting pattern ¾ The next WA election will be held on 9 March 2013 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 – 13 March 2012 2 © CCH Parliament ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS Upgrades for remote Aboriginal health clinics KIM HAMES 5/03/12 065P6201 At least six health clinics in remote Aboriginal communities are set to be upgraded, thanks to a $22.2million funding injection under the Liberal-National Government's Royalties for Regions program, Health Minister Kim Hames said today. Dr Hames said the Remote Indigenous Health Clinics initiative would result in improvements to the delivery of health services in Aboriginal communities including Bayulu, Mulan, Mindibungu (Billiluna), Wakathuni and Noonkanbah (Yungngora). Government to act on ‘Stolen Wages’ PETER COLLIER 6/03/12 066P6301 Indigenous Affairs Minister Peter Collier announced the State Government would pay eligible Aboriginal people, who were subjected to State-sanctioned financial controls, an ex gratia reparation payment of up to $2,000. Under past legislation such as the Aborigines Act 1905 and the Native Welfare Act 1963, employers of Aboriginal people, including successive State governments between 1905 and 1972, held money and property belonging to Aboriginal people in a complex network of trust accounts. This practice has become known as ‘Stolen Wages’. Western Australia has become the third State to implement reparation programs for ‘Stolen Wages’ and follows the 2006 recommendations of the Commonwealth Parliament Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs recommending action on the matter. EOI for Ord farmland now closed BRENDON GRYLLS 9/03/12 069P6501 A Request for Proposal and Expressions of Interest for about 15,000ha of new agricultural land released as part of the State Government's Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project have now closed. Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said 14 proposals had been received from local, national and international parties interested in developing land for a variety of crops in the Ord Valley near Kununurra. "Local business people and representatives of Traditional Owners have advised that some potential purchasers have consulted widely with them, and we take that as a positive sign," Mr Grylls said. EDUCATION State and Federal Governments fail refugee children in showdown over education ALISON XAMON 6/03/12 066P6300 The current showdown between the Federal and WA State Governments as to who should pay for the education of unaccompanied minors in detention, which is resulting in the children not being able to go to school at all, is an absolute indictment of the failure of the detention of refugees, the Greens spokesperson for Children and Education, Alison Xamon MLC said today. "Let us remember that the vast majority of unaccompanied minors who arrive on our shores are ultimately determined to be genuine refugees, fleeing terror and persecution from their countries of origin," Ms Xamon, who has been to the Leonora Detention Centre said. WA Political Update – 13 March 2012 3 © CCH Parliament New schools to take care of future generations ELIZABETH CONSTABLE 7/03/12 067P6504 The State Government will spend $70.2million in the next two years building four new primary schools. Announcing the new schools today, Education Minister Liz Constable said the State Government was building for the future and responding to population growth in burgeoning residential areas. Dr Constable said the new schools would open in 2014, together with the new $8million first stage of Wandina Primary School in Geraldton - a 2008 election commitment. "The State Government is spending $78.2million building new schools and facilities for the future education of children throughout Western Australia," she said. Training fee deal for young people in care ROBYN McSWEENEY 12/03/12 072P6100 Young people in care who enrol in recognised training courses can now have their course fees waived. The move recognises the hardship faced by this vulnerable group and encourages them to achieve job qualifications and a brighter future. Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney announced the program which comes after an agreement between Western Australia's State Training Providers (previously called TAFE) and the Department for Child Protection. ENERGY Environment Minister shows an appalling lack of responsibility by approving fracking ALISON XAMON 6/03/12 066P6302 WA Greens Spokesperson for Water Alison Xamon has condemned the decision by Environment Minister Bill Marmion to support gas fracking in WA without assessment from the Environmental Protection Agency. The comments came after notification by the Minister that he had decided not to uphold an appeal by Ms Xamon to have existing and proposed fracking operations assessed by the EPA. "I remain deeply concerned about the government's complacency in ensuring this emerging industry is properly regulated from the start," Ms Xamon said. "There is increasing concern in the community about the potential adverse effects of fracking for unconventional gas, particularly the risk of chemical contamination of the State's groundwater. 2010/11 Annual Energy Retailer Performance Report ECONOMIC REGULATION AUTHORITY WA 7/03/12 067P6000 The Economic Regulation Authority has called on energy retailers to do more to assist customers avoid disconnections through better application of their hardship policies. The ERA today approved the publication of the 2010/11 Annual Performance Report - Energy Retailers (Energy Retailer Report). The report, which combines the stand-alone electricity and gas retailer performance reports published by the ERA in previous years, highlights a number of key findings by the ERA. Collier missing in action as WA's electricity system worsens BILL JOHNSTON 8/03/12 068P6300 Western Australia's residential electricity disconnection rate has increased by a staggering 169 per cent in just 12 months under the Barnett Government, Shadow Minister for Energy Bill Johnston said. "The latest Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) report revealed one in 100 Synergy customers had their electricity disconnected in 2010/11, an increase of 169 per cent on the previous year," Mr Johnston said. "This places Western Australia with the second highest disconnection rate in the country, shifting from the best performing state in the country to the second worst in just 12 months. WA Political Update – 13 March 2012 4 © CCH Parliament Local engineers win major contract SIMON O'BRIEN 8/03/12 068P6510 Today in State Parliament, Commerce Minister Simon O'Brien announced that WorleyParsons had recently won a contract to provide front end engineering services for Hess's prospective Equus offshore gas project. The multi-million dollar contract adds to the billions of dollars of contracts awarded to local companies since July 2011. "Last July, I announced a 10-point plan to maximise the amount of