WA Environment Minister reports on a meeting where states successfully opposed Commonwealth proposals regarding wind farms and a tobacco-sponsored anti-smoking campaign. States asserted their right to legislate against nuclear activities, a stance the WA government strongly supports.

AnsweredQoN 415Legislative Assembly
Asked
27 June 2006
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

NUCLEAR ENERGY
I welcome to Parliament the students from Greenwood Senior High School. Last week the minister attended a meeting of state and commonwealth environment ministers at which the issue of nuclear energy was raised. Can the minister explain the outcomes of that discussion and the implications for Western Australia? Mr M. McGOWAN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. It is true that last Friday I attended a national meeting of environment ministers in Sydney chaired by Senator Campbell, who is much loved by members opposite. Having watched him chair the meeting, I can understand why half the number of members opposite loathe him and the other half have some political form of the Stockholm syndrome from which they are all suffering. I am pleased to report to Parliament that the states were successful in defeating the commonwealth’s proposals for a national anti-wind farm code. I am also pleased to report that we were successful in defeating the commonwealth’s proposal for a national day of action on smoking sponsored by tobacco companies. Members will be interested to know that the states joined forces in reiterating states’ rights. We told the commonwealth that if we legislate concerning activities that occur on land in our state, particularly nuclear activities, we expect that legislation to be respected by the commonwealth. A unanimous motion was passed by the states that state laws outlawing nuclear activities within each state’s boundaries should be respected by the commonwealth. Last night Dr Denis Jensen, the Liberal member for Tangney, who advocates a nuclear power station being built within his electorate, held a public forum within his electorate with a view to educating his constituents. The forum was attended by Sir Charles Court, who advocated that a nuclear power station be built in the electorates of the members for Moore and Peel. The government has news for Mr Jensen: this state government will not tolerate any effort by the commonwealth to establish nuclear power facilities in Western Australia. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Capel.
Last week the minister attended a meeting of state and commonwealth environment ministers at which the issue of nuclear energy was raised. Can the minister explain the outcomes of that discussion and the implications for Western Australia? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. It is true that last Friday I attended a national meeting of environment ministers in Sydney chaired by Senator Campbell, who is much loved by members opposite. Having watched him chair the meeting, I can understand why half the number of members opposite loathe him and the other half have some political form of the Stockholm syndrome from which they are all suffering. I am pleased to report to Parliament that the states were successful in defeating the commonwealth’s proposals for a national anti-wind farm code. I am also pleased to report that we were successful in defeating the commonwealth’s proposal for a national day of action on smoking sponsored by tobacco companies. Members will be interested to know that the states joined forces in reiterating states’ rights. We told the commonwealth that if we legislate concerning activities that occur on land in our state, particularly nuclear activities, we expect that legislation to be respected by the commonwealth. A unanimous motion was passed by the states that state laws outlawing nuclear activities within each state’s boundaries should be respected by the commonwealth. Last night Dr Denis Jensen, the Liberal member for Tangney, who advocates a nuclear power station being built within his electorate, held a public forum within his electorate with a view to educating his constituents. The forum was attended by Sir Charles Court, who advocated that a nuclear power station be built in the electorates of the members for Moore and Peel. The government has news for Mr Jensen: this state government will not tolerate any effort by the commonwealth to establish nuclear power facilities in Western Australia. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Capel.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. It is true that last Friday I attended a national meeting of environment ministers in Sydney chaired by Senator Campbell, who is much loved by members opposite. Having watched him chair the meeting, I can understand why half the number of members opposite loathe him and the other half have some political form of the Stockholm syndrome from which they are all suffering. I am pleased to report to Parliament that the states were successful in defeating the commonwealth’s proposals for a national anti-wind farm code. I am also pleased to report that we were successful in defeating the commonwealth’s proposal for a national day of action on smoking sponsored by tobacco companies. Members will be interested to know that the states joined forces in reiterating states’ rights. We told the commonwealth that if we legislate concerning activities that occur on land in our state, particularly nuclear activities, we expect that legislation to be respected by the commonwealth. A unanimous motion was passed by the states that state laws outlawing nuclear activities within each state’s boundaries should be respected by the commonwealth. Last night Dr Denis Jensen, the Liberal member for Tangney, who advocates a nuclear power station being built within his electorate, held a public forum within his electorate with a view to educating his constituents. The forum was attended by Sir Charles Court, who advocated that a nuclear power station be built in the electorates of the members for Moore and Peel. The government has news for Mr Jensen: this state government will not tolerate any effort by the commonwealth to establish nuclear power facilities in Western Australia. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Capel.
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. It is true that last Friday I attended a national meeting of environment ministers in Sydney chaired by Senator Campbell, who is much loved by members opposite. Having watched him chair the meeting, I can understand why half the number of members opposite loathe him and the other half have some political form of the Stockholm syndrome from which they are all suffering. I am pleased to report to Parliament that the states were successful in defeating the commonwealth’s proposals for a national anti-wind farm code. I am also pleased to report that we were successful in defeating the commonwealth’s proposal for a national day of action on smoking sponsored by tobacco companies. Members will be interested to know that the states joined forces in reiterating states’ rights. We told the commonwealth that if we legislate concerning activities that occur on land in our state, particularly nuclear activities, we expect that legislation to be respected by the commonwealth. A unanimous motion was passed by the states that state laws outlawing nuclear activities within each state’s boundaries should be respected by the commonwealth. Last night Dr Denis Jensen, the Liberal member for Tangney, who advocates a nuclear power station being built within his electorate, held a public forum within his electorate with a view to educating his constituents. The forum was attended by Sir Charles Court, who advocated that a nuclear power station be built in the electorates of the members for Moore and Peel. The government has news for Mr Jensen: this state government will not tolerate any effort by the commonwealth to establish nuclear power facilities in Western Australia. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Capel.
Last night Dr Denis Jensen, the Liberal member for Tangney, who advocates a nuclear power station being built within his electorate, held a public forum within his electorate with a view to educating his constituents. The forum was attended by Sir Charles Court, who advocated that a nuclear power station be built in the electorates of the members for Moore and Peel. The government has news for Mr Jensen: this state government will not tolerate any effort by the commonwealth to establish nuclear power facilities in Western Australia. Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Capel.
Dr S.C. Thomas interjected. The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Capel.
The SPEAKER : I call to order the member for Capel.

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