LABOR WILL DELIVER ON BERKSHIRE - ROE INTERSECTION

Labor leader Mark McGowan and Forrestfield MP Andrew Waddell today announced that a Labor government would fully fund the Berkshire Road upgrade, at a cost of $14 million dollars.

The funding is the result of lengthy consultation with the community and the Shire of Kalamunda.

Mr Waddell called on the Liberal State Minister, Troy Buswell to also commit to the much-needed upgrades.

“This has been a major issue in the electorate, the intersection is dangerous and it is pushing heavy transport onto our suburban roads. This is a genuine funding commitment and I’m delighted to be able to announce yet another instance of Labor making the eastern suburbs a priority,” he said.

“The community needs it and I’m proud to say that we will deliver it.”

Mr Waddell also called on the Liberals to match Labor’s $14 million commitment in their Budget next month.

“Funding like the upgrade of Berkshire Road shouldn’t be about politics but about priority,” he said.

“Rather than simply focusing on the western suburbs, Colin Barnett and Troy Buswell should make sure that our community gets the money where it is needed, Forrestfield is rapidly growing and needs investment today”

Power Bills

Today we launched a new campaign to help Western Australian’s to see by exactly how much their electricity bills had increased under the Barnett Government. 

You can visit this new website (www.barnettbills.com.au) to calculate how much extra you are paying for electricity compared to three years ago.

It is a myth that the government perpetrates that electricity prices had to rise to this level, the government has chosen to take this decision and it has done it with full knowledge of the pain it creates.

Anzac @ Gosnells

A great turnout in Gosnells for the Anzac ceremony.

Berkshire Road

The new development plans which are due to be passed by the Kalamunda Shire tonight, will make it even more critical that the government addresses the Bershire Rd Roe Highway intersection. We simply cannot afford to have more heavy traffic pouring onto our surburban roads.

Mr Buswell needs to stop ignoring the eastern corridor and recognise that a lot of Perth’s industry is growing here.

Retirement Villages

There has been a lot of interest about the retirement villages legislation lately. A lot of people are rightly concerned about the way the Barnett government is dragging its feet getting this legislation before the parliament. 

A lot of people are angry that their families could be left paying fees for years without any ability to realise the money that is invested in their units because the managers of the retirement villages drag their feet selling the unit.

The Liberal/National government should be ashamed of the way it has abandoned seniors in this manner.

Hoons

I have had ongoing complaints about Hoon behavior throughout the electorate. I have spoken to the local police about it, and while they try to follow up with everything that is reported, they tell me that the biggest problem is that people often don’t report the behavior. 

So I have had some hoon report cards printed up, that you can fill in and send back to me, whenever you come across any hooning behaviour. They are available in my office, or drop me an email at andrew.waddell@mp.wa.gov.au and I will be happy to drop some off to you. 

Barnett Government says ‘no’ to plastic bag ban

  

The Barnett Government’s decision to throw out WA Labor’s legislation to ban plastic bag is a major blow for waste management in WA.

Labor’s Plastic Shopping Bags (Waste Avoidance) Bill was introduced into Parliament in 2010. This was Western Australia’s opportunity to put in place a ban on plastic bags.

People threw their support behind this initiative to phase out plastic bags.

Only a fraction of single use plastic bags are currently recycled, meaning billions of bags end up littering our beaches, parks, and roadsides.

They ruin the visual amenity of our public spaces, present a dangerous hazard to wildlife and are a real menace when they get sucked up into boat engines and the like.

Despite acknowledging that plastic bag litter is a major environmental problem, the Barnett Government has decided taking action to help the environment is not necessary.

The community has every right to feel frustrated and saddened by the Barnett Government’s decision not to support the legislation.

Like most people, WA Labor believes it’s time for action.

WA Labor believes doing nothing is simply not an option and will not give up its campaign to ban plastic bags.

People can show their support for WA Labor’s push to ban plastic bags by signing a petition in my office or can download a petition here, and return to my office at PO Box 2269 High Wycombe, 6057.

Corymbia Festival opens way for local action

This years Corymbia Festival was a huge success with a large crowd turning up to join in the festivities.

The warmer weather did not deter people turning up in large numbers to participate in this wonderful event, which is growing in popularity every year. 

This year I invited along WA Labor Leader Mark McGowan and members of the WA Labor Shadow Cabinet to attend the festival to meet locals and discuss issues in the Forrestfield electorate, and to highlight where investment is needed in our community. 

With an election forthcoming next year I wanted to show the Shadow Cabinet around, get them to meet locals and show them what our community needs into the future. 

I recieved a positive response from everyone, and look forward to delivering some solid plans for the electorate. 

Mr McGowan commented on how the Forrestfield community is expanding but sadly continues to be neglected by the Barnett government. 

The Barnett Government has ignored the needs of communities such as Forrestfield, instead focusing on big projects in the Perth CBD. 

WA Labor is committed to improving local communities and the creation of a portfolio dedicated to the suburbs is a reflection of Labor’s commitment to improving the areas in which people live. 

Homeswest tenants urged to report problems

I am urging local Homeswest tenants to come forward if they have experienced delays or other problems with maintenance on their properties. I am extremely concerned there may be many Homeswest tenants that are being forced to wait months for important repairs. 

In a rich state, it is unacceptable that tenants should be forced to wait this long, or have substandard work carried out on their properties. 

Please contact my office on 9454 6415 or email forrestfield@mp.wa.gov.au if you have experienced any of these delays. 

Minister clueless on road safety

Road Safety Minister Rob Johnson has failed to respond to community concerns about hooning and dangerous driving along Sorensen Road in High Wycombe. 

I held a street meeting with Sorensen Road residents in December to discuss concerns and ideas for possible solutions to the problem. The meeting was also attended by Shire of Kalamundaa representatives. 

The evidence of hooning was plain to see, so I made an undertaking to residents to highlight the issue to the Minister and requested temport CCTV be installed to capture footage of the hoons in action. 

CCTV cameras were installed between Christmas and New Years Day but they failed to capture any evidence of hoon behaviour, despite residents witnessing it. 

Clearly the technology used in this instance was not adequate. I have questioned the Minister directly about this as well as the positioning of the cameras and if they are able to capture hoon behaviour at night. 

Residents have repeatedly reported dangerous driving along Sorensen Road, including some instances of damaged property. One one occasion a driver mounted a curb and ended up in a resident’s front garden.

Since the CCTV cameras were removed there has ben no effort by the Minister or his department to follow up with the concerns in the community and it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured.

The Shire of Kalamunda instructed Main Roads provide line marking to the road to encourage better driver behaviour. This is a step in the right direction but more needs to be done to make the road safer for users and residents. The Minister must explain how he will address hooning and dangerous driving on Sorensen Road.