Mr Speaker, I rise today to outline the Liberal National Government's agenda for this Parliamentary year. 

Today will also mark the final Premier’s Statement for this term of Government.

On behalf of Members on this side of the House, I congratulate the Member for Rockingham on his elevation to the position of Leader of the Opposition and wish him well.  Though I stop short of wishing him success.  I also acknowledge the Member for Belmont and his contribution to the State and to the Parliament. 

Liberal National Government
No government is perfect and no government should be lulled into complacency by its own achievements.  The Liberal National Government is extremely proud of what it has achieved over the past three and a half years.  We are determined to do more. 

Despite being a minority government, this has been a cohesive government.  It has also been a good government - one characterised by honesty and integrity and, above all, one that has made decisions. Some of those decisions have been hard and some have been unpopular, but all have been made for the right reasons and in the best interests of Western Australians. 

This is also a government of common sense and pragmatism.  We do not implement unnecessary reviews, set up superfluous committees or call for more reports.  We accept the responsibility of government to implement good policy and to deal with circumstances as they arise, whether it be:
• introducing a payroll tax rebate to help small businesses through the Global Financial Crisis;
• the clean-up of pollution in Esperance;
• financial support following the Toodyay fires;
• rebuilding the community of Warmun in just three months after devastating floods;
• promptly establishing an inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse at St Andrew’s Hostel at Katanning;
• dealing directly with Indonesia on Western Australia’s live cattle trade; or
• increasing aerial patrols to protect beach goers.

And, like previous Liberal National Governments, we have proven our ability to ‘think big’, get on with major projects, resolve long standing issues and implement fundamental reform. 

This is a defining decade in the State’s history.  It is an opportunity not to be missed. The Government is building both the economic and social infrastructure needed for this and future generations.

Right across the State, major projects that will transform the economy are planned and underway: Ord River Stage Two; the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects; major iron ore expansions; and deep water ports at Oakajee and Anketell. Other projects will improve our quality of life: Perth City Link; the waterfront; a new children’s hospital; a new major stadium; and Pilbara Cities.

Western Australia’s agricultural sector continues to innovate and grow, with a record grain harvest of more than 15 million tonnes this year, the completion of the Muchea livestock centre, construction underway on the Katanning saleyards, and the commercial cultivation of GM canola.

No other State comes close to matching what is happening in Western Australia.

We are also leading the nation through significant reform in education and health.
 
At the beginning of this school year, 73 more schools became Independent Public Schools, bringing the total to 171.   These school principals and local school communities are empowered with more authority to manage their schools, and tailor teaching and learning in the best interests of their students.  This is a true revolution in education and one that is being copied by other States and the Federal Government.

The four hour rule, put in place in Western Australian hospital emergency departments by this Government, is also now being implemented across the country.  A recent independent report showed that 80 lives had been saved in three major Perth hospitals where the four hour rule was in place.

The appointment of Western Australia’s first Mental Health Minister, followed by the establishment of Australia’s first Mental Health Commission, has at last recognised the needs of this long neglected area of health care.

The Government has also made the very conscious decision to invest in the community sector.  In another Australian-first, the Liberal National Government is increasing funding to the not for profit sector by 25 per cent - a measure of this Government’s commitment to those most in need in our community. An additional $604 million is being distributed to around 500 groups such as the Salvation Army, Anglicare, the Autism Association and Rocky Bay, to improve salaries for workers and services to people with a disability, those suffering with physical or mental illnesses, disadvantaged youth and families who are experiencing difficulties.

I am proud of the Liberal National Government’s commitment to resolving long-standing native title matters.  This month, the Government made an in-principle offer to resolve all native title claims in Perth and the south west.

This settlement offer is unique in that it covers multiple claims over the largest area of land of any other native title negotiation in Australia. 

But more than that, this agreement will formally acknowledge, in this Parliament, the Noongar people as original inhabitants and traditional owners of the land of the south west of Western Australia.   It is a significant step in the reconciliation process.
As with the agreement reached with the Kimberley Land Council on the development of a gas precinct at James Price Point, this agreement has the potential to give Aboriginal people a real opportunity for economic prosperity, improved health and education outcomes, and self-determination.

It is disappointing that Commonwealth support for this historic initiative now seems unlikely. 

The Liberal National Government is honouring its commitment to be a caring and compassionate government, not with grand gestures but with practical responses that make real improvements to people’s lives. 

Legislative Agenda
This session’s legislative agenda continues the Liberal National Government’s determination to resolve long-running and sometimes divisive issues, and set up the State for the future.

Today, the Government has given notice for a Bill to amend the Retail Trading Hours Act, to at last give Sunday shopping to all the people of Perth.  This is expected to apply from August this year.

The Bill will provide for Sunday trading between 11am and 5pm for General Retail Shops across the metropolitan area.

This will include retailers such as Coles, Woolworths, Ikea, Harvey Norman, Target, K-Mart and many other chain stores and smaller retailers.  Trading hours for all other retailers, including small retail shops such as IGAs, hardware stores, pharmacies, car yards and petrol stations will not change.  

Mr Speaker, the Liberal National Government is committed to ensuring future generations of Western Australians have a legacy from this historic period of economic development, built predominantly on the significant but finite resources available to us at present. 

The Treasurer will announce details of a Future Fund as part of the forthcoming State Budget and will introduce legislation to establish the Fund later this year.

The Integrity (Lobbyists) Bill will give statutory powers to regulate the activities of lobbyists.  This will prevent a repeat of the scandals of past years, which so damaged the State’s reputation.

The Prostitution Bill will give protection to our suburbs and towns and help stop the exploitation of young women.  For many members, this Bill will raise both ethical and moral issues. It is for that reason that every Member in this Parliament should be free to vote according to their conscience, as members of the Parliamentary Liberal Party are free to do.

The Liberal National Government makes no apologies for its tough law and order agenda, increasing penalties for anti-social and criminal activity that threaten the safety and security of Western Australian communities.  As promised, the Government will this year target organised crime.  The Criminal Organisations Control Bill will dismantle outlaw bikie gangs that profit from organised criminal activity, particularly in the drug trade.  This will complement action we have taken on drugs including:
• repealing Labor’s ‘soft’ cannabis laws;
• tougher penalties for people who sell drugs to children or put them in danger through the manufacture of drugs; and
• banning synthetic cannabis and the psychoactive drug MDPV.

The Government will also introduce amendments to the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) Act, which will extend the CCC’s power’s to investigate organised crime. 

The improvement of services for the mentally ill in our community has been a priority for this Government and that will continue with the introduction of a new Mental Health Bill, which will significantly strengthen the rights of individual patients in the mental health system and help to de-stigmatise mental illness.  Among other things, the Bill will enshrine a charter of rights, provide for more appropriate transport of mental health patients and ensure involuntary patients are better supported.

This Government has also addressed another complex but important issue in the Evidence and Public Interest Disclosure Legislation Amendment Bill. ‘Shield laws’ will provide protection for journalists and ‘whistleblowers’, and others who deal with confidential information.

As Members are aware, Western Australia has experienced a number of natural disasters in recent times, including fires at Toodyay, in the Perth Hills and Margaret River, and floods in the Gascoyne and the Kimberley. 

As a result of the Perth Hills Bushfire Review, undertaken by Mr Mick Keelty, the Liberal National Government will make the biggest change in emergency management since the establishment of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) in 1999.  We will introduce legislation to restructure FESA to become a government department and create the position of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner. Later this week, I will table Mr Keelty’s report into the Margaret River fires and outline the Government’s response to that report.

We will progress a Bill to rename Foundation Day to Western Australia Day, which will help broaden the relevance and appeal of the celebration of our State in June each year.  The day will still mark the foundation of the Swan River settlement, but it will be more inclusive of all Western Australians, including Aboriginal people and those who have migrated from countries all over the world.

Mr Speaker, the purpose of the Liberal National Government’s legislative agenda over the past three and a half years and again this year has been simple - to make Western Australia a better, fairer and safer place to live.  I believe we have had success.  But there is more to do.

Economy and Finance
In spite of some better economic news out of America, the effects of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008 linger on.  And now there is a renewed crisis of debt and confidence in Europe.  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is warning of another possible global downturn and expects the Eurozone to go into a mild recession in 2012. 

Australia did do better than other nations in weathering the GFC storm.  But the options for future action are limited.  The state of the Federal Budget rules out any repeat of the stimulus package of 2008-09 and the capacity of the Reserve Bank to come to the rescue through lower interest rates is not what it used to be.  Just two weeks ago we saw anticipation of a cut in official interest rates overwhelmed by market conditions that saw rates actually rise.

There is no longer a ‘quick fix’ available and there is no superficial alternative to improving the fundamental productivity and competitiveness of the Australian economy. 

A popular counter view is to put our faith in China and the mining industry.  That may work for Western Australia, but it won’t work for Australia as a whole.  And it won’t work for vulnerable industries including manufacturing and retail. Important as China is, it does not provide a solution for the national economy.  If anything, it conceals underlying problems, creates a false sense of comfort and deflects policy away from the real issues.  From an Australian perspective, that is the ‘China fallacy’.

Already, we have seen hundreds of jobs lost, mostly on the east coast: Pacific Clothing; Bluescope Steel; Heinz; Toyota; Mortein; Qantas; Air Australia; and Billabong.  These industries are suffering under the combined influence of global uncertainty, a higher Australian dollar, rising costs and low consumer confidence.  Unfortunately, it is likely that for many Australians, 2012 will be about simply holding onto their jobs.

Mr Speaker, that is why the Liberal National Government rejects the notion of a ‘boom’ and the false expectations such language can lead to.

Nevertheless, Western Australia is better placed than the rest of Australia when it comes to jobs. In the last six months, employment in Western Australia has grown by more than 23,000 jobs, while for the rest of Australia jobs growth was less than 2,500.

That is not simply a result of luck or good fortune.  The State has grasped the opportunity by pushing ahead with major private and public sector projects.  The $138 billion of resource projects committed or already under construction and the $169 billion under serious consideration, along with $27.5 billion of government capital works over the next four years ensures our immediate future. 

But this cannot continue as it is.  While there are more people in training in Western Australia than ever before as a result of 21,000 additional training places and new training facilities provided by the Liberal National Government, a shortage of skilled labour means that there is a limit to how much construction activity can occur at any one time.  It is also difficult for both economic and social infrastructure to keep up, in spite of projects such as Pilbara Cities and the new hospitals being built. 

This constraint is further compounded by last week’s revised population forecast of an additional 750,000 Western Australians by the middle of the next decade.

Unless something changes, the crunch will come on State Government finances.  The people of Western Australia know we are being short-changed in the carve up of Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues.

Last year, we received 72 cents back for every dollar paid in GST.  The big States of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland all received over 90 cents in the dollar back.  It is a bizarre system that penalises Western Australia for having a successful mining industry, while at the same time rewards other States for their reliance on gambling revenue.  The message is all wrong! 

State Treasury forecasts are that our share of GST revenues will fall below 50 cents in the dollar by 2013-14 and could be as low as 36 cents in the dollar by 2014-15.  This will see us lose $12 billion in revenue to 2014-15, or even more if recent reports that our GST share will fall to 55 cents in the dollar next year are true.  The Commonwealth just doesn’t care. 
By anyone’s measure this scenario is unfair, unrealistic and unsustainable. It is forcing the State into an over reliance on debt to fund infrastructure and services.

It can’t go on.  Despite the fact that Western Australia is clearly the powerhouse driving the nation’s economy – we have the highest forecast growth in the country - rising state debt is the constraint on our economic growth. Western Australia accepts it can make a net contribution to other States and asks only for a floor of 75 cents in the dollar for our share of GST revenues.  We’re not asking for a special deal, we’re only asking for a fair deal. For Western Australia, fixing the GST is the number one issue in Federal-State relations.

Fiscal Management
In spite of this, the Liberal National Government will maintain a disciplined approach to fiscal management to ensure that we stay 'in the black' by maintaining budget surpluses.

Since coming to government, we have slowed expenses growth, which peaked at more than 13 per cent under Labor, by placing a cap on the size of the public service, implementing a fair but consistent government wages policy, and cutting government spending in areas such as advertising and the government car fleet. 

The Government has also removed hundreds of boards and committees that are no longer relevant, saving taxpayers' money on member fees and administration, and cutting down on regulation.
A five per cent efficiency dividend on Government Trading Enterprises (GTEs) has reduced expenditure on consultants and resulted in better management of contracts, which will save more than half a billion dollars over the next four years. 

The Government is determined to do more to reduce waste and duplication, and to ease the regulatory burden on business and the wider community.  Already we have:
• approved 333 voluntary redundancies in the public sector;
• cut planning and environmental approval timeframes, while maintaining the right balance between development and protection of the environment;
• introduced a Lead Agency Framework for major projects;
• established Development Assessment Panels to make approvals processes more consistent and transparent;
• replaced multiple redevelopment authorities across Perth with the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority;
• cut red tape for licensees and managers of bars and pubs; and
• made certification processes for building and renovating houses more efficient.

But there is still more to do. A Liberal National Government will this year introduce Repeal Day, providing an annual opportunity for the Parliament to specifically focus on repealing or removing obsolete Acts, or irrelevant or superfluous boards and committees created by statute.

Cost of Living
Mr Speaker, Members may be aware of a report released last week showing that Perth was the world’s 12th most expensive city, ahead of cities like New York, London and Hong Kong. 

The Liberal National Government recognises that living in Western Australia is expensive.  When it comes to cost of living, the focus is usually electricity prices.  Increasing the price of electricity for households and businesses has been one of the most difficult and probably most unpopular decisions this Government has made.      

The recent increases have been necessary to ‘catch up’, after the previous Labor Government’s irresponsible decision to freeze electricity prices, following the split up of Western Power.

Even with the increases of past years, the reality is that the cost of delivering electricity in this State is about 30 per cent more than what people pay for it. And electricity is cheaper in Western Australia than in any other State except Queensland.

Nevertheless, this Government recognises that increases in electricity prices, coupled with other cost of living pressures, are being felt by Western Australian households.  The State Government does provide assistance, rebates and subsidies to assist those people having difficulty paying bills. There are also a range of discounts for seniors on water rates, local government rates, the Emergency Services Levy and drivers’ licences. These have been provided by successive State Governments. 

But the Liberal National Government has introduced a number of other assistance measures, in particular to assist seniors in the community, many of whom are on fixed incomes and are affected more than most when the cost of food, utilities and transport increase.  These include:
• the annual seniors Cost of Living Rebate;
• the Country Aged Pension Fuel Card;
• the security rebate; and
• free public transport for seniors between 9am and 3.30pm during the week and all day on weekends and public holidays. 

Over 2000 low to moderate income households will be given a hand getting on to the property ladder over the next two years through the Government’s Shared Equity Scheme, which will give singles on less than $70,000 and couples on less than $90,000 the opportunity to purchase a range of properties through the Department of Housing.

To help families, this Government has recently introduced the $10 million ‘Kids Sports’ initiative, which pays the fees for those children who would not otherwise be able to join a club to play their favourite sport. 

Mr Speaker, this Government recognises that families, particularly young families, are the group in the community that are feeling cost of living pressures more than most.  The Liberal National Government is looking at this issue carefully, with the view to targeting assistance at this group in the forthcoming State Budget.

Mining and Petroleum
Mr Speaker, the Liberal National Government takes very seriously the responsibility it has to ensure that the benefits of a strong economy are shared more widely. 

Of course, there is no more successful illustration of how the benefits of a growing economy can benefit the broader community than the Government’s Royalties for Regions program.  Across Western Australia, the Liberal National Government is working with local communities to deliver better services and build infrastructure in the regions, where most of the wealth of this state is generated.

As we all know, mining and petroleum is driving the transformation of our economy.  The figures speak for themselves: the value of mining and petroleum production exceeds $100 billion; and almost 20 per cent of the revenue received by the State Government comes from mining royalties.

This Government has made decisions to ensure that the revenue generated by the resources sector is used wisely and in the long term interests of the State. 

Already, more than half a billion dollars has been allocated to the new children’s hospital, including $350m from BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto as a one off payment following amendments to State Agreements.

Last year’s strong budget surplus, driven predominantly by increased  revenue from increased mining royalties, also provided the opportunity to set aside $100 million for the new major stadium at the Burswood Peninsula.  At the start of the 2018 football season, the Western Australian public will be watching the Eagles or Dockers - or both if we can convince the AFL of a Round 1 western derby - in a world class stadium.  In contrast, members opposite are opposed to the stadium at Burswood and want it at Subiaco or East Perth: a move that would deny Western Australians a new stadium this decade. 

Jobs
The Liberal National Government has made it a priority that there is a high level of local participation in the contracts flowing from major projects. Since July last year, when the Government released its revamped local content policy, over $14 billion worth of contracts have been awarded to 63 local companies, to work on resource projects.  This will result in thousands of jobs for Western Australians.

Mining Tax, Carbon Tax
Unfortunately, the continued flow of jobs from a growing resources sector does face some risks, in the form of the Federal Government’s mining tax and carbon tax. 

Mr Speaker, Western Australians can rest assured that the Liberal National Government will stand firm in its total opposition to both the mining tax, 65 per cent of which will come from Western Australia, and the inefficient carbon tax, which will add to the cost of living for all Western Australians. 

Both taxes will cost jobs. The mining tax is jeopardising the emergence of the magnetite iron ore industry in Western Australia.  Already Alcoa has shelved its Wagerup refinery expansion plans, and the jobs that go with it, citing the uncertainty created by the carbon tax. 
 
CHOGM and Asia
Despite the risks created by the Commonwealth and the damage to Australia’s reputation, the Liberal National Government has projected a confident, ‘can do’ attitude to the world.  This was never more evident than at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October last year. 

While some Members opposite derided CHOGM, the Liberal National Government and the Western Australian community embraced this once in a generation opportunity to showcase our state to the world. 

The direct economic impact of this event was $80 million additional expenditure, not to mention the global media coverage of CHOGM and the Royal Visit, the boost to tourism, and the business opportunities that flowed from the Commonwealth Business Forum. In anyone's estimation, that was a meeting worth hosting!

CHOGM also provided us with a great opportunity to further strengthen relationships with the growing economies of Asia and the Indian Ocean Rim, to which our economy is so closely tied.

In recognition of our strong links with the region, the Government will shortly open a Western Australian Trade Office in Singapore, a country with which Western Australia has a long and special relationship. 

Transformation of Perth
The Liberal National Government is using the transformation of our economy to undertake the greatest transformation of Perth since Federation.  Unfortunately, the last 100 years has seen the Perth CBD evolve in a fragmented fashion.  The time for Perth to mature into a sophisticated city befitting its importance as Australia’s west coast city and gateway to the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean rim is now. 
 
For too long the city has turned its back on the river.  The Perth waterfront project will bring the river back into the heart of the city. Demolition work, construction of jetties, and work around the freeway on ramps and William Street will start in April. 

Just as the waterfront project will reconnect the southern fringe of the CBD with the river, the Perth City Link project will reconnect the northern side of the CBD with Northbridge – a link that has been severed by the rail line for 100 years.

The visual blight of the rail line and the bus station will be removed.  Commuters, pedestrians and visitors will have better connection between the city and Northbridge, and be able to enjoy a large city square. 

Construction of the tunnels is proceeding, as is work above ground around Milligan Street area, including landscaping of the public plazas between the Perth Arena and the old Entertainment Centre site.

Other projects in Perth include:
• the redevelopment of the Cultural Centre, including the upgrade of the Art Gallery;
• a new residential, commercial and retail precinct adjacent to the WACA; 
• the creation of a heritage precinct around St Georges Cathedral;
• the completion of the Perth Arena;
• geo technical and master planning for the major stadium;
• the redevelopment of Perth Oval as a rugby and soccer stadium; and
• a new State Netball Centre at Matthews, which will begin later this year.

Transport
One of the more obvious impacts of rapid population growth is the pressure placed on transport systems.  In Perth alone, the number of people using public transport will double in the next two decades. 

The Government:
• is increasing the capacity on the existing rail network through the purchase of new trains;
• providing an additional 3,000 parking bays at train stations along the Mandurah and Joondalup train lines;
• has committed to the biggest bus service boost in a decade with a 30 per cent increase in services by 2015-16; and
• is easing freeway congestion with the widening of the Kwinana Freeway underway and construction of a third lane to the northbound section of the Mitchell Freeway beginning later this year.

We will continue to look at ways to address issues affecting freeway users, including the extension of the Mitchell freeway further north and options for a light rail system that will provide an alternative for the estimated 30,000 people from the  central northern suburbs, who currently drive west to get onto the freeway.

In regional areas, the Liberal National Government has committed $104 million to upgrading more than 480 kilometres of road.  We are also investing more than $350 million in the grain freight network, which will lower costs for farmers, as well as take more heavy vehicles off narrow country roads, making them safer. 

It is a tragic fact that over half of road deaths in this state occur on country roads.  While the road toll has reduced since 2008, the Liberal National Government is determined to do all it can to continue to reduce road trauma. 

That is why this Government made the decision to allocate all  revenue from speed cameras and red light infringements to the Road Trauma Trust Fund.  This effectively triples funding for road safety. 

Social Agenda
Mr Speaker, I spoke earlier about the Government’s decision to provide the not-for-profit sector with a 25 per cent increase in funding.  This was a significant social dividend from the state’s growing economy, which acknowledged that not all sectors of the community share the state’s growing prosperity.

There will be other important social dividends from this growth this year.

Education
There is no more important a job than ensuring every child, no matter what their circumstances, can achieve their potential.  Education is the key to this.

The critical years for learning are the early years.  The former Coalition Government recognised this, providing access for all children to kindergarten and pre-primary programs at local primary schools, and changing the school starting age. 
This Government has strengthened the commitment to early childhood education by starting formal literacy and numeracy learning in pre-primary.  And we will introduce legislation this year to make pre-primary compulsory.

There is still room for improvement in closing the gap between potential and performance for some children in the early years. 

We will shortly provide the details of our previously announced plan to co-locate children and family services on school and other community sites, particularly in low socio-economic areas.  These centres will provide services such as immunisation, child health nurses, occupational and speech therapy, and parenting programs in an integrated way, providing local solutions to local problems.  Like the successful Independent Public Schools program, there will not be a ‘one size fits all’ model.

In 2012, the Government will also focus on improving facilities at secondary schools throughout Western Australia.  Planning for year 7 becoming the first year of secondary schooling is underway, including assessing the requirements for additional facilities at high schools.  The implications of this significant reform for every secondary school and their feeder primary schools will be examined in detail, and school communities will be consulted, with an emphasis on support for rural communities.

The Government is on track to have an additional 115 public schools air cooled by the middle of this year, as part of our commitment to ensure all schools have air cooling by 2014.

The Liberal National Government has worked hard to improve the standards of government schools across the state.  Student numbers at government schools have grown under this Government, following no real growth under Labor.  Of course, quality teachers are critical to raising standards and the Liberal National Government has demonstrated it values our teachers by making them the highest paid teachers in the country. 

Health
This Government has embarked upon the biggest hospital capital works program in State’s history, with more than $1.5 billion allocated in this year’s State Budget.

In Perth, the construction of the new children’s hospital is underway, and Fiona Stanley Hospital is proceeding on time and on budget.  The Joondalup Health Campus is being expanded, and building of the Midland Health Campus will start by the middle of the year.

We are delivering:
• a new Albany Health Campus;
• the redevelopment of Kalgoorlie Health Campus;
• a new Busselton Health Campus ; and
• upgrades at hospitals in Karratha, Carnarvon, Esperance and Exmouth Health Clinic.

Through the Government’s Royalties for Regions program, more than half a billion dollars is being injected into healthcare in the southern inland region of the State, to get more GPs into country towns and upgrade large and small hospitals and nursing posts.  Already, six towns now have access to a doctor following a recruitment campaign as part of the Southern Inland Health Initiative.

In line with our commitment to the early years of children’s learning and development and following the valuable report ‘Invest Now or Pay Later’ by this House’s Education and Health Committee, the Liberal National Government has employed an additional 45 specialists in child therapy services.  This initiative is already making a significant difference: waiting times for speech pathology have fallen by 42 per cent; occupational therapy by 46 per cent; physiotherapy by 42 per cent; and clinical psychology by 30 per cent.

Environment
Arguably, the most important social dividend of this period of economic growth, is to ensure the protection of the state’s unique environment for future generations. 

The Government has allocated $63 million to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy, the centrepiece of which is the creation of the State’s largest interconnected system of marine and terrestrial parks, including four new marine parks and the Prince Regent National Park.

In addition, the Government has started developing and upgrading camping facilities throughout the Kimberley, including at the Bungle Bungles.  This will be extended throughout the state, to improve access to and facilities in our national parks so more Western Australians and visitors can enjoy our unique environmental diversity. 

The Liberal National Government is committed to ensuring there is a balance between responsible economic activity and sustainable environmental outcomes.  We will be rightly judged on our record. 

The decision just this month to reject a proposal to build a coal mine near Margaret River demonstrates this.  The unique environmental, viticultural and tourism values of the region cannot be compromised, and the Government will implement the most stringent planning framework possible to protect it from all forms of high impact mining.

Conclusion
Mr Speaker, I am sure Members of this House would agree that we are living in difficult times.  The Global Financial Crisis has generated a sense of insecurity, now heightened by the economic instability in Europe. 

And trust in governments and respect for their legitimacy, are at fairly low levels, even in Australia.

All this makes the task of government that bit harder. Now, more than ever, government has a responsibility to show leadership, stability, decisiveness and confidence. 

The Liberal National Government is responding to the challenges before us by doing just that.  We have steered the economy with a watchful eye and a steady hand through difficult economic times, nationally and internationally. 

Our strong growth forecasts, positive budget position, low unemployment, massive investment pipeline and triple A credit rating mean Western Australia is in a much stronger position than most to weather any wider economic downturn, protect jobs and support those who need assistance.

Just as the gold rush years of the 1890s and the development of the Pilbara in the 1960s transformed the state, this moment in our State’s history will define our future.  The Liberal National Government is committed to making Western Australia a better, fairer and safer place to live.  Our work, and the work of all Members in this Parliament, is an important part of realising that commitment. 

I wish Members well for the forthcoming Parliamentary year.