Reports and Submissions

Clean coal mission

The WA Government has released the WA report of a 23-member Australian mission to the United States and Canada in October 2001 to investigate clean coal technology.

Copies of the report and executive summary are available from www.energy.wa.gov.au.

Fishing in WA

The WA Government has released a report on the future management of WA’s commercial and recreational fisheries. This report – the Integrated Fisheries Management Review Committee Report - is available from www.fish.wa.gov.au. Submissions can be made until February 28.

Fitness code of practice

The State Government and industry body Fitness WA plan to establish an industry code of practice. Submissions in response to a discussion paper towards this end are invited until April 30. The paper is available from www.docep.wa.gov.au or 1300 30 40 54.

Gorgon field ESE review

Public submissions are invited in response to an environmental, social and economic review prepared by ChevronTexaco on behalf of the Gorgon joint venture partners, seeking access to Barrow Island for a processing facility to support the development of the Gorgon gas field.

Copies of the review are available from 9216 4000 and from gorgon.info@chevrontexaco.com.

The document is also available for viewing at www.gorgon.com.au, the Department of Environmental Protection Library, Department of Industry and Resources Libraries, the Ashburton Shire Council in Onslow, Karratha Community Library, the Battye Library and Environment Australia Library. Submissions can be made until March 24.

Meat Processing Taskforce

This WA Government taskforce is seeking submissions from interested parties regarding strategies for boosting the long-term viability of the meat processing sector. Written submissions can be sent to the Executive Officer, Meat Processing Taskforce, Department of Agriculture. Further information is available from Wim Burggraff, on 9368 3150.

Closing date for submissions is March 7.

Metropolitan Region Scheme

The proposal to remove the Fremantle Eastern Bypass from the Metropolitan Region Scheme has been opened for public comment until February 21.

Mining safety review

Former Australian Industrial Relations Commissioner Robert Laing has completed a report following his review of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. Public comment on this report, available from www.mpr.wa.gov.au, is invited until March 7.

Multi-Peril Crop Insurance taskforce report

The WA Government last week released the report, by chairman Ross Bowe and taskforce members, to key stakeholders. A full public release is expected this week.

National Park draft boundaries

Draft boundaries for the proposed Boyndaminup National Park near Lake Muir east of Manjimup have been released for public comment. The proposed park is one of 30 new national parks the State Government is creating under its Protecting Our Old-Growth Forests Policy. A map showing the proposed boundaries is available from the www.naturebase.net.

Regional policy statement

The WA Government has released a draft regional policy statement, for which public submissions are invited. Copies of the draft are available from 9222 0511, 1800 620 511, and www.dlgrd.wa.gov.au. Submissions can be forwarded to the Department of Local Government and Regional Development, GPO Box R1250, Perth WA 6844.

State Sustainability Strategy

The 236-page draft strategy, available from 9222 9833 or www.sustainability.dpc.wa.gov.au, is open for public comment until February 28. Written submissions can be sent to The Sustainability Policy Unit, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, at 197 St George's Terrace, Perth WA 6000, or through www.greenhouse.wa.gov.au, or emailed to sustainability@dpc.wa.gov.au by February 28.

Unions and Collective Bargaining

A World Bank report on the effects of unions and collective bargaining in the global economy has concluded workers who belong to trade unions earn higher wages, work fewer hours, receive more training and have longer job tenure, on average, than their non-unionised counterparts. The study also found that union membership reduces wage differences between skilled and unskilled workers and between men and women. The report reviewed more than a thousand studies on the effects of unions and collective bargaining. Further detail is available from www.worldbank.org.

WA Regional Policy statement

The State Government has released a draft regional policy statement for public comment until February 28. The draft, which contains 89 strategies and 76 targets, is available from (08) 9222 0511, 1800 620 511, or www.dlgrd.wa.gov.au.

Submissions can be forwarded to the Department of Local Government and Regional Development, GPO Box R1250, Perth WA 6844.