Diary of Hon Philip Gardiner MLC
Week ending 8 October 2010
Together with a representative from the Department of Agriculture & Food, Phil attended the Gillingarra-Koojan Catchment meeting at the Gillingarra Hall on Wednesday. Issues raised included funding associated with regional hydrology and the group’s plans to deal with their landcare issues. On Friday Phil met with Dexter Davies, chairman of the Dry Season Advisory Committee, to discuss the imperative of establishing a crop risk management insurance program in Western Australia. On Saturday Phil had a coffee shop meeting with constituents in Moora.
Week ending 1 October 2010
Phil attended the Royal Agricultural Society’s annual luncheon with the RAS president and committee at the Claremont Showgrounds on Wednesday. He was also a guest of the presidents at the show that evening. A morning meeting on Thursday was held with senior representatives from the Western Australia Local Government Authority (WALGA) to discuss grain on rail. He travelled to Pingelly on Friday for the opening of Alva House at the UWA Future Farm Day.
Week ending 24 September 2010
The week began with a briefing from a local renewable energy project developer with a keen interest in solar energy. Monday afternoon saw Phil back as a deputy chair of the Estimates & Financial Operations committee. Parliament sat again on Tuesday when Phil also attended a cocktail reception for the Royal Agricultural Society. On Thursday Phil was a guest at the AGM of Retirees WA where he heard a presentation by the chair of the Seniors Ministerial Advisory Council. Phil attended to electorate office matters on Saturday before attending the York races on Sunday.
Week ending 17 September 2010
Phil was in Parliament Tuesday to Thursday of this week. He attended a number of briefings associated with current and proposed bills, including from representatives of WA Police on amendments to the Police Amendment Bill 2010. On Friday Phil flew to Geraldton with Hon Max Trenorden MLC to attend a Western Power briefing with the Minister for Energy, Hon Peter Collier MLC. The briefing provided Geraldton residents with an opportunity to provide feedback to the utility company on the various works that are being undertaken in the city and surrounding district. Later that day Phil attended the Mingenew Field Day before returning to Moora for the local show here he sponsored the Champion Merino Ram trophy as well as other events. On Sunday Phil joined the Minister for Transport, Hon Simon O’Brien MLC, for the opening of the Lancelin-Cervantes Indian Ocean Drive.
Week ending 10 September 2010
The Estimates & Financial Operations Committee met on Monday where Phil was in attendance before heading to a Parliament IFTAR dinner that evening. Tuesday morning was occupied by Parliamentary National Party meetings and briefings before the Legislative Council sat from 3pm until 10.30pm. Together with Hon Max Trenorden MLC, Phil met with a party keen to further renewable energy in Western Australia before sitting in the Council from 3.30pm until 10.30pm. On Friday Phil hosted a visit to Parliament House by students from Sacred Heart Primary School before attending a Nationals WA function in the afternoon. Saturday night Phil and his wife attended the National Party’s annual gala ball.
Week ending 3 September 2010
With country winter sports in the business end of the season, Phil attended the Central Midlands football and netball finals at home in Moora. He presented the netball trophies with his colleagues Hons Mia Davies and Max Trenorden and the football trophies on behalf of Hon Grant Woodhams. On Tuesday and Wednesday Phil was interstate exploring potential business opportunities for Western Australia.
Week ending 27 August 2010
On Tuesday Phil participated in C Y O’Connor College of TAFE regional training and workforce development forum at the Muresk Institute near Northam. He also attended the GWN Dowerin Field Days.
Week ending 20 August 2010
Phil was on approved leave from Parliament this week.
Week ending 13 August 2010
Phil attended a short briefing of the Estimates & Financial Operations Committee on Monday afternoon and a briefing on the Perth hills zoning on Tuesday. On Wednesday he and his National Party colleagues were briefed by Hon Dexter Davies on fisheries quota management, an ongoing concern particular in the Geraldton area. On the same day he attended separate briefings on the Police Amendment Bill 2010 and on the Children and Community Services Amendment Bill 2010. Phil also met with representatives of the Department of Agriculture & Food and the Minister’s office on support for farmers in bad years. He was back at the Estimates & Financial Operations Committee on Friday.
Week ending 7 August 2010
Phil was again Deputy Chair at the Estimates & Financial Operations Committee for a full day of hearings on Monday and on Tuesday he met with a constituent on regional headworks funding.
Week ending 30 July 2010
On Thursday Phil met informally with representatives of Curtin University to discuss higher education, particularly with regard to access for regional students. That night he attended the John de Laeter Dinner at Curtin where presented a cheque for $1,000 towards a scholarship for university science students. The John de Laeter Centre is a joint research venture between Curtin University, UWA, CSIRO and the Geological Survey of Western Australia. The Centre’s research focuses mostly on minerals and petroleum.
Week ending 23 July 2010
On Tuesday Phil was deputy chair at the Estimates and Financial Operations Committee. This week the committee heard from the Departments for Child Protection, Communities and Agriculture & Food.
Week ending 16 July 2010
Phil attended the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change in London.
Week ending 9 July 2010
In the first week of the winter recess, Phil attended the official opening of the Wongan Hills Medical Centre with National Party colleagues Hons Mia Davies and Brendon Grylls. The new centre provides space for general practice as well as specialist health services and cost $1.6 million, almost half of which was provided through the Royalties for Regions program. On Wednesday Phil was deputy chair of the Estimates and Financial Operations committee.
Week ending 2 July 2010
It was a busy week in parliament before the winter recess. Phil met with representatives from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) (WA branch) to hear the organisation’s views on the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Bill (WA) 2010. He also attended a Department of Health briefing on the Bill where he outlined some of the concerns raised by the AMA. This Bill is part of an agreement made by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to create a single national registration and accreditation system for health professionals. On Thursday Phil met with representatives from the Department of Agriculture & Food (DAFWA) who briefed him on the department’s climate change activities and policies. The briefing formed part of Phil’s preparation for attendance at the Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Association’s climate change forum in London in mid-July. On Friday Phil was deputy chair at the Estimates and Financial Operations Committee’s hearing that heard evidence from Department of Health officials.
Phil was present in the Legislative Council on each of the three sitting days this week.