Nationals use balance of power to block water licence plan

The Nationals WA have used the Party's balance of power status in the Legislative Council to scuttle the Carpenter Government's plan to introduce water licence fees.

Stirling MLA Terry Redman said the Agricultural Region MLC Wendy Duncan's vote won the day and delivered a reprieve for regional landholders. 

Mr Redman and his Nationals colleagues have fought hard against the indecent revenue-raising measure and its extremely gratifying to see a disallowance motion succeed in the Upper House.

Wendy Duncan's role became pivotal in the disallowance debate and she was able to tip the scales to ensure the final vote became 14 to 13.[more]

Extend lead clean-up zone by two kilometres, says Wendy Duncan

The Nationals WA are demanding the State Government expand its lead carbonate clean-up zone to a radius of two kilometres from the Esperance Port Authority boundary.

Agricultural Region MLC Wendy Duncan said she had asked Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan to enlarge the clean-up area to include the Esperance residential districts and expected a response shortly.

There is already a Section 65 Environmental Protection Notice in place but it currently relates only to the Port area and a narrow built-up town strip along the foreshore. 

A University of WA (UWA) report handed down in February this year warned that lead carbonate was being remobilised and had been discovered in rainwater tanks up to two kilometres from the port. [more]

Nationals call on State Government to honour 2005 referendum on trading hours

The Nationals WA have called on the State Government to honour the 2005 referendum on trading hours and undertake to maintain the currrent regulated trading hour regime.

Stirling MLA Terry Redman and party leader Brendon Grylls were given the opportunity to debate the issue following the state government's support to suspend Standing Orders in Parliament this week.

The protection of small business in Western Australia is core business for the Western Australian National Party.

The Nationals WA will shortly embark on a series of television commercials to highlight the reasons why the deregulation of trading hours will severely impact on small business in the regions.[more]

Grylls addresses dental rally 

Party Leader Brendon Grylls addressed around 300 staff from the state Dental Health Service as they rallied on the steps of Parliament House this week over pay and conditions.

Mr Grylls said it was simply unacceptable that the State Government had allowed the dental health service to deteriorate to such a point that it can no longer attract and retain enough staff.

The Government has allowed the Dental Health Service to decay so badly that 11 centres are now closed, 100 dental chairs are unstaffed and worst of all, recall times are stretching out between 15-41 months.

The Nationals WA have vowed to support ongoing action until the crisis is addressed.

To view rally video and other online videos please visit :

http://www.brendongrylls.com/news/default.asp?sectionid=5 
http://www.nationalswa.com/