Carpenter loses another MP

as posted on TheWest


WA Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale has announced she will quit politics at the next State election.

Ms McHale is the second female Labor MP to announce their resignation in less than a week. Swan Hills backbencher Jaye Radisich announced last week that she would not contest the next State election.

Flanked by Premier Alan Carpenter, Ms McHale said her decision would allow her to pursue other challenges outside the political sphere.

She told the Premier of her decision two weeks ago.

“I think in our living we make the decision when the time is right… for me the time is right,” Ms McHale said.

The mother of one said politics could be tough but she had no regrets about her time in politics.

She planned to pursue other opportunities in the State.

Mr Carpenter admitted he was concerned so many female politicians were leaving the parliament.

“Nobody likes to see good people leave the parliament but I understand her decision,” Mr Carpenter said.

“We are lucky we have so many good strong women contributing to the State.”

Ms McHale was elected to Parliament as the member for the then seat of Thornlie in 1996.

She became a Minister in the first cabinet of Premier Geoff Gallop in 2001

She was appointed Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth; Disability Services; and Culture and the Arts.

Since then she has also held the portfolios of Indigenous Affairs, Tourism and Consumer Protection.

Ms McHale said the area of child protection had been one of her more difficult portfolios.

She came under fire while Minister for Community Development after 11-month-old Perth baby Wade Scale died in tragic circumstances after the DCD ignored concerns raised by relatives.

The WA Government agency responsible for child protection was criticised by a coroner for the way it handled the case.

The baby drowned in a bath and had consumed adult medication.

KAREN HODGE

as posted on TheWest

Warman prevails in Riverside Open

as posted on CollieMail


Promising Gosnells junior Jamie Warman won the Riverside Open after a tense wait for the final group, taking the title by one shot.

The diminutive Warman, the youngest in the field , posted a 73 on Sunday morning to add to his 74 from Saturday to be in the clubhouse early on 147. Overnight leader after a 71 on Saturday and defending champion, Pinjarra’s Paul Tuckey struggled early but with four holes remaining, he and playing partners Trevor Johns from Collie and Jason Trainor (Pinjarra) had remained in sight of the winning total.

Trainor and Tuckey dropped out of contention on the penultimate hole, needing a miracle eagle on the last, but a birdie on the final hole would have been enough for Johns to force a tie.

After a superb drive his approach left him with a putt to effectively take the title, as Warman had already travelled back to Perth due to other commitments, and as such would have forfeited the possible play-off. Unfortunately for Johns, a relative newcomer to Collie, his putt slipped by and left the youngster with the win.

Johns finished runner-up on a countback from Tuckey after he was able to birdie the last to draw level on 148.

Trainor took fourth on 149.

“Last in, first home” was the catch cry for Steven Ireland as he played steady golf all weekend to capture the nett section.

Having not entered the competition until there was a late withdrawal, “Stumpy” knew what he had to shoot to win and although almost blowing his chance over the final stages, a fortuitous birdie on the last did the job as he finished with a total of 140 to claim the win over Colin Giblett on countback.

Giblett similar to Warman finished with a pair of 70s from morning rounds to set up a score to chase.

In an all Collie’s top five Ed Riley was third on 141 with Wayne Waywood and Trevor Lawrence fourth and fifth respectively on 143.

Individual gross winners were Mike Stirk (Waroona) on Saturday with 73 and past winner David Carbon (Collesloe) on Sunday after a par 72.

Individual nett wins went to Rob Osborne (Kwinana) on Saturday with 70 and Brian McGuane (Gosnells) on Sunday with a 67.

Overall the event attracted a field of 154 players from 26 clubs.

The Riverside open was preceded by the TBS fourball Par event on the Friday.

A large field of 158 players took part and Greg Bell and Wayne Waywood took out the event after a countback on a score of +12.

Brian Banks and Peter Ellery finished an unlucky second.

Next on +10 were Steven Ireland and Jason Kelly, in his first round with an official handicap.

Other pairs to finish at the top of the list were Kwinana visitors, R Osborne and D Johnson (+10), Graham Williams and Troy Sheppard, Marek Golinski and Ed Riley, Jim Tyler and Rod Simmonds and Peter Gray and Mike Daley, all with +9.

The Gross event was won by Rob Hewison and Hudson Hopewell, after an impressive 65 stokes for +7, from Scott Healy and Warren Colgan on +4.

John Michalak claimed bragging rights when he scored 21 points to win Scroungers last Thursday.

Dean Rakich had 37 off the stick to post 20 points followed by Tony Barker-May (19) and Ross Davidson, Bryan Simpson, Neil Motion, Mick Pokrywka and Kevin Ireland on 18 points. Rhonda McGill topped the ladies.

Peter Gray had 34 points to win last week’s Veterans competition from Alan Kent on 28 with Steve Farquhar and John Wray on 27.

Novelties were won by AK, R Alp and J Wray.

Scroungers is on today.

There will be an 18 Hole Stableford for a Club Trophy on Easter Saturday.

A Sweepstakes is scheduled for Monday for those keen and then back to normal with Tuesday Leisure day and Vets golf.

as posted on CollieMail

Minister reflects on honour of serving Western Australia

as posted on MediaNewswire

Sheila McHale says it has been a privilege to serve the people of Western Australia for almost 12 years as part of the Gallop and Carpenter Governments. Ms McHale today announced she had made the decision to leave State politics at the next election.


Media-Newswire.com) - Sheila McHale says it has been a privilege to serve the people of Western Australia for almost 12 years as part of the Gallop and Carpenter Governments.

Ms McHale today announced she had made the decision to leave State politics at the next election.

“It has been a honour to represent the people of WA as a Minister and as the member for Kenwick,” Ms McHale said.

The Minister was elected to Parliament as the member for the then seat of Thornlie in 1996 and in 2001 became a Minister in the first cabinet of Premier Geoff Gallop.

She was appointed Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth; Disability Services; and Culture and the Arts.

Since then, she has also held the portfolios of Indigenous Affairs, Tourism and Consumer Protection.

Ms McHale said some of her achievements had been delivering significant increases in Government spending to the areas of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Community Development and Disability Services.

“It was very gratifying to recently announce details of WA’s new half-billion museum and also unveil the exciting $73million Ignite package of arts initiatives - the biggest ever by a WA Government,” she said.

“I have also been proud to help the State win exciting tourism events, encourage more direct flights to WA and work closely to deliver better outcomes for the disability sector.”

Premier Alan Carpenter, who was with Ms McHale for her announcement, paid tribute.

“Sheila has been an excellent Minister across a broad range of portfolios,” Mr Carpenter said.

“Her commitment to culture and the arts in WA will leave a positive and long-lasting legacy of unprecedented proportions.”

The Premier also said that Ms McHale had been a loyal friend and hard-working colleague who would be greatly missed.

“Sheila has been a tenacious Minister who has always handled her responsibilities with the upmost integrity and professionalism,” he said.

“I am pleased she will continue as a Minister until the next election.”

Ms McHale said her decision would allow her to pursue other challenges outside the political sphere.

Minister's office - 9213 6900

as posted on MediaNewswire

WA schools excel in national indigenous education awards

as posted on MediaNewswire

Schools in Western Australia are leading the way in improving the educational performances of Aboriginal students after achieving outstanding results in a national awards program. Seven WA schools have been named among the "High Achievement' winners in the Dare to Lead Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education Awards, announced on Friday by Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard.


(Media-Newswire.com) - Schools in Western Australia are leading the way in improving the educational performances of Aboriginal students after achieving outstanding results in a national awards program.

Seven WA schools have been named among the ‘High Achievement’ winners in the Dare to Lead Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education Awards, announced on Friday by Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard.

WA Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan said the achievements highlighted the creative and dedicated work being done in WA schools to give Aboriginal students a better future.

“The winning schools are demonstrating that by having a clear vision and working together with indigenous students and the wider indigenous community, improved outcomes for Aboriginal students can be achieved,” Mr McGowan said.

“The work being done by these schools is making a real and positive difference to the lives of Aboriginal students.”

Winning schools in the High Achievement category received $6,000 and a commemorative plaque. They include:
Swan View Senior High School in partnership with Governor Stirling Senior High School and Lockridge Senior High School -The Midland Indigenous Youth Program is a joint initiative of these three schools. It works with industry and indigenous organisations to provide opportunities for Aboriginal students to complete Year 12, as well as supporting them to move into meaningful and sustainable education, training or employment. The schools have indigenous student populations of between 11 per cent and 20 per cent.

Yule Brook Community College, Maddington - In 2001, the school formed a working party to begin the process of engaging with the local Aboriginal community. The resulting Aboriginal Community Agreement has contributed to significant improvements in school enrolments and graduation rates and a reduction in suspension rates. Of the school’s 205 students, 65 are indigenous.
Aranmore Catholic College, Leederville -The leadership and commitment of the school’s Aboriginal Student Support team has contributed to a significant increase in Aboriginal student enrolments over the past eight years and an increase in indigenous student leadership opportunities.

Winning schools in the Achievement category receive $1,000 and a Certificate of Achievement. They include:
Challis Early Childhood Education Support Centre, Armadale -The Kartajin Danjoo school-based initiative is building a culture that treats education as a high priority. The school has built solid partnerships with the Aboriginal community and the initiative, although in its infancy, has already led to an improvement in attendance.

East Kenwick Primary School, Kenwick -The school has made significant progress in literacy and numeracy, with 100 per cent of its Aboriginal students achieving the Western Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment benchmark. The school’s efforts to improve educational outcomes for indigenous students have received strong community support.

The Dare to Lead Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education Awards recognise schools that demonstrate high levels of effective leadership, indigenous community involvement and improvements in outcomes.

The winning schools were determined by a panel of indigenous and non-indigenous educators which assessed each school’s application against set criteria.

Minister's office - 9222 9111

as posted on MediaNewswire

Phoenix prepare for season ahead after weekend meltdown

as posted on BunburyMail

SOCCER: A second half meltdown by Phoenix allowed Gosnells to come from 2-1 down at half time and triumph for a 4-2 win, and in truth, by the end of the match, it could have been uglier for Phoenix as the more experienced Gosnells side created chances almost at will in the second half. Phoenix will need to drastically improve on this performance to come away with any credibility against Mandurah in three weeks.

Gosnells started much brighter and dominated possession for the first twenty minutes. They took the lead when Phoenix turned the ball over in the middle of the park. Phoenix got back on level terms soon after though, with Murphy again playing a through ball down the right side. Suttie collected it, cut inside and laid the ball off at the top of the box for Hayes to finish sweetly with a well placed shot into the bottom right hand corner. Phoenix took the lead when Murphy’s corner was only parried by the keeper and fell straight to Suttie’s feet, and he scored from eight yards. Phoenix led 2-1 at the break.

The second half was all Gosnells though, aside from an early shot from a tight angle from Suttie. Ironically, that shot produced the save which led to Gosnells equalising goal. Phoenix became disjointed and it was no real surprise when Gosnells virtually sealed their win with a 4th goal on 70minutes.

The second half performance from Phoenix was very poor and they received a lesson from Gosnells’ hat trick man who did as he pleased for much of the match. Phoenix missed Alex Dawson, who would have added some grit and hard tackling to their defence, along with the continued absence of Mayers. Phoenix now have much to think about in the two weeks to prepare for Mandurah, before they have another match up against Gosnells in Round One.

as posted on BunburyMail

McHale to retire from politics

as posted on ABCNews

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Sheila McHale, has announced that she will retire from state politics at the next election.

Ms McHale is the second Minister from the Labor Government to step down at the end of this term.

The Minister for Agriculture Kim Chance has already said he will not contest his Upper House seat.

Ms McHale was elected to Parliament in 1996 as the Member for Thornlie, and has held various Ministerial portfolios since 2001.

She is currently the Member for Kenwick.

Check out the comments on the Perth Now story on the same subject here

as posted on ABCNews

NT intervention protests target Centrelink

as posted on GreenLeft

As part of a national day of action protesting against the federal government’s quarantining of the welfare payments of allegedly negligent parents within Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, 30 students and staff, mainly Aboriginal, held a protest rally outside the Centrelink office on Curtin University campus on March 12.

Representatives of NT Indigenous communities had asked Aboriginal rights groups across Australia to demonstrate outside Centrelink offices on or around March 13 — a month after Labor PM Kevin Rudd’s official apology to the Stolen Generations — to demand the repeal of the Howard government’s NT “emergency” intervention legislation.

The Curtin University protest was organised by the Western Australian Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC). Curtin academic and Nyoongar elder Ted Wilkes told the protest action: “This is a discriminatory and racist policy. I was in Alice Springs recently, and I’ve seen with my own eyes the shame that those forced to use the vouchers experience. My mother and father had to endure rations. We can’t have a repeat of the bad old days.”

ARC organiser and Socialist Alliance member Natasha Moore said: “Far from the Rudd government undoing the Howard government’s racist law, welfare quarantining is being extended to more NT communities and Labor governments in WA and Queensland are intent on enacting the same thing.”

The protesters pledged to hold monthly rallies outside Centrelink offices until the legislation is repealed and to prevent the welfare quarantine system being implemented in WA. The next protests are likely to be outside the Midland and Gosnells Centrelink offices. For details, phone ARC on 0434 303 248 (Natasha) or (08) 9299 6453 (Annolies).

Zane Alcorn reports from Newcastle that 25 people picketed the Mayfield Centrelink office on March 13 to protest the NT welfare quarantine system. “This is a protest against apartheid — the NT intervention. The quarantining of payments has already spread to Walgett in Western Australia”, Awabakal elder Peta Ridgeway told Green Left Weekly. “It is becoming a federal, not just NT-based, intervention, which is taking us back to the days of the ration system.”

Ridgeway said she viewed Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations in February as an attempt by the new Labor government to regain “stewardship” of what was becoming an increasingly independent Indigenous rights movement. “People will now have a tendency to say you’ve got your apology, what more do you want? This takes the focus off the intervention-
and frames compensation in terms of an apology rather than as reparation for an ongoing culture of theft and exploitation.”

Bronwyn Power reports from Alice Springs that members of the NT Intervention Roll-back Group surveyed Indigenous people arriving at the town’s Centrelink office from outlying areas about their experience of welfare quarantining.

Jim McIlroy reports that around 20 people gathered outside the Centrelink office in South Brisbane. “This is not just about a bad law, but about the suppression of the rights of indigenous people”, Les Malezer, chairperson of the Foundation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Action, told the picket. “The Australian government is victimising the most vulnerable people in Australia. The NT invasion has to stop completely, not just restoration of the permit system and the CDEP [Community Development Employment Program].”

as posted on GreenLeft