Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] Our precious places should be enjoyed by all of us, not just billionaires who can afford yachts and bayside megamansions. Developers and the Liberal Party have had their eyes on the beautiful area of Mangles Bay for many years now. It's not too far from my home town of Rockingham. Time and time again they have tried to turn this precious place of beaches and bushland into a private canal development and marina. In response was formed the Hands Off Point Peron campaign. Led by Dawn Jecks, this campaign rallied the community to take action, to make submissions, to support the community, to participate in consultations and to write a fair few letters to the editor along the way. Including and involving key leaders in the Rockingham community, like James Mumme, the campaign put together mountains of evidence. It made sure to hold many rallies across the local area so that decision-makers heard, clearly and strongly, that our community said no to this development.

It is with such pride and joy that I note that Point Peron has now been protected, that this community campaign has succeeded and that Point Peron will be forever protected as an A class reserve. It is a win for the community and it is a win for the little penguins, dolphins and seals that call the area home. As we face the reality of the climate crisis, it is important now more than ever to celebrate campaigners like Dawn and James and to protect these precious places for generations to come.