Mal Washer (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is my pleasure to support Mr Zappia, the member for Makin, on what he has just said. I will not repeat the report, but because I am retiring in a few weeks I will say this: I have been on the environment committee since 2004, which is a reasonable length of time. I was originally chair, then I was deputy chair for a couple of parliamentary terms. We have had some excellent chairs since then: the former member for Throsby, Jennie George, and now Mr Zappia from Makin. I also served on multiple other committees—and I will not go through the whole list of them—but I think the most exciting of all was the environment committee, which has changed its name over time from the Committee on Environment and Heritage, originally, to the Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts, and then to the Committee on Climate Change, Environment and the Arts.

The beauty of the committee system is that despite differences in policies committees have a bipartisan focus which allows us to find a common ground and build awareness of national issues. The government plays a key role, as we know, but all members can participate in the committee system. Creating a sustainable future needs to be a priority for all Australians. Australia can lead the way internationally in this area. Thanks to all involved for those many productive inquiries.

People ask: what is the benefit of the committee process? The parliament moves amongst the people, so we interrelate with the people, and that is important. Committees in this parliament have a good reputation and people know that they have had their stories heard. These are put into records as a time capsule for what people have told us. We have legacies to celebrate—certainly, committees influence policy. The member for Fairfax, who normally sits behind me, takes claim that the blame game report on the health relationships between federal and state governments, for example, was a platform for the Labor Party's health reforms. He is very proud of that, and the Labor Party did a very good job in taking up the recommendations.

Committee reports also raise awareness and they set agendas. We get great bipartisan cooperation, and it is very different to question time. The effects of a hung parliament have been mellowed by good committee cooperation. The problem is: are we going to get adequate funding in the future for committees so they can travel, and will we work more with Senate committees? I have many memorable stories that I will not tell you about the committee system, but the friendships developed on a bipartisan basis are the most important aspects.

In the 43rd Parliament the committee reported on Managing Australia's biodiversity in a changing climate: the way forward, which the chair has just spoken about. In the 42nd Parliament we released the report Managing our coastal zone in a changing climate: the time to act is now, which was a very good report. That was when Ms Jennie George, the former member for Throsby, was chair. We did a lot of travelling to look at the seriousness of climate change, sea levels rising, and the effect on our coastal zones, where most people live. In the 41st Parliament, when I was chair, we looked at sustainable cities. The committee provided an excellent report, and everyone agreed with that. It was not reported back on by my government at that time, but a lot of ideas were picked up and taken from that report, and utilised wisely. We also had a sustainability for survival charter, in which we recommended the establishment of a sustainability commission; that did not happen, unfortunately, but it should have.

In the last few seconds I have left, I want to especially thank the wonderful Julia Morris. I want to do that, because she was going to be very angry if I did not mention all the secretariat members for the great work and great help they have given me and all the others who have worked on the committee. Chair, I am very proud of what we have done. We have developed some great friendships. Quite frankly, I am going to miss you all.

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