Phil Edman

The Honourable
Phil Edman
MLC
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for South Metropolitan Region
Assumed office
22 May 2009
Personal details
Born (1970-08-24) 24 August 1970
Political party Liberal

Phillip John "Phil" Edman (born 24 August 1970) is an Australian politician.

Born in Tamworth, New South Wales, Edman arrived in Western Australia in 1976. He was a business proprietor before entering politics. After unsuccessfully contesting the House of Representatives seat of Brand for the Liberal Party in the 2004 and 2007 federal elections, he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council for South Metropolitan in 2008. His term commenced on 22 May 2009.[1]

Political Life

Rockingham City Council

Phil Edman served as a Councillor with the City of Rockingham from 2005 until 2009, for the Ward of Safety Bay.

Legislative Council of Western Australia

Edman was elected to the Thirty-eighth Parliament in the Western Australian Legislative Council for the South Metropolitan Region in 2008. His term commenced on 22 May 2009.

He subsequently won re-election in 2013 for the South Metropolitan Region, and was made Government Whip in the Legislative Council on 23 March 2013.[2]

Political Advocacy

Ban on Synthetic Drugs

In 2014, acting on the concerns of numerous constituents in the Rockingham area, Phil Edman began a campaign aimed toward altering the legislation governing the sale, possession and use of synthetic drugs in the state of Western Australia.

A prominent concern raised by Edman was that a local store which sold synthetic drugs was closely situated to a High School. He stated, "one of the problems is one of these shops is directly across from one of our high schools in my electorate."[3]

In order to draw attention to the issue of synthetic drugs, Edman brought a packet of synthetic cannabis into the Legislative Council Chamber on 18 June 2014, as a protest statement.[4] Despite risking arrest over the incident, he claimed that as long as his action brought more attention to the dangers of synthetic drugs, it would be worth the legal ramifications.[5]

On 20 May 2015, the Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2015 was introduced to the Western Australia Legislative Assembly.[6] Its purpose was to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981, to include the regulation of the "manufacture, sale, supply, and promotion of psychoactive substances."[6]

The Bill successfully passed through the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, and was subsequently assented on 18 November 2015.[6] Under the new laws, those individuals who have been found guilty of manufacturing, selling or supplying substances that induce a psychoactive effect, face a fine of $48,000.00 or a four year jail term.[7]

Following the implementation of the new law, Edman has made several statements in regards to several high profile cases involving the seizure of synthetic drugs.

In August 2016, he praised the efforts of the Western Australian Police for their investigation into the illicit sales of synthetic drugs in the Perth Metropolitan Area. The police operation resulted in 314 drug related charges laid against eighteen individuals.[8] Edman stated that, "I would like to congratulate the police officers that were involved in this investigation for their diligence and their commitment to protecting citizens from exposure to these poisons. The results from these police investigations are highly encouraging, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2015.[8]

Phil Edman added, "I am committed to ensuring that the people in our communities are protected from the dangerous effects of these synthetic drugs and that families do not have to be confronted with the, sometimes, deadly consequences of their abuse.”[8]

"Battle for Australia"

In 2008, then Governor-General of Australia, Michael Jeffery, signed a declaration that the first Wednesday in September would be made a National Day of Observance for the Battle for Australia.[9]

On 8 September 2015, Edman rose in the Legislative Council to make a statement about the ‘Battle for Australia’ not having been observed in Western Australia since its declaration. In his speech to the Legislative Council, Edman stated, "We had more than 97 air raids on Australia and more than 1 200 people die on our soil. I believe that recognition is significantly important. Western Australia was hit more than 13 times, in seven towns. I guess that is something that takes a while to get out, but I think that we should embrace that and remember all the people who lost their lives and the fear of our grandfathers and ancestors who gave us the freedom that we have in this country today, which I am sure none of us take for granted."[10]

In an attempt to raise awareness of the ‘Battle for Australia’, Edman began collecting World War Two artifacts to tell the story of the Australians that died fighting in key battles against the Japanese Imperial Forces. These items were displayed at several public exhibits in Perth.

The first exhibit was held at the Gary Holland Center, in the City of Rockingham, from 19 March 2016 to 24 March 2016.[11] World War Two Veteran, Mr Peter Hackett, attended the display and was interviewed about his time serving as a gunner in Western Australia and his account of the Bombing of Darwin.[11]

The second display was held at the Western Australia Museum from 18 May 2016 to 31 May 2016.[12] Edman labelled it a success, after reporting that more than 5,000 people had visited the display in the time it was there.[13]

Edman is planning to hold the State’s first Battle for Australia commemorative ceremony on 7 September 2016, at Kings Park in Perth.

Port Kennedy Nudist Beach Closure

After receiving many letters from concerned citizens in Port Kennedy and Warnbro, Phil Edman became aware of lewd acts being committed at the Port Kennedy Nude Beach.

Upon further investigation, it appeared that individuals were using online forums to proposition strangers for sexual intercourse at the Beach in question.[14]

Edman appealed to the Rockingham City Council in 2007 for the complete closure of the nude beach, however, the motion was defeated and it remains open today.

In 2016, a 24 year old man had been convicted of indecently assaulting a woman at the Port Kennedy Nude Beach, and received an 18 month Intensive Supervision Order and 180 hours of community service.[15] In response to the case, Edman stated, "I don’t have an issue with people choosing to be naked in the privacy of their own homes, but nudist beaches have the potential to attract sexual predators who prey on women and children."[16]

Point Peron Restoration Project

Phil Edman became an advocate of preserving the World War Two infrastructure that is still in place at Point Peron in Rockingham…

During the Second World War, Point Peron was a part of the Fremantle Fortress. The Fremantle Fortress was a collection of naval bases on the Western Australian coast that protected the mainland against possible Japanese invasion attempts during the war.[17]

In 2014, Edman formed the Point Peron Restoration Committee (PPRC), whose task it was to organize the reconstruction effort of the site, and to implement a conservation management plan to protect the historically significant structures.

According to the Point Peron Restoration Project website, the committee is working toward designing a memorial to those that served at the site during World War Two to be used for commemorative ceremonies, as well as a museum.[18]

Mundijong Road Extension

Edman, as Chairman of the Rockingham Kwinana Development Office (RKDO) in 2009, advocated for an extension of Mundijong Road, in order to connect Rockingham and the Kwinana Freeway.

Phil Edman argued that by building the Mundijong Road extension, road users would reduce transport times by ten minutes, save 700,000 liters of petrol per annum, and freight would have easier access to the Kwinana industrial area.[19]

The project was approved under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 on 30 March 2012.[20]

The Minister for Planning, the Honorable John Day, acknowledged the contribution made by Phil Edman as Chairman of the RKDO in progressing plans for the extension.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Parliament of Western Australia (2009). "Hon. Phillip (Phil) John Edman MLC". Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  2. ↑ Parliament of Western Australia, Parliament of Western Australia (2013). "Hon. Phillip (Phil) John Edman MLC". Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  3. ↑ Strutt, Jessica (26 June 2014). "Fake cannabis plaguing Perth's southern suburbs, Liberal MP Phil Edman says". ABC News. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. ↑ Bembridge, Courtney (19 June 2014). "All synthetic cannabinoids illegal, WA minister says, after MP Phil Edman brings drugs into Parliament". ABC News. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Strutt, Jessica; Bembridge, Courtney (26 June 2014). "Liberal MP Phil Edman buys 'liquid marijuana' in protest against availability of synthetic drugs". ABC News.
  6. 1 2 3 Parliament of Western Australia (2015). "Misuse of Drugs Amendment (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2015". Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  7. ↑ Budihardjo, Nadia (16 October 2015). "Legislation passed to stop selling synthetic drugs containing psychoactive substance". WA Today. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 Schmitt, Vanessa (19 August 2016). "South Metro MLC praises police for synthetic drugs crackdown". Kwinana Courier. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  9. ↑ Blenkin, Max (26 June 2008). "'Battle for Australia' Day in September". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  10. ↑ Legislative Council, Western Australia (8 September 2015). "Battle for Australia Day – Statement" (PDF). Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  11. 1 2 Shepherd, Briana (18 March 2016). "Exhibition highlighting Western Australia's role in World War II opens at Rockingham". ABC News. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  12. ↑ Fotl, Eloise (18 May 2016). "Battle for Australia at Western Australian Museum". Kwinana Courier. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  13. ↑ Schmitt, Vanessa (12 July 2016). "Battle of Australia museum exhibition a success: Phil Edman". Kwinana Courier. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "Call to close Port Kennedy nudist beach". Perth Now. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  15. ↑ Jeffery, Gabrielle (14 July 2016). "Man escapes jail sentence after nudist beach indecent assault". Weekend Courier. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  16. ↑ Schmitt, Vanessa (21 July 2016). "MLC calls on City of Rockingham to close nude beach". Kwinana Courier. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  17. ↑ Grant, Steve (2 October 2015). "War Heritage Crumbles". Fremantle Herald Interactive. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "About the Project". Point Peron Restoration Project. 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  19. 1 2 Day, John (8 September 2010). "Mundijong Road extension gets Minister's green light". Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  20. ↑ 9e58d70442f0/Extension-of-Mundijong-Road-EPBC-Approval-2011-5971-Annual-Report-July-2014.PDF.aspx "Extension of Mundijong Road, between Kwinana Freeway East and Dixon Road west, Rockingham, WA (EPBC 2011/5971)" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). City of Rockingham. July 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
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