Legislative Council
DUBLIN WASTE DUMP
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Transport and Urban Planning a question about the Dublin dump protest structures.
Leave granted.The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: On Sunday I travelled to Dublin and again met with some local residents who had been protesting for more than a year about the proposed location of a dump right next to their homes. Their staying power on the issue and their capacity to up the ante has impressed me. Since their protest first began, the locals have progressed from simple slogans on their fences to quite sophisticated eye-catching public art. These include life size figures in different costumes and settings, ranging from a replica of a UN monitoring station to a silver-clad figure in a UFO. All of them carry provocative statements about the Government's decision to allow a dump in their area.
When I walked onto the properties on Sunday with four other people to look more closely at the work that has gone into the structures, I was surprised at how many travellers who drove past tooted their car horns in support. The residents have heard, however, that the Minister is not as impressed by the structures and that she considers them to be illegal developments. My questions are: 1. Has the Minister taken the time to observe these protest structures at close hand, and does she consider that these structures have any validity as public art? 2. Has the Minister spoken to any of her advisers or the local council regarding the legality of the protest structures? 3. If so, does she propose to take any action in relation to them?The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW: I have never passed an opinion on these structures, so the vividness of the imagination of those who spoke to the honourable member at the weekend and suggested that I have commented upon the legality of them is absolutely stupid. I have laughed at them, and I have always enjoyed art works and public art for public humour. I think that they get their message across, and that is the goal of those who wish to comment on a process that has gone through all the legal and environmental procedures. Some people may not like the outcome, and they can comment. It is a democratic society and I would always uphold the democratic right to do so.