Protecting the Final Resting Places of Our Historical Trailblazers

When I walk through the quiet rows of a cemetery, I see more than just headstones and marble. I see the medical history of our state, the stories of lives fought for, and the legacy of those who built the very foundation of our society. In my years as a GP, I have seen how important it is to honour the journey of life, right through to its conclusion. It is a matter of dignity and respect.

An unexpected answer to a vital question

Recently, I stood in the House to ask about a wonderful new initiative: a historical women's walk trail at Fremantle Cemetery. This trail aims to honour the lives and achievements of notable women interred there. It is a fantastic bridge to our past, but it raised a worrying question in my mind. What happens when these graves come up for renewal? In Western Australia, cemetery renewal programs mean that if a lease isn't renewed, a grave can be reused. This isn't just a bureaucratic process; it is a risk to our living history. I wanted to know if the Minister for Women had spoken with the Minister for Local Government to ensure these specific, significant graves would be protected from the bulldozer of progress.

Instead of a collaborative plan to protect our heritage, the response I received today was cold and dismissive. I was told that the matter remains strictly with the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board and the Minister for Local Government. This kind of siloed thinking is exactly what frustrates forward-thinkers who believe in evidence-based governance. We should be working across departments to protect our cultural identity, not passing the buck while history is at risk of being paved over.

If you value common sense politics and want to see more of my work in Parliament, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel for regular updates.

The human cost of forgetting

The anxiety this causes is real for many families and historians. Imagine the frustration of creating a trail to celebrate these women, only to have the graves themselves discarded later because they didn't fit into a administrative spreadsheet. We are talking about the physical evidence of women who broke barriers in science, politics, and community service. These are our pioneers.

We can do better than this. It requires a government that looks at the big picture and values the soul of our community over the sheer efficiency of land management. Those of us who value history and science know that once these sites are gone, they are gone forever. We cannot reconstruct the past once it has been cleared away for the sake of convenience.

You can read the full exchange from the Official Hansard Record here. If you believe in standing up for our heritage and common sense reform, please consider joining Legalise Cannabis WA as we fight for a more compassionate and sensible Western Australia.