Robin Chapple
Encyclopedia
Robin Chapple is a Greens
politician serving in the Western Australian Legislative Council
. From 2001 to 2005 Chapple represented the Mining and Pastoral Region
. He was defeated in the 2005 state election
but was re-elected in the 2008 election
, resuming his Mining and Pastoral Region seat.
Chapple is Greens spokesperson for Aboriginal Issues, Energy and Climate Change, Local Government, Mines and Petroleum, Nuclear Issues, Pastoral Issues, Ports, Racing and Gaming, Regional Sustainability, State Development and Industry, and Waste Management. He is also spokesperson for matters pertaining to the Agricultural Region
where the Greens do not have direct representation.
, Hertfordshire
, England in 1947. In his youth, he worked as a junior stockbroker at the City of London Stock Exchange, as a qualified automotive mechanical engineer
in the British sports automotive industry, and in industrial farming industries in England. He later travelled to work with Oxfam
in what is now Bangladesh
.
Chapple eventually emigrated to Australia in 1974 and worked throughout the Central Desert
area and northern Australia in a number of engineering and surveying roles, living and working with remote Indigenous communities. He briefly worked for the state Water Authority and then eventually moved to Port Hedland to work for BHP
.
Chapple was the co founder of L.E.A.F. (Local Environment Affinity Force) of Hedland, a local environment group who took an active role in paper recycling, tree planting and commenting on environment and development issues in the region. He established Chapple Research, a consultancy firm, to provide the local community, authorities and industries with environmental and social impact information and advice. He has also participated in campaigns for the protection of the Murujuga
or Burrup Peninsula and the surrounding Dampier Archipelago from encroaching industrial and processing developments, and against uranium mining, uranium ore transportation and nuclear waste storage
in Western Australia and in particular the proposed Pangea international nuclear waste dump, having served as the co-ordinator of the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia. He is also an advocate for the introduction of limited voluntary euthanasia
, having introduced bills to legalise the act in state parliament in 2002 and 2009 which were both defeated.
Chapple served as a member of the Department of Minerals and Energy's Minerals Environmental Liaison Committee (MELC) and on the state government’s mining industries annual “Golden Gecko Environmental Excellence Award” program, as a conservation representative on the technical review and assessment panel.
Prior to entering parliament, Chapple worked as a research officer for Greens MLC Giz Watson.
Greens Western Australia
The Greens Western Australia is the state branch of the Australian Greens in Western Australia. The Greens WA was formed following the merger of the WA Greens and the Green Earth Alliance...
politician serving in the Western Australian Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
. From 2001 to 2005 Chapple represented the Mining and Pastoral Region
Electoral region of Mining and Pastoral
The electoral region of Mining and Pastoral is a multi-member electoral region of the Western Australian Legislative Council, located in the northern and eastern regions of the State. It was created by the Acts Amendment Act 1987, and became effective on 22 May 1989 with five members who had been...
. He was defeated in the 2005 state election
Western Australian state election, 2005
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 26 February 2005 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
but was re-elected in the 2008 election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
, resuming his Mining and Pastoral Region seat.
Chapple is Greens spokesperson for Aboriginal Issues, Energy and Climate Change, Local Government, Mines and Petroleum, Nuclear Issues, Pastoral Issues, Ports, Racing and Gaming, Regional Sustainability, State Development and Industry, and Waste Management. He is also spokesperson for matters pertaining to the Agricultural Region
Electoral region of Agricultural
The electoral region of Agricultural is a multi-member electoral region of the Western Australian Legislative Council, located in the South West, Peel and part of the Great Southern regions of the state...
where the Greens do not have direct representation.
Early life
Chapple was born in WheathampsteadWheathampstead
Wheathampstead is a village and civil parish in the City and District of St Albans, in Hertfordshire, England. It is north of St Albans and in the Hitchin and Harpenden parliamentary constituency....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England in 1947. In his youth, he worked as a junior stockbroker at the City of London Stock Exchange, as a qualified automotive mechanical engineer
Automotive engineering
Modern automotive engineering, along with aerospace engineering and marine engineering, is a branch of vehicle engineering, incorporating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering as applied to the design, manufacture and operation of motorcycles, automobiles,...
in the British sports automotive industry, and in industrial farming industries in England. He later travelled to work with Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
in what is now Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.
Chapple eventually emigrated to Australia in 1974 and worked throughout the Central Desert
Central Australia
Central Australia/Alice Springs Region is one of the five regions in the Northern Territory. The term Central Australia is used to describe an area centred on Alice Springs in Australia. It is sometimes referred to as Centralia; likewise the people of the area are sometimes called Centralians...
area and northern Australia in a number of engineering and surveying roles, living and working with remote Indigenous communities. He briefly worked for the state Water Authority and then eventually moved to Port Hedland to work for BHP
Bhp
BHP, or bhp may refer to:*BHP Billiton, Australian based mining company renowned as being the largest mining company in the world**The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, company name 1885-2000**BHP Limited, company name 2000-2001...
.
Politics and activism
Chapple served as a town councillor on Port Hedland council for seven years from 1986 to 1993. Whilst on council, he served as a delegate to both the state Municipal Association and the Country Shire Councils Association.Chapple was the co founder of L.E.A.F. (Local Environment Affinity Force) of Hedland, a local environment group who took an active role in paper recycling, tree planting and commenting on environment and development issues in the region. He established Chapple Research, a consultancy firm, to provide the local community, authorities and industries with environmental and social impact information and advice. He has also participated in campaigns for the protection of the Murujuga
Murujuga
Murujuga , is a peninsula often known as Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, adjoining the Dampier Archipelago and near the town of Dampier...
or Burrup Peninsula and the surrounding Dampier Archipelago from encroaching industrial and processing developments, and against uranium mining, uranium ore transportation and nuclear waste storage
Anti-nuclear movement in Australia
Nuclear testing, uranium mining and export, and nuclear energy have often been the subject of public debate in Australia, and the anti-nuclear movement in Australia has a long history...
in Western Australia and in particular the proposed Pangea international nuclear waste dump, having served as the co-ordinator of the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia. He is also an advocate for the introduction of limited voluntary euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, having introduced bills to legalise the act in state parliament in 2002 and 2009 which were both defeated.
Chapple served as a member of the Department of Minerals and Energy's Minerals Environmental Liaison Committee (MELC) and on the state government’s mining industries annual “Golden Gecko Environmental Excellence Award” program, as a conservation representative on the technical review and assessment panel.
Prior to entering parliament, Chapple worked as a research officer for Greens MLC Giz Watson.
External links
- Website of Robin Chapple MLC http://www.robinchapple.org.au
- Biography and Speeches at the Parliament of Western Australia http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Legislative+Council+-+Current+Members