❓ Mr. Barron-Sullivan questions Premier Gallop about country councils donating to the Country Alliance and seeks assurance they won't be punished. Premier Gallop assures no punishment will occur, despite disagreeing with the use of ratepayer funds for political campaigns.
AnsweredQoN 852Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Premier aware - if he is not, I am delighted to inform him - that country councils are defying his threat not to donate to the Country Alliance and that, after just two weeks, many councils have already pledged their financial support for the Country Alliance, including Beverley, Coorow, Jerramungup, Tambellup, Kellerberrin, Kondinin, Kulin - Point of Order Mrs ROBERTS: It would appear that this is a statement rather than a question. The SPEAKER: That point is right. However, preambles are allowed. I am sure the Deputy Leader of the Opposition will ask his question soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The councils also include Laverton, Northam, Harvey, Gnowangerup, Carnarvon, Irwin, Dundas, Narembeen, Williams and Murray, and many more are expected to follow. (2) Will the Premier give a firm assurance that his Government will not punish these councils, or those that have yet to decide on the matter, for standing up for the interests of their local communities in this way? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER: That point is right. However, preambles are allowed. I am sure the Deputy Leader of the Opposition will ask his question soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The councils also include Laverton, Northam, Harvey, Gnowangerup, Carnarvon, Irwin, Dundas, Narembeen, Williams and Murray, and many more are expected to follow. (2) Will the Premier give a firm assurance that his Government will not punish these councils, or those that have yet to decide on the matter, for standing up for the interests of their local communities in this way? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
(2) Will the Premier give a firm assurance that his Government will not punish these councils, or those that have yet to decide on the matter, for standing up for the interests of their local communities in this way? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
(1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
The SPEAKER: That point is right. However, preambles are allowed. I am sure the Deputy Leader of the Opposition will ask his question soon. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The councils also include Laverton, Northam, Harvey, Gnowangerup, Carnarvon, Irwin, Dundas, Narembeen, Williams and Murray, and many more are expected to follow. (2) Will the Premier give a firm assurance that his Government will not punish these councils, or those that have yet to decide on the matter, for standing up for the interests of their local communities in this way? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
(2) Will the Premier give a firm assurance that his Government will not punish these councils, or those that have yet to decide on the matter, for standing up for the interests of their local communities in this way? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
(1)-(2) I am aware that some local authorities in Western Australia are allocating some of their hard-earned ratepayers funds to the political campaign on this issue. The Government maintains its view that hard-earned taxpayers money and hard-earned rates in any community should not be spent on political purposes. Those councils have made that decision. As representatives of local government, they have the right to make that decision. I have never questioned that right, unlike our friend the member for Warren-Blackwood when he was Minister for Local Government. Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
Mr Barron-Sullivan: You just bully and intimidate them. Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
Dr GALLOP: The councils have every right to do it. I have never questioned that right. I am aware of it. No local governments in Western Australia will be “punished” under my Government. Indeed, my Government will have partnerships with local government to develop the State of Western Australia.
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