❓ McGowan questions Barnett about statements regarding Buckeridge's James Point port proposal and its impact on a potential lawsuit. Barnett deflects, accuses Labor of supporting a wealthy Liberal supporter, and admits to an error regarding the island claim, clarifying it's a major reclamation project.
AnsweredQoN 670Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JAMES POINT — PROPOSED PORT
670. Mr
M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the James Point port
development and the Premier's comments yesterday.
(1) Does the
Premier stand by his statement yesterday that Mr Buckeridge intends to
construct an island in Cockburn Sound?
(2) Has the
Premier had any advice on his view that Mr Buckeridge intends to build an
island and the impact that this statement, if incorrect, will have on Mr Buckeridge's
claim against the state?
(3) If the
Premier's statement was incorrect, why has he not corrected the record?
670. Mr
M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the James Point port
development and the Premier's comments yesterday.
(1) Does the
Premier stand by his statement yesterday that Mr Buckeridge intends to
construct an island in Cockburn Sound?
(2) Has the
Premier had any advice on his view that Mr Buckeridge intends to build an
island and the impact that this statement, if incorrect, will have on Mr Buckeridge's
claim against the state?
(3) If the
Premier's statement was incorrect, why has he not corrected the record?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
find it a perverse outcome that the Labor Party is advocating for Len
Buckeridge in Parliament. How ironic is that! The Labor Party has come to
Parliament asking questions on behalf of Len Buckeridge, its sole leader! How
it has turned. I wonder what the unions will think of this latest strategy by
the Leader of the Opposition: ''Let us advocate for wealthy Western
Australian Liberal supporters and see if we can win some of their votes over''!
Mr R.H. Cook : Are you finished? Are you
going to answer the question now?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I just find it extraordinary.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : You're the one who makes house calls on him.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : When he was very ill, I did. That is why—he was ill.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : And do deals.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No, I do not.
I admit to an error. The Buckeridge
proposal was not an island but it was a major —
Mr
M. McGowan : Is that part of your objection?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I accept that. That was the Fremantle port one. That is
a big point the Leader of the Opposition has made here!
Mr
M. McGowan : It actually is a big point.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : What the Buckeridge proposal —
Mr
M. McGowan : When you're being sued for $1 billion, it is actually a
big point!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : This is the first win the Leader of the Opposition has had in
weeks. This is a big point! Yes, strictly it is not an island but it is a major
reclamation project going right out into Cockburn Sound. Same effect—I
do not think that is a good idea for Cockburn Sound.
Two different projects were put
forward by Buckeridge and his partners. The first of those was a bulk products
berth, which this government is supportive of. We have offered land at a proper
price. We have offered to do road and rail infrastructure improvements and the
like, which are needed. That has been made clear to Mr Buckeridge from the
beginning of the term of this government.
The other project he promotes has a
whole lot of other issues to it, not least of which, as I said yesterday, is
the reclamation of a very, very large area of Cockburn Sound. I do not want to
see Cockburn Sound turned into a parking bay for containers, because that is
what it would be. Does the Leader of the Opposition want that? Does the Leader
of the Opposition want his constituents from Rockingham looking out over that
beautiful ocean to see containers piled up in the middle of Cockburn Sound? I
do not think the Western Australian public wants that. I am absolutely amazed
that the Labor Party has come into this Parliament advocating the commercial
interest of Len Buckeridge.
find it a perverse outcome that the Labor Party is advocating for Len
Buckeridge in Parliament. How ironic is that! The Labor Party has come to
Parliament asking questions on behalf of Len Buckeridge, its sole leader! How
it has turned. I wonder what the unions will think of this latest strategy by
the Leader of the Opposition: ''Let us advocate for wealthy Western
Australian Liberal supporters and see if we can win some of their votes over''!
Mr R.H. Cook : Are you finished? Are you
going to answer the question now?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I just find it extraordinary.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : You're the one who makes house calls on him.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : When he was very ill, I did. That is why—he was ill.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : And do deals.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No, I do not.
I admit to an error. The Buckeridge
proposal was not an island but it was a major —
Mr
M. McGowan : Is that part of your objection?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I accept that. That was the Fremantle port one. That is
a big point the Leader of the Opposition has made here!
Mr
M. McGowan : It actually is a big point.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : What the Buckeridge proposal —
Mr
M. McGowan : When you're being sued for $1 billion, it is actually a
big point!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : This is the first win the Leader of the Opposition has had in
weeks. This is a big point! Yes, strictly it is not an island but it is a major
reclamation project going right out into Cockburn Sound. Same effect—I
do not think that is a good idea for Cockburn Sound.
Two different projects were put
forward by Buckeridge and his partners. The first of those was a bulk products
berth, which this government is supportive of. We have offered land at a proper
price. We have offered to do road and rail infrastructure improvements and the
like, which are needed. That has been made clear to Mr Buckeridge from the
beginning of the term of this government.
The other project he promotes has a
whole lot of other issues to it, not least of which, as I said yesterday, is
the reclamation of a very, very large area of Cockburn Sound. I do not want to
see Cockburn Sound turned into a parking bay for containers, because that is
what it would be. Does the Leader of the Opposition want that? Does the Leader
of the Opposition want his constituents from Rockingham looking out over that
beautiful ocean to see containers piled up in the middle of Cockburn Sound? I
do not think the Western Australian public wants that. I am absolutely amazed
that the Labor Party has come into this Parliament advocating the commercial
interest of Len Buckeridge.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.