❓ Question regarding the Premier's support for Kim Beazley's stance on ACT's civil union legislation and whether WA would introduce similar laws. The Premier avoids a direct answer, focusing on jurisdictional rights and criticising Commonwealth overreach.
AnsweredQoN 374Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CIVIL UNION LEGISLATION - AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
I refer to Kim Beazley’s decision to support the Australian Capital Territory’s civil union legislation, which endorses what has been described as being akin to same-sex marriage. (1) Does the Premier support Kim Beazley’s decision to back the ACT’s civil union legislation? (2) If so, will the Premier introduce similar legislation in Western Australia? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
I refer to Kim Beazley’s decision to support the Australian Capital Territory’s civil union legislation, which endorses what has been described as being akin to same-sex marriage. (1) Does the Premier support Kim Beazley’s decision to back the ACT’s civil union legislation? (2) If so, will the Premier introduce similar legislation in Western Australia? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
(1) Does the Premier support Kim Beazley’s decision to back the ACT’s civil union legislation? (2) If so, will the Premier introduce similar legislation in Western Australia? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
(2) If so, will the Premier introduce similar legislation in Western Australia? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
(1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
(1) Does the Premier support Kim Beazley’s decision to back the ACT’s civil union legislation? (2) If so, will the Premier introduce similar legislation in Western Australia? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
(2) If so, will the Premier introduce similar legislation in Western Australia? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
(1)-(2) There are all sorts of levels at which one could respond. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! I am sure that everyone behind the Premier and on the other side of the house can answer the question better than the Premier. However, the Premier will give the answer without the assistance of people who think they should answer the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will truncate my intended response by putting it this way: the ACT government enacted laws, as it is empowered to do by the people who elect it. It is an unwise and, I believe, undesirable trend that we are seeing in the national political dynamics that the commonwealth government, on a range of matters, seeks to override other jurisdictions. If the people of the ACT were so offended by the decision of their territory government, they have the right to change their vote at the next election and do something about it.
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