❓ Ms. Quirk questions the Premier on his stance on racial discrimination laws and the review of the Equal Opportunity Commission. The Premier condemns racial vilification but defends reviewing the EOC due to overlap with national legislation and the Public Sector Commissioner.
AnsweredQoN 193Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT — EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
193. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
I refer to the comments of the
Premier's New South Wales colleague, Hon Barry O'Farrell, last
week on proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act, when he observed —
we must not lower our defences against
the evil of racial or religious intolerance,''
''Bigotry should never be
sanctioned, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
(1) Does the
Premier intend to exercise the same leadership as Mr O'Farrell and
publicly express his views on the risks associated with the federal government
diluting race and religious hate laws?
(2) Can the
Premier explain the rationale for his own government reviewing —
Mr B.J. Grylls interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I call
you to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I repeat my question —
(2) Can the
Premier explain the rationale for his own government reviewing the operations
of its own Equal Opportunity Commission and abolishing the substantive equality
unit charged with ensuring fair and equal service delivery by the public
sector?
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
193. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
I refer to the comments of the
Premier's New South Wales colleague, Hon Barry O'Farrell, last
week on proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act, when he observed —
we must not lower our defences against
the evil of racial or religious intolerance,''
''Bigotry should never be
sanctioned, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
(1) Does the
Premier intend to exercise the same leadership as Mr O'Farrell and
publicly express his views on the risks associated with the federal government
diluting race and religious hate laws?
(2) Can the
Premier explain the rationale for his own government reviewing —
Mr B.J. Grylls interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I call
you to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : I repeat my question —
(2) Can the
Premier explain the rationale for his own government reviewing the operations
of its own Equal Opportunity Commission and abolishing the substantive equality
unit charged with ensuring fair and equal service delivery by the public
sector?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I think all members of this house and I would hope all members of the Western
Australian community—certainly, the vast majority—would condemn
racial vilification. The pursuit of someone, the degrading comments and the
like have no place in a modern Australia. However, there again can be a limit.
If someone makes just an offhand comment, it should not be necessarily
interpreted as vilification.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am not going to give an example, Mr Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The pursuit of someone over race or religion in a way that is demeaning,
insulting and offensive has no place in Australian society.
With respect to equal opportunity here, since the Western
Australian legislation was introduced, there is now national legislation.
Indeed, there is an overlap between the role of the Public Sector Commissioner
and the Equal Opportunity Commission in this state, and the Attorney General is
looking at that. We are looking at streamlining government across the board.
What happens out of that? No decision has been made by this government, but I
think there are strong grounds for putting at least a significant part, if not
all, of equal opportunity under the Public Sector Commissioner.
I think all members of this house and I would hope all members of the Western
Australian community—certainly, the vast majority—would condemn
racial vilification. The pursuit of someone, the degrading comments and the
like have no place in a modern Australia. However, there again can be a limit.
If someone makes just an offhand comment, it should not be necessarily
interpreted as vilification.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am not going to give an example, Mr Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Armadale, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The pursuit of someone over race or religion in a way that is demeaning,
insulting and offensive has no place in Australian society.
With respect to equal opportunity here, since the Western
Australian legislation was introduced, there is now national legislation.
Indeed, there is an overlap between the role of the Public Sector Commissioner
and the Equal Opportunity Commission in this state, and the Attorney General is
looking at that. We are looking at streamlining government across the board.
What happens out of that? No decision has been made by this government, but I
think there are strong grounds for putting at least a significant part, if not
all, of equal opportunity under the Public Sector Commissioner.
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