❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Premier about transparency regarding negotiations for a Perth NRL team. The Premier defends the process, highlighting broad support for the initiative.
AnsweredQoN 90Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
National Rugby League—Western Australian licence
90. Mr Peter Rundle to
the Premier:
I refer to the rumoured National Rugby League team that
may be established in Perth and the Premier's refusal to release the
economic analysis underpinning his secretive negotiations with Peter V'landys.
(1) Why do east coast rugby league clubs get to
know the details of the Premier's offer before Western Australians?
(2) Given the government's commitment to
gold-standard transparency, will the Premier commit to releasing the details of
his secret economic analysis to the Western Australian public?
90. Mr Peter Rundle to
the Premier:
I refer to the rumoured National Rugby League team that
may be established in Perth and the Premier's refusal to release the
economic analysis underpinning his secretive negotiations with Peter V'landys.
(1) Why do east coast rugby league clubs get to
know the details of the Premier's offer before Western Australians?
(2) Given the government's commitment to
gold-standard transparency, will the Premier commit to releasing the details of
his secret economic analysis to the Western Australian public?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. He might have gathered that I kind of like talking about NRL!
(1)–(2) As the member knows, over the past
few weeks the state has engaged in further negotiations with the Australian
Rugby League Commission about establishing an NRL club here in WA. While we
have taken a strong negotiating position, these discussions have proved
positive and respectful. As part of these negotiations, we have put a revised
and final position to the ARLC. Should that approval be provided by the ARLC,
the state will be transparent about the terms of any agreement reached. Should
we not reach agreement, this will obviously be a massive loss of opportunity to
Western Australia. We will not make any further comment until these discussions
are concluded. We know that bringing an NRL franchise to Western Australia
would obviously be a highly important opportunity for WA. There is a huge
amount of economic activity that takes place as part of these national sporting
codes and, of course, there will be extra opportunities for tourists to come to
Western Australia as part of the home-and-away fixtures, like we experience
with AFL. Obviously, West Aussies love their sport, and that is why they—
Mr Basil Zempilas: They love AFL!
Mr Roger Cook: West Aussies love their sport, Mr
Speaker. We do love AFL, but we also love basketball; we love football; we love
baseball; we love netball, and we love NRL as well. I am not the only person
who is passionate about bringing a WA NRL franchise to this state. For
instance, the Leader of the Liberal Party actually said this in supporting
letters to the ARLC. He said on 6PR that he would enjoy our National Rugby
League team. He said that he would go from time to time, and that he would
enjoy having it.
Several
members interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: He actually said, when he was Lord Mayor
of the City of Perth, that a WA NRL entity would be a win–win for the
new club, the WA government, the City of Perth, broadcasters and the NRL. He
said that he encouraged favourable consideration of the case put forward.
The Leader of the Opposition is not alone. The Leader of the
Nationals is also an effusive supporter of the NRL. At this point he was the
Leader of the Opposition. He stated:
… I write to leave my support
to Western Australia to be awarded the 18th National Rugby League (NRL)
licence, scheduled to commence in 2027.
Mr Speaker, even the member for Roe supported it. He loves
it. I know the member for Roe. He got behind it as well. There is another
person who is well known to those opposite: a chap by the name of Peter Dutton.
He said:
We are writing to express our full
support for the WA bid for the 18th NRL license,
WA has the necessary resources, talent,
and support base to become a valuable addition to the NRL.
Mr Speaker, we have a breakthrough. At last, there is
something me and Peter Dutton agree on! My notes also say that the member for
Roe, who was the shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, also wrote a letter
of support. But, of course, there is so much effusive support from the other
members that my notes do not extend that far. We know that bringing an NRL team
to Western Australia will be a great opportunity. It will create extra jobs,
extra visitors—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker : Leader of the Opposition. Members! Leader of the
Opposition. The member for Roe may still get to ask his supplementary question
if the Premier wraps it up.
Mr Roger Cook: Most of all, Mr Speaker, Western
Australians love their sport and it would be a great opportunity for another WA
team to whip the eastern states on the sporting field.
for the question. He might have gathered that I kind of like talking about NRL!
(1)–(2) As the member knows, over the past
few weeks the state has engaged in further negotiations with the Australian
Rugby League Commission about establishing an NRL club here in WA. While we
have taken a strong negotiating position, these discussions have proved
positive and respectful. As part of these negotiations, we have put a revised
and final position to the ARLC. Should that approval be provided by the ARLC,
the state will be transparent about the terms of any agreement reached. Should
we not reach agreement, this will obviously be a massive loss of opportunity to
Western Australia. We will not make any further comment until these discussions
are concluded. We know that bringing an NRL franchise to Western Australia
would obviously be a highly important opportunity for WA. There is a huge
amount of economic activity that takes place as part of these national sporting
codes and, of course, there will be extra opportunities for tourists to come to
Western Australia as part of the home-and-away fixtures, like we experience
with AFL. Obviously, West Aussies love their sport, and that is why they—
Mr Basil Zempilas: They love AFL!
Mr Roger Cook: West Aussies love their sport, Mr
Speaker. We do love AFL, but we also love basketball; we love football; we love
baseball; we love netball, and we love NRL as well. I am not the only person
who is passionate about bringing a WA NRL franchise to this state. For
instance, the Leader of the Liberal Party actually said this in supporting
letters to the ARLC. He said on 6PR that he would enjoy our National Rugby
League team. He said that he would go from time to time, and that he would
enjoy having it.
Several
members interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: He actually said, when he was Lord Mayor
of the City of Perth, that a WA NRL entity would be a win–win for the
new club, the WA government, the City of Perth, broadcasters and the NRL. He
said that he encouraged favourable consideration of the case put forward.
The Leader of the Opposition is not alone. The Leader of the
Nationals is also an effusive supporter of the NRL. At this point he was the
Leader of the Opposition. He stated:
… I write to leave my support
to Western Australia to be awarded the 18th National Rugby League (NRL)
licence, scheduled to commence in 2027.
Mr Speaker, even the member for Roe supported it. He loves
it. I know the member for Roe. He got behind it as well. There is another
person who is well known to those opposite: a chap by the name of Peter Dutton.
He said:
We are writing to express our full
support for the WA bid for the 18th NRL license,
WA has the necessary resources, talent,
and support base to become a valuable addition to the NRL.
Mr Speaker, we have a breakthrough. At last, there is
something me and Peter Dutton agree on! My notes also say that the member for
Roe, who was the shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, also wrote a letter
of support. But, of course, there is so much effusive support from the other
members that my notes do not extend that far. We know that bringing an NRL team
to Western Australia will be a great opportunity. It will create extra jobs,
extra visitors—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker : Leader of the Opposition. Members! Leader of the
Opposition. The member for Roe may still get to ask his supplementary question
if the Premier wraps it up.
Mr Roger Cook: Most of all, Mr Speaker, Western
Australians love their sport and it would be a great opportunity for another WA
team to whip the eastern states on the sporting field.
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