❓ Opposition leader Barnett questions Premier Gallop about the Health Minister's alleged threatening behaviour towards protesters of health service relocation. Gallop defends the Minister, citing offensive signs targeting Aboriginal people as context.
AnsweredQoN 228Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to the public meeting attended by the Minister for Health in Derby on 18 August 2002, at which some signs were displayed by both indigenous and non-indigenous residents protesting against the relocation of health services from Derby to Broome. (1) Is the Premier aware that the Minister for Health told a crowd of around 320 residents that if he found the person who made those signs, he would kick that person in the backside, and that he would like to have a one-on-one meeting with the person who made those signs? (2) How does the Premier reconcile this threatening and intimidatory behaviour with the Government’s so-called commitment to engage in genuine consultation on the best forms of health service provision in the Kimberley region, and what action will the Premier take to discipline the Minister for Health? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
(1) Is the Premier aware that the Minister for Health told a crowd of around 320 residents that if he found the person who made those signs, he would kick that person in the backside, and that he would like to have a one-on-one meeting with the person who made those signs? (2) How does the Premier reconcile this threatening and intimidatory behaviour with the Government’s so-called commitment to engage in genuine consultation on the best forms of health service provision in the Kimberley region, and what action will the Premier take to discipline the Minister for Health? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
(2) How does the Premier reconcile this threatening and intimidatory behaviour with the Government’s so-called commitment to engage in genuine consultation on the best forms of health service provision in the Kimberley region, and what action will the Premier take to discipline the Minister for Health? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
(1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
(1) Is the Premier aware that the Minister for Health told a crowd of around 320 residents that if he found the person who made those signs, he would kick that person in the backside, and that he would like to have a one-on-one meeting with the person who made those signs? (2) How does the Premier reconcile this threatening and intimidatory behaviour with the Government’s so-called commitment to engage in genuine consultation on the best forms of health service provision in the Kimberley region, and what action will the Premier take to discipline the Minister for Health? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
(2) How does the Premier reconcile this threatening and intimidatory behaviour with the Government’s so-called commitment to engage in genuine consultation on the best forms of health service provision in the Kimberley region, and what action will the Premier take to discipline the Minister for Health? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
(1)-(2) The Minister for Health is carrying out the Government’s policies in regional Western Australia. In so doing, he is consulting with the communities on those matters. One of the great strengths of Australia is its democracy and the willing nature of the debates that we have about the future of our nation. However, on occasions in these situations people get carried away and sometimes say things that they might regret afterwards. Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: What are you going to do? Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I am not referring to the Minister for Health. I believe that some signs were indeed placed regarding this issue, and they were highly offensive to Aboriginal people. The Minister for Health responded to that fact with the comments that he made. I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
I will say a couple of things. Firstly, we have willing debate in our community, and that is to the strength of Australian democracy. Secondly, I do not think it is appropriate for people to cast aspersions on Aboriginal people in some of the debates that we have. If the Minister for Health responded vigorously to a sign that implied racial prejudice, he would have done that with the support of this side of the House.
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