❓ Dr. Honey questions the Premier about initiating an impartial review of the COVID-19 response, referencing an Auditor General's report. The Premier defends the government's actions, citing positive health and economic outcomes, and states a review may occur in the future.
AnsweredQoN 256Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — RESPONSE REVIEW
256. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I
refer to the Audit results report—Annual 2020–21 financial
audits of state government entities: Part 2: COVID-19 impacts released by the Auditor General yesterday in which the auditor suggests
significant future benefit would be granted by WA undertaking a systematic
impartial examination of the response to the pandemic.
(1) Noting this
is a process that is underway in other states, will the Premier undertake to
initiate such an impartial review?
(2) Given that
the Premier intends to continue managing WA using state of emergency powers,
can he confirm when he will begin governing in a transparent manner?
256. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I
refer to the Audit results report—Annual 2020–21 financial
audits of state government entities: Part 2: COVID-19 impacts released by the Auditor General yesterday in which the auditor suggests
significant future benefit would be granted by WA undertaking a systematic
impartial examination of the response to the pandemic.
(1) Noting this
is a process that is underway in other states, will the Premier undertake to
initiate such an impartial review?
(2) Given that
the Premier intends to continue managing WA using state of emergency powers,
can he confirm when he will begin governing in a transparent manner?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
second part of the question is stupid. We are obviously here and all the
systems of government operate as normal. The Auditor General, the Ombudsman,
the Corruption and Crime Commission, the Parliament and the courts—everything
operates as normal. The state of emergency powers allow us to enforce mask
wearing in hospitals and aged-care facilities, daily rapid antigen testing for
close contacts and restrictions on cruise ships. They are a very light touch,
but they are designed to save lives. I might add that it is a bit controversial.
I have other groups out there in the community demanding that everyone wear a mask
virtually all the time. We have adopted a cautious but reasonable approach in
the circumstances we face.
Today
we have around 280 people in hospital with COVID. I think there are six to
eight people in intensive care. Those figures are amazingly good
compared with what was predicted over the course of COVID. The modelling
suggested that it would be far more dire than that. The reason we are in that
position is that we did difficult things as
a state. That is why we are in that position. The two most difficult things we did were to close the borders to keep COVID out and mandate vaccines for large
parts of the workforce. Had we not done those difficult things, the state would
have been in a very dire position; many hundreds, if not thousands, of people
would have died and many thousands of jobs would have been lost. We did
difficult things to save people's lives and their jobs in Western Australia,
and I am proud of the fact that we did that, despite the member's
criticisms. Other states and countries around the world wish they were in Western
Australia's position.
In terms of an analysis of what has
occurred over the last couple of years, at some point in time I am sure that
something will occur. I am unaware of what other states have done. I am
certainly not at all afraid of any sort of inquiry into it. But we are not
actually out of it yet; we have not finished dealing with it. We had 11 000 or 12 000 cases today. It is not over
yet. Obviously, when it is over, we can look at what can be put in
place. I am very confident about the outcome of any inquiry because I know that
we did everything we possibly could to protect Western Australia, so much so
now we have the best health outcomes in Australia as a country, the best health
outcomes in the world and the best economic outcomes in Australia bar none, and I expect the best economic outcomes
in the world. If you want to criticise that, fill your boots!
second part of the question is stupid. We are obviously here and all the
systems of government operate as normal. The Auditor General, the Ombudsman,
the Corruption and Crime Commission, the Parliament and the courts—everything
operates as normal. The state of emergency powers allow us to enforce mask
wearing in hospitals and aged-care facilities, daily rapid antigen testing for
close contacts and restrictions on cruise ships. They are a very light touch,
but they are designed to save lives. I might add that it is a bit controversial.
I have other groups out there in the community demanding that everyone wear a mask
virtually all the time. We have adopted a cautious but reasonable approach in
the circumstances we face.
Today
we have around 280 people in hospital with COVID. I think there are six to
eight people in intensive care. Those figures are amazingly good
compared with what was predicted over the course of COVID. The modelling
suggested that it would be far more dire than that. The reason we are in that
position is that we did difficult things as
a state. That is why we are in that position. The two most difficult things we did were to close the borders to keep COVID out and mandate vaccines for large
parts of the workforce. Had we not done those difficult things, the state would
have been in a very dire position; many hundreds, if not thousands, of people
would have died and many thousands of jobs would have been lost. We did
difficult things to save people's lives and their jobs in Western Australia,
and I am proud of the fact that we did that, despite the member's
criticisms. Other states and countries around the world wish they were in Western
Australia's position.
In terms of an analysis of what has
occurred over the last couple of years, at some point in time I am sure that
something will occur. I am unaware of what other states have done. I am
certainly not at all afraid of any sort of inquiry into it. But we are not
actually out of it yet; we have not finished dealing with it. We had 11 000 or 12 000 cases today. It is not over
yet. Obviously, when it is over, we can look at what can be put in
place. I am very confident about the outcome of any inquiry because I know that
we did everything we possibly could to protect Western Australia, so much so
now we have the best health outcomes in Australia as a country, the best health
outcomes in the world and the best economic outcomes in Australia bar none, and I expect the best economic outcomes
in the world. If you want to criticise that, fill your boots!
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