❓ Mr. Birney questions Mr. Kobelke's understanding of how federal industrial relations laws affect WA public servants, particularly regarding the need for some to revert to the state system. Mr. Kobelke accuses Mr. Birney of making incorrect statements and misunderstanding the issue.
AnsweredQoN 335Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to his press release in response to my assertion that no state government employees will be affected by the federal government’s new industrial relations laws, unless they work for a corporatised body such as Western Power or the Water Corporation. His press release states in part - . . . Matt Birney’s claims today that Howard’s ‘IR reforms won’t affect Western Australian public servants’ shows a sad and disappointing ignorance of the issue. . . . “The fact is teachers - along with nurses, hospital support workers, firefighters and other groups of public sector workers - are already in the Federal industrial relations system . . . (1) Is the minister aware that all the aforementioned state public servants currently covered by the federal system will have to revert to the state system under the proposed changes and, therefore, will not be covered by the new laws, a fact confirmed to me at nine o’clock this morning by Minister Andrews’ senior adviser, the architect of the legislation? (2) As the state minister responsible for this area, how could the minister not know this fact? (3) Does the minister agree that he has shown a sad and disappointing ignorance of this issue? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
. . . “The fact is teachers - along with nurses, hospital support workers, firefighters and other groups of public sector workers - are already in the Federal industrial relations system . . .
“The fact is teachers - along with nurses, hospital support workers, firefighters and other groups of public sector workers - are already in the Federal industrial relations system . . .
(2) As the state minister responsible for this area, how could the minister not know this fact? (3) Does the minister agree that he has shown a sad and disappointing ignorance of this issue? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
(3) Does the minister agree that he has shown a sad and disappointing ignorance of this issue? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
(1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
. . . “The fact is teachers - along with nurses, hospital support workers, firefighters and other groups of public sector workers - are already in the Federal industrial relations system . . .
“The fact is teachers - along with nurses, hospital support workers, firefighters and other groups of public sector workers - are already in the Federal industrial relations system . . .
(2) As the state minister responsible for this area, how could the minister not know this fact? (3) Does the minister agree that he has shown a sad and disappointing ignorance of this issue? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
(3) Does the minister agree that he has shown a sad and disappointing ignorance of this issue? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
(1)-(3) I quite genuinely thank the Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity to point out to him in the chamber that he has got it absolutely wrong again. I thought that after he had spoken about his wish to meet the Pope’s partner, he might ensure that he knew what he was talking about before he launched into such statements. The media statement released by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that no public servants would be affected by the Howard industrial relations changes. Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
Mr M.J. Birney : Except corporatised public servants. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : No; the headline stated that no public servants would be affected. The Leader of the Opposition was not even consistent in his media statement, because it went on to say that public servants would have to revert to the state system. Why would they revert to the state system if they were not affected? The Leader of the Opposition has acknowledged that the headline of his media statement was wrong; that is, public sector workers will be affected by the Howard government’s changes to industrial relations laws. He has admitted it because he has said that the only way they can escape those draconian measures is to return to the protection of the state system. The Leader of the Opposition got it wrong. He should try to learn something about the things he talks about, instead of making an absolute fool of himself in this place by getting it wrong and making sure that we draw attention to it. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Vasse and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order.
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