❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Premier regarding the effectiveness of the proposed trespass legislation in deterring animal rights activists, specifically referencing James Warden. The Premier defends the legislation and accuses the Liberal Party of supporting animal cruelty, leading to a point of order.
AnsweredQoN 503Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ANIMAL WELFARE AND
TRESPASS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2020
503. Mr
P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I think there is absolute
bipartisan support for Australia getting the FIFA Women's World Cup.
I refer to the comments of vegan
activist James Warden yesterday, reported by numerous media outlets, in which
he stated that the McGowan government's trespass legislation will not
stop him or his activists from their nefarious activities. What does the Premier
say to Western Australian farmers, given one of the worst offending trespassers
is completely undeterred by his government's proposed trespass laws?
TRESPASS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2020
503. Mr
P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I think there is absolute
bipartisan support for Australia getting the FIFA Women's World Cup.
I refer to the comments of vegan
activist James Warden yesterday, reported by numerous media outlets, in which
he stated that the McGowan government's trespass legislation will not
stop him or his activists from their nefarious activities. What does the Premier
say to Western Australian farmers, given one of the worst offending trespassers
is completely undeterred by his government's proposed trespass laws?
AnswerView source ↗
We are bringing in laws that we
committed to, which will significantly toughen penalties for those people who
engage in practices like Mr Warden and his followers. We have taken some time
to draft this legislation to get it right, which has a range of increases in
penalties and, as I recall, some other measures to inhibit the behaviour of people like Mr Warden. I cannot help what Mr
Warden says in front of the camera. Is the member actually suggesting that somehow I can stop what he might say in front of a camera? If he engages
in those practices and goes before a court, obviously the penalties available
to the court are far more significant. The legislation we have brought before
Parliament is very elegant. It not only deals with the activists who might
invade and inhibit the operations of a farm and stop farmers from going about
their lawful business, but it also provides an inspection capacity for the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to inspect abattoirs,
intensive chicken farms, and piggeries and the like, which is long overdue. It
is something that should have been in place for a long period in the interests
of animal welfare. But it shows that we have the balance right. We have put in
place measures to deal with people like Mr Warden and to allow for inspections
to protect animal welfare. It is a bit like our puppy farming laws, which are
before Parliament today, which are designed to protect the welfare of dogs and
puppies. It is a pity the Liberal Party does not support those laws. I have not
finished yet. It is a pity the Liberal Party appears to be in favour of cruelty to dogs. It is a very sad, sad
day. I must say that I do not understand the leadership or the judgement of the Liberal Party on these things. I do not understand why it would support
cruelty to animals in the way that it does. I do not think that it is in tune
with the people of Western Australia.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : The
Premier is impugning —
The SPEAKER : The Premier is
sitting down, so I think —
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : I beg your
pardon? Oh, you are here, are you?
Mrs A.K. Hayden : Yes.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Point of
order, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Point of order—go
on, but the Premier has already sat down.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Well, that
is okay then.
The SPEAKER : Well, what was
your point of order? You are just standing there doing nothing!
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : I am
waiting for the call from you, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : I called you
twice.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : I am
waiting for the call from you, but, of course, we are just trying to continue
with the operations of this house. The Premier was impugning the motives of the
Liberal Party members, suggesting that we somehow support animal cruelty, and I
ask him to withdraw.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Is everyone
happy with their comments? Leader of the House, is this on the point of order?
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Yes. Mr
Speaker, there is no point of order.
The SPEAKER : It is not a point of order. It was not an
individual one; it was a group one, so we are talking about a group of people
and not an individual.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Excuse me,
member for Darling Range! I will call you twice. Twice now you have ummed and
ahed when I am making a decision. Member for Darling Range, I call you to order
for the second time.
committed to, which will significantly toughen penalties for those people who
engage in practices like Mr Warden and his followers. We have taken some time
to draft this legislation to get it right, which has a range of increases in
penalties and, as I recall, some other measures to inhibit the behaviour of people like Mr Warden. I cannot help what Mr
Warden says in front of the camera. Is the member actually suggesting that somehow I can stop what he might say in front of a camera? If he engages
in those practices and goes before a court, obviously the penalties available
to the court are far more significant. The legislation we have brought before
Parliament is very elegant. It not only deals with the activists who might
invade and inhibit the operations of a farm and stop farmers from going about
their lawful business, but it also provides an inspection capacity for the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to inspect abattoirs,
intensive chicken farms, and piggeries and the like, which is long overdue. It
is something that should have been in place for a long period in the interests
of animal welfare. But it shows that we have the balance right. We have put in
place measures to deal with people like Mr Warden and to allow for inspections
to protect animal welfare. It is a bit like our puppy farming laws, which are
before Parliament today, which are designed to protect the welfare of dogs and
puppies. It is a pity the Liberal Party does not support those laws. I have not
finished yet. It is a pity the Liberal Party appears to be in favour of cruelty to dogs. It is a very sad, sad
day. I must say that I do not understand the leadership or the judgement of the Liberal Party on these things. I do not understand why it would support
cruelty to animals in the way that it does. I do not think that it is in tune
with the people of Western Australia.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : The
Premier is impugning —
The SPEAKER : The Premier is
sitting down, so I think —
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : I beg your
pardon? Oh, you are here, are you?
Mrs A.K. Hayden : Yes.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Point of
order, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Point of order—go
on, but the Premier has already sat down.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Well, that
is okay then.
The SPEAKER : Well, what was
your point of order? You are just standing there doing nothing!
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : I am
waiting for the call from you, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : I called you
twice.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : I am
waiting for the call from you, but, of course, we are just trying to continue
with the operations of this house. The Premier was impugning the motives of the
Liberal Party members, suggesting that we somehow support animal cruelty, and I
ask him to withdraw.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Is everyone
happy with their comments? Leader of the House, is this on the point of order?
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Yes. Mr
Speaker, there is no point of order.
The SPEAKER : It is not a point of order. It was not an
individual one; it was a group one, so we are talking about a group of people
and not an individual.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Excuse me,
member for Darling Range! I will call you twice. Twice now you have ummed and
ahed when I am making a decision. Member for Darling Range, I call you to order
for the second time.
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