Mrs Warr questions the Premier on the justification for the demersal fishing ban amid cost-of-living concerns. The Premier deflects, accusing the opposition of jeopardizing fish stocks for political gain.

AnsweredQoN 5Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 February 2026
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

Demersal fishing ban5.Mrs Kirrilee Warrto
the Premier:I have a
supplementary question. How can the Premier justify a policy that is forcing
Western Australians to pay more for WA seafood during a cost-of-living crisis?

AnswerView source ↗

At last we have a
policy from the National Party—Mr David Michael:Copy One Nation!Mr Roger Cook:Listen to Barnaby Joyce and do whatever
he tells you.What they are saying
is that they are happy to devastate the commercial fishing industry, the
recreational fishing community and the charter fishing industry by trashing the
fish stocks of our state under some sort of concocted idea that it is a cost-of-living
measure. How irresponsible is that?Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!Mr Roger Cook:The question is: Where does the Leader
of the Opposition line up in this? Is he happy to follow the Nationals and tear
up these arrangements to protect our fish stocks? Is the Leader of the
Opposition happy to be led by the nose by the Nationals and just walk blindly
down this corridor and follow them to adopt a situation where he will trash
fish stocks for future generations?Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!Mr Roger Cook:Is this really where we have—Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Premier, please just pause. Members of
the opposition, you are making it very difficult for me to hear the Premier's
response. This is a supplementary question. He is just about to conclude. Thank
you, Premier.Mr Roger Cook:Is this really what they have come to,
where they are willing to trash the interests of future generations of Western
Australians for their own rank political gain now? I think they have reached a
new low. The National Party is leading the Liberal Party and the Liberal Party
is blindly following it down this pathway of trashing our environment without a
care or interest for future generations of Western Australians.
Demersal fishing ban
5.Mrs Kirrilee Warrto
the Premier:
I have a
supplementary question. How can the Premier justify a policy that is forcing
Western Australians to pay more for WA seafood during a cost-of-living crisis?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
At last we have a
policy from the National Party—
Mr David Michael:Copy One Nation!
Mr Roger Cook:Listen to Barnaby Joyce and do whatever
he tells you.
What they are saying
is that they are happy to devastate the commercial fishing industry, the
recreational fishing community and the charter fishing industry by trashing the
fish stocks of our state under some sort of concocted idea that it is a cost-of-living
measure. How irresponsible is that?
Mr Lachlan Hunterinterjected.
The Speaker:Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr Roger Cook:The question is: Where does the Leader
of the Opposition line up in this? Is he happy to follow the Nationals and tear
up these arrangements to protect our fish stocks? Is the Leader of the
Opposition happy to be led by the nose by the Nationals and just walk blindly
down this corridor and follow them to adopt a situation where he will trash
fish stocks for future generations?
Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.
The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Roger Cook:Is this really where we have—
Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.
The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Premier, please just pause. Members of
the opposition, you are making it very difficult for me to hear the Premier's
response. This is a supplementary question. He is just about to conclude. Thank
you, Premier.
Mr Roger Cook:Is this really what they have come to,
where they are willing to trash the interests of future generations of Western
Australians for their own rank political gain now? I think they have reached a
new low. The National Party is leading the Liberal Party and the Liberal Party
is blindly following it down this pathway of trashing our environment without a
care or interest for future generations of Western Australians.

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