❓ Question about road safety resources and traffic enforcement in WA, overshadowed by parliamentary disorder and accusations between members. The Minister mentions a new traffic operations facility and future budget commitments.
AnsweredQoN 414Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD SAFETY — TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT
The minister recently visited my electorate to announce new road safety traffic measures to curb dangerous road behaviour on suburban streets. My question is different from the previous question asked by the member for Girrawheen. Can the minister outline what resources are being directed to road safety, particularly in the area of policing, to enable Western Australia Police to carry out traffic enforcement in this state? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
The minister recently visited my electorate to announce new road safety traffic measures to curb dangerous road behaviour on suburban streets. My question is different from the previous question asked by the member for Girrawheen. Can the minister outline what resources are being directed to road safety, particularly in the area of policing, to enable Western Australia Police to carry out traffic enforcement in this state? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
I am delighted with the question because it once again shows the commitment of this government not only to road safety but also to policing in this state. Mr D.A. Templeman : Will you take the police motorbikes off the road? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I am delighted with the question because it once again shows the commitment of this government not only to road safety but also to policing in this state. Mr D.A. Templeman : Will you take the police motorbikes off the road? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
I am delighted with the question because it once again shows the commitment of this government not only to road safety but also to policing in this state. Mr D.A. Templeman : Will you take the police motorbikes off the road? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Will you take the police motorbikes off the road? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I am delighted with the question because it once again shows the commitment of this government not only to road safety but also to policing in this state. Mr D.A. Templeman : Will you take the police motorbikes off the road? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
I am delighted with the question because it once again shows the commitment of this government not only to road safety but also to policing in this state. Mr D.A. Templeman : Will you take the police motorbikes off the road? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Will you take the police motorbikes off the road? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Who is that mumbling? There is a mouse somewhere. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Better than the bloody great sewer rat that we’re looking at. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : That is not on. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Well, if you insult our side, I’ll protect them. Withdrawal of Remark The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, in the spirit of what you have offered to the house, I do not want to be the minister’s minder on a daily basis; however, I would ask you to withdraw that particular comment. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : I withdraw. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : I note that the member for Armadale has been required to withdraw for referring to someone as a species of rodent. I would ask that if that is the case, the Leader of the House should be required to withdraw his comment as well. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Further to that point of order, if I may — Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr M. McGowan : No double standards. Just withdraw. The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The SPEAKER : Member for Rockingham, I want to hear from the Minister for Police. I do not want to hear from anybody else. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : On the point of order raised by the manager of opposition business, what I said prior to — Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Don’t repeat it; just withdraw it. The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The SPEAKER : Members, I did instruct the house—I think it was fairly clearly heard—that the only person I wanted to hear from was the Minister for Police. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I certainly would not call anybody in this house a sewer rat. I heard a mumbling from somewhere on the other side of the house. I did not know who it was. I did not identify any member. Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr M. McGowan : Neither did she. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I simply said, “Was that the rumblings of a mouse?” That was not said in an offensive way. I would not even call a member in this house a mouse. I certainly would not call a member a sewer rat. The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The SPEAKER : Members, I have asked the member for Armadale to withdraw the comment that she made and she has done that. Minister, I do not know what you thought you might have heard or might not have heard. I am going to accept it this time but I will be paying very close attention to what you say in future in this place. I urge you to rapidly deliver an answer to this question. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I truly do want to answer this question. In the absence of any interjections, I will be able to do that. I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
I wanted to say that this government will be showing a huge commitment to law and order and road safety in its budget tomorrow. We have shown a commitment thus far. I had the great pleasure recently to open the new traffic operations facility at Midland. When I was there, I complimented the former police ministers who played a part in our having that new facility. I mentioned that the member for Balcatta played a part and supported it, as did the member for Midland and the member for Kalamunda. These three former police ministers had shown a commitment to the policing facilities in this state. I was not trying to score political points. I wanted to assure the house that as soon as I became police minister, I took my role very seriously — Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr M. McGowan : Kangaroo. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : The Speaker obviously did not hear the member say that, otherwise he would have called the member to order and asked him to withdraw it. The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The facility at Midland is the third of three: one is a communications centre, one is a forensic facility and this one is the traffic operations centre. It has been a tremendous benefit in not only road safety issues directly but also indirectly through law and order policing in this state. It has caught many people—too many people in my view—who have been either over the legal limit while they were driving or who have been using drugs while they were driving. I believe that the number of people who have been caught with illegal drugs in their system is not acceptable. Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Ms M.M. Quirk : So you are going to roll it out statewide? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I say to the member that there is only one more sleep. The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
The present level of dangerous driving is not only unacceptable now but also it will be unacceptable in the future, because those sorts of people put lives at risk on our roads and it is all part of an illegal trade. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, and the member, who I know has a very keen interest in this area, that the government will continue to take road safety, law and order, and driving carefully on our roads very seriously and will continue to stop people who are putting other people’s lives at risk.
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