❓ Mrs. Harvey questions Premier McGowan on why the WA government isn't funding school commitments made by Bill Shorten during the federal election. McGowan strongly refutes the suggestion that the state government should fund federal promises, calling the question 'dumb'.
AnsweredQoN 405Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WANNEROO SCHOOLS —
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMITMENTS
405. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Why is the Premier refusing to fund these school commitments that were made?
Mr M. McGowan : Who made
them?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I am on my feet. I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Why is the
Premier refusing to fund these school commitments that Bill Shorten made —
Several members interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : —
when he is backfilling other commitments Bill Shorten made, like funding Collie
Hospital?
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right, your leader is on his feet.
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMITMENTS
405. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Why is the Premier refusing to fund these school commitments that were made?
Mr M. McGowan : Who made
them?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I am on my feet. I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Why is the
Premier refusing to fund these school commitments that Bill Shorten made —
Several members interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : —
when he is backfilling other commitments Bill Shorten made, like funding Collie
Hospital?
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right, your leader is on his feet.
AnswerView source ↗
The Collie Hospital was a $17 million
promise that I made before the last state election. I made that commitment
before the last state election, so, obviously, we are delivering on our
commitment. I think the member's question said it all. She is now
saying that the Western Australian government should fund all the commitments
made by federal Labor. Therefore, everything it came up with, we somehow have
to fund—like lifting the minimum wage! What else is there?
Mr R.H. Cook : Penalty rates!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have to
legislate for the penalty rate commitment that it made! We have to legislate
for free dental services!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : International
aid!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have to
legislate for international aid. What else is there?
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We will have
to create a navy and army in Western Australia. Honestly, that was a dumb
question. Leader of the Opposition, I think you are a bit safer; I now think
you are a bit safer. You are certainly intellectually superior, but I think you
are a bit safer. There are three levels of government in Australia. There is
the federal government, state government and local government, and each one
makes its own commitments. I will often stand with mayors when they make
commitments. If they lose an election, does that mean the state has to then
pick up the commitment made by the Mayor of Dumbleyung? Does that mean the
state has to pick that one up? I made commitments with Malcolm Turnbull. Do I have
to pick up the commitments that Malcolm Turnbull made when he got rolled by the Liberal Party? Do I have to front them?
Honestly—how incredibly stupid! Leader of the Opposition, do you
approve these questions?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : After two
years and three months in opposition, the Liberal Party is still hopeless.
promise that I made before the last state election. I made that commitment
before the last state election, so, obviously, we are delivering on our
commitment. I think the member's question said it all. She is now
saying that the Western Australian government should fund all the commitments
made by federal Labor. Therefore, everything it came up with, we somehow have
to fund—like lifting the minimum wage! What else is there?
Mr R.H. Cook : Penalty rates!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have to
legislate for the penalty rate commitment that it made! We have to legislate
for free dental services!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : International
aid!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have to
legislate for international aid. What else is there?
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We will have
to create a navy and army in Western Australia. Honestly, that was a dumb
question. Leader of the Opposition, I think you are a bit safer; I now think
you are a bit safer. You are certainly intellectually superior, but I think you
are a bit safer. There are three levels of government in Australia. There is
the federal government, state government and local government, and each one
makes its own commitments. I will often stand with mayors when they make
commitments. If they lose an election, does that mean the state has to then
pick up the commitment made by the Mayor of Dumbleyung? Does that mean the
state has to pick that one up? I made commitments with Malcolm Turnbull. Do I have
to pick up the commitments that Malcolm Turnbull made when he got rolled by the Liberal Party? Do I have to front them?
Honestly—how incredibly stupid! Leader of the Opposition, do you
approve these questions?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : After two
years and three months in opposition, the Liberal Party is still hopeless.
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