❓ Premier Gallop responds to a question about the federal government's plans for a radioactive waste dump, reaffirming WA's opposition and criticising the Liberal Party's stance, particularly the Member for Cottesloe's.
AnsweredQoN 301Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the Premier please update the house on the federal government’s plans for a medium-level radioactive waste dump in Australia? An opposition member interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
I suggest the member read the latest Time magazine. Obviously he is not very educated on the security risks associated with nuclear power stations around the world. The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
An opposition member interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I suggest the member read the latest Time magazine. Obviously he is not very educated on the security risks associated with nuclear power stations around the world. The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I suggest the member read the latest Time magazine. Obviously he is not very educated on the security risks associated with nuclear power stations around the world. The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
I suggest the member read the latest Time magazine. Obviously he is not very educated on the security risks associated with nuclear power stations around the world. The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
An opposition member interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I suggest the member read the latest Time magazine. Obviously he is not very educated on the security risks associated with nuclear power stations around the world. The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I suggest the member read the latest Time magazine. Obviously he is not very educated on the security risks associated with nuclear power stations around the world. The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
I suggest the member read the latest Time magazine. Obviously he is not very educated on the security risks associated with nuclear power stations around the world. The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
The federal government is looking for a site for its planned radioactive waste dump. As members are aware, the federal government has already broken a promise made during the last federal election campaign that a radioactive waste dump would be placed offshore. The federal government is now saying that it will be sited somewhere on the Australian continent. For some time the federal government has been trying to soften the view of the states and the territories so that a state or territory will be willing to take on board this nuclear waste dump. The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
The government of Western Australia stands very firmly in opposition to this, based on the Nuclear Waste Storage and Transportation (Prohibition) Act, which was introduced into this Parliament by the Labor Party, supported by the Liberal Party and passed in 1999. It was amended in 2004 to ensure that it dealt with the transportation of nuclear waste. That is what the Parliament of Western Australia said. We are able to indicate to the commonwealth that this is the view of the people of Western Australia through the Parliament of Western Australia. It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
It appears that some members of this Parliament are beginning to soften in the way the federal government wants. I speak of no other than the member for Cottesloe. The cracks are now appearing, given his support for uranium exports and nuclear power here in Western Australia. As he said, if we accept the case for uranium exports, we must accept the case for a nuclear waste dump. This is a very important issue for the future of Western Australia. We are positioning ourselves in the global economy extremely well through our oil and gas industry and with tourism through “The Real Thing” tourism marketing campaign. We are gaining momentum. The last thing we want is the establishment of a nuclear waste dump in this state or uranium exports from Western Australia. The questions to immediately ask are: from which port would they go; and how would they be transported, etc? It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
It is interesting to consider where the Liberal Party stands on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition has been silent on this issue, but he cannot find anywhere to hide. He will have to indicate his view. The people of Western Australia want to know where their political leaders stand on these important issues. I note that we are getting some running commentary on these questions and on the leadership of the Liberal Party from the member for Cottesloe. On ABC radio yesterday the member for Cottesloe said of the Leader of the Opposition, “I think he . . . he needs to obviously become a little bit more worldly and experienced. . . ”. However, the best bit is that the member for Cottesloe actually set a deadline for the current Leader of the Opposition. Not even Peter Costello has set a deadline for his assault on the Prime Ministership of Australia. However, the member for Cottesloe set a deadline when he said, “I think people should be looking to see Matt doing. . . doing well by the end of this year”. That is the Leader of the Opposition’s timetable. He will get his leadership challenge at the end of this year if he is not doing well. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : That was a bit of advice from the member for Cottesloe to the Leader of the Opposition that I found particularly interesting. Was it advice or payback? I ask members to consider that question. The member for Cottesloe also said - . . . I think maybe he’s - That is the Leader of the Opposition. discovering that. I mean, it’s all . . .it’s all very easy to sit on the side of politics and criticise the leader and say you could do it better, but you’ve actually got to get in there and it’s hard work, and I suspect Matt’s discovering just how hard it is . . . Is that advice or a bit of payback? I suspect it may be the latter. We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
We do not want a nuclear waste dump in Western Australia. The Labor Party is opposed to uranium exports and nuclear power. We are thinking of the future. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : I will give the Leader of the Opposition another chance: does he now have a position on uranium exports? Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Mr M.J. Birney : You have a brain very much like Einstein’s brain in so much as it’s been dead since 1955. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
The SPEAKER : Order! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : I am withering under the assault! I feel somewhat unsteady on my feet after that attack! The Leader of the Opposition is looking for somewhere to hide; he does not want to debate this issue. He does not want anyone to subject him to accountability on the question of nuclear power or uranium exports. If he does not want any accountability or anyone bothering him about the issue, there is one place he can go where he can be sure he will not be subject to any accountability or any questioning. It is called Chernobyl.
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