❓ Dr. Brian Walker questions the Minister for Emergency Services regarding the Premier's involvement in extending the state of emergency related to COVID-19, specifically asking about the Minister's authority and briefings received. The Minister confirms his authority and denies receiving briefings suggesting the emergency is over.
AnsweredQoN 699Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
STATE OF EMERGENCY
699. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer the minister to the response
provided to my colleague Hon Sophia Moermond's question yesterday about
the Premier's portfolio responsibilities and also to the story in today's The West Australian suggesting that —
Mark McGowan has signalled WA's
state of emergency declaration � could come to an end �
(1) Am I correct
in thinking that it is the Minister for Emergency Services rather than the
Premier who has the authority to extend, or to choose not to extend, the state
of emergency on a fortnightly basis based upon briefings and advice received
from the State Emergency Coordinator?
(2) Has the minister received any briefings from the
State Emergency Coordinator since he last extended the state of emergency
suggesting that it was no longer necessary; and, if so, has he in turn briefed
the Premier to that effect?
(3) Is this a case
of the Premier doing a ''Morrison'' and inserting himself into a legislative
decision-making process that is rightly the purview of the minister?
The PRESIDENT : Before I give
you the call, minister, I will point out standing order 105 in relation to
length of question. This is not the first time that this has been pointed out.
STATE OF EMERGENCY
699. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer the minister to the response
provided to my colleague Hon Sophia Moermond's question yesterday about
the Premier's portfolio responsibilities and also to the story in today's The West Australian suggesting that —
Mark McGowan has signalled WA's
state of emergency declaration � could come to an end �
(1) Am I correct
in thinking that it is the Minister for Emergency Services rather than the
Premier who has the authority to extend, or to choose not to extend, the state
of emergency on a fortnightly basis based upon briefings and advice received
from the State Emergency Coordinator?
(2) Has the minister received any briefings from the
State Emergency Coordinator since he last extended the state of emergency
suggesting that it was no longer necessary; and, if so, has he in turn briefed
the Premier to that effect?
(3) Is this a case
of the Premier doing a ''Morrison'' and inserting himself into a legislative
decision-making process that is rightly the purview of the minister?
The PRESIDENT : Before I give
you the call, minister, I will point out standing order 105 in relation to
length of question. This is not the first time that this has been pointed out.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) No. The Premier receives his own
briefings from the State Emergency Coordinator.
(3) No.
of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) No. The Premier receives his own
briefings from the State Emergency Coordinator.
(3) No.
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