❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett about job losses and the closure of a Smith's chip factory. The Premier dismisses the suggestion of government intervention in the potato chip industry and highlights government investment in broader agricultural initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 847Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
UNEMPLOYMENT
— FIGURES
847. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. With 9 000 fewer employed
Western Australians in the last month, should the Premier not have done
something to try to keep the Smith's chip factory open, with its 300
jobs?
— FIGURES
847. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. With 9 000 fewer employed
Western Australians in the last month, should the Premier not have done
something to try to keep the Smith's chip factory open, with its 300
jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I do not know whether the Leader of the Opposition thinks we should
have a potato chip subsidy. What does he want? A potato chip subsidy—what
a great welfare measure that would be! What a great measure for dietary
standards that would be—a potato chip policy.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I have not.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker —
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
W.J. Johnston : The Department of State Development doesn't want to
do any state development.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Department of State Development does not work in the area
of potato chips. The agriculture industry —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : If the Labor Party is going to have a potato chips policy,
good luck to it.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : That is pathetic. It is pathetic!
The
SPEAKER : Members for Cannington and Girrawheen, let this question be
answered and let us get over it.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Let us look a little further than potato chips. The
agriculture industry in Western Australia has the greatest opportunity it has
probably had in the last 50 years, and this state government is doing what
governments should do. Were we to ask the rhetorical question, ''What
should governments do in an area such as agriculture and farming?'', the
answer would be that they should do what the industry cannot do. That is why
this government expanded the Ord River project. That is why this government,
through Water for Food, is revolutionising agriculture and production in the
Kimberley. That is why this government built the Muchea and Katanning
saleyards. That is why this government is spending money on agricultural
research, development and biosecurity. Governments do what the private sector
cannot do. We do not and will not have a policy on potato chips.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is finished.
have a potato chip subsidy. What does he want? A potato chip subsidy—what
a great welfare measure that would be! What a great measure for dietary
standards that would be—a potato chip policy.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I have not.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker —
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
W.J. Johnston : The Department of State Development doesn't want to
do any state development.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Department of State Development does not work in the area
of potato chips. The agriculture industry —
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : If the Labor Party is going to have a potato chips policy,
good luck to it.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : That is pathetic. It is pathetic!
The
SPEAKER : Members for Cannington and Girrawheen, let this question be
answered and let us get over it.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Let us look a little further than potato chips. The
agriculture industry in Western Australia has the greatest opportunity it has
probably had in the last 50 years, and this state government is doing what
governments should do. Were we to ask the rhetorical question, ''What
should governments do in an area such as agriculture and farming?'', the
answer would be that they should do what the industry cannot do. That is why
this government expanded the Ord River project. That is why this government,
through Water for Food, is revolutionising agriculture and production in the
Kimberley. That is why this government built the Muchea and Katanning
saleyards. That is why this government is spending money on agricultural
research, development and biosecurity. Governments do what the private sector
cannot do. We do not and will not have a policy on potato chips.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is finished.
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