❓ WA Minister Carpenter addresses the federal government's refusal to support the Wireless North project, outlining planned actions and seeking bipartisan support.
AnsweredQoN 65Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Following yesterday’s refusal by the federal Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts to support the provision of mobile phone coverage between Geraldton and Broome via the Wireless North project, can the minister advise the house what course of action he now intends to take? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question. The way this issue has developed is most unfortunate. I have read the press release issued by Minister Coonan. It is a very negative press release. I called the mobile telephone number on the bottom of the press release to try to contact her, but I could not - not because she was not within range, but because she was in a meeting at Parliament House, Canberra with a delegation from Malaysia. I am hoping to be able to speak to her this afternoon. Mr M.J. Birney : Are you saying there has been no verbal contact? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question. The way this issue has developed is most unfortunate. I have read the press release issued by Minister Coonan. It is a very negative press release. I called the mobile telephone number on the bottom of the press release to try to contact her, but I could not - not because she was not within range, but because she was in a meeting at Parliament House, Canberra with a delegation from Malaysia. I am hoping to be able to speak to her this afternoon. Mr M.J. Birney : Are you saying there has been no verbal contact? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question. The way this issue has developed is most unfortunate. I have read the press release issued by Minister Coonan. It is a very negative press release. I called the mobile telephone number on the bottom of the press release to try to contact her, but I could not - not because she was not within range, but because she was in a meeting at Parliament House, Canberra with a delegation from Malaysia. I am hoping to be able to speak to her this afternoon. Mr M.J. Birney : Are you saying there has been no verbal contact? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr M.J. Birney : Are you saying there has been no verbal contact? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition
Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Geraldton for the question. The way this issue has developed is most unfortunate. I have read the press release issued by Minister Coonan. It is a very negative press release. I called the mobile telephone number on the bottom of the press release to try to contact her, but I could not - not because she was not within range, but because she was in a meeting at Parliament House, Canberra with a delegation from Malaysia. I am hoping to be able to speak to her this afternoon. Mr M.J. Birney : Are you saying there has been no verbal contact? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
I thank the member for Geraldton for the question. The way this issue has developed is most unfortunate. I have read the press release issued by Minister Coonan. It is a very negative press release. I called the mobile telephone number on the bottom of the press release to try to contact her, but I could not - not because she was not within range, but because she was in a meeting at Parliament House, Canberra with a delegation from Malaysia. I am hoping to be able to speak to her this afternoon. Mr M.J. Birney : Are you saying there has been no verbal contact? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr M.J. Birney : Are you saying there has been no verbal contact? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We have written. In light of the comments that were made in the Parliament yesterday by the Leader of the National Party, which I thought were very heartening, I have drafted a letter that will be sent today in the following terms - Dear Senator Coonan Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition I have also drafted a letter under the name of the Leader of the National Party - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Re: Wireless North I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
I refer to your recent statements and press release regarding the Wireless North Project. I urge you to reconsider your position on the matter and respond to the letter sent to yourself on this subject in December of last year by the former Western Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Clive Brown MLA. As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
As was outlined in the letter, I ask that you contact the Minister For State Development and Energy, Alan Carpenter MLA to discuss the project and possible Federal involvement as was achieved with Wireless West project The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
The Wireless North Project is an important initiative for the people in the region. It is hoped that the State and Federal governments can work together on its implementation. Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
Yours sincerely Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
Matt Birney MLA Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition
Mr M.W. Trenorden : Too smart by half! I will not sign yours, but I will send one of mine back. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is a very good response, wounded as I am by the reference to my character. Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to do the same? Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr M.J. Birney : I have not really been listening. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition may not have been listening, but it is something that I can pursue with him later individually. Genuinely, it is very good that the Leader of the National Party is prepared to support us. I hope the Leader of the Opposition is able to do the same. Minister Coonan was in Western Australia yesterday and made no effort, but instead responded the way she did. This is an important issue and I hope we can achieve this bipartisan approach.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.