Question regarding local authorities not meeting new ward elector number variation policy. Minister acknowledges issue, cites 63 examples, promises to share the LGAB report, and engages in political banter.

AnsweredQoN 444Legislative Council
Asked
23 August 2001
Portfolio
Local Government and Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the minister to his decision to require local authorities to determine wards with no greater variation in elector numbers than plus or minus 10 per cent. Hon Tom Stephens:  You’ve finally got that bit right. Hon N.F. MOORE:  I ask - (1) Is the minister aware of any local authorities that have variations in ward numbers that do not meet the requirements of his new policy? (2) If so, can he give examples of any such local authorities and advise what he expects those authorities to do as a result of this new policy? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) I am reminded of the old Dakotan Indian phrase: “When you have a dead horse, you are better off getting off rather than flogging it and expecting it to get you anywhere.”  The Leader of the Opposition is on a dead horse and he is flogging it with his questions about local government and electoral - The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister will address the question now that he has completed his preamble. Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon Tom Stephens:  You’ve finally got that bit right. Hon N.F. MOORE:  I ask - (1) Is the minister aware of any local authorities that have variations in ward numbers that do not meet the requirements of his new policy? (2) If so, can he give examples of any such local authorities and advise what he expects those authorities to do as a result of this new policy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) I am reminded of the old Dakotan Indian phrase: “When you have a dead horse, you are better off getting off rather than flogging it and expecting it to get you anywhere.”  The Leader of the Opposition is on a dead horse and he is flogging it with his questions about local government and electoral - The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister will address the question now that he has completed his preamble. Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon N.F. MOORE:  I ask - (1) Is the minister aware of any local authorities that have variations in ward numbers that do not meet the requirements of his new policy? (2) If so, can he give examples of any such local authorities and advise what he expects those authorities to do as a result of this new policy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) I am reminded of the old Dakotan Indian phrase: “When you have a dead horse, you are better off getting off rather than flogging it and expecting it to get you anywhere.”  The Leader of the Opposition is on a dead horse and he is flogging it with his questions about local government and electoral - The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister will address the question now that he has completed his preamble. Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
(1) Is the minister aware of any local authorities that have variations in ward numbers that do not meet the requirements of his new policy? (2) If so, can he give examples of any such local authorities and advise what he expects those authorities to do as a result of this new policy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) I am reminded of the old Dakotan Indian phrase: “When you have a dead horse, you are better off getting off rather than flogging it and expecting it to get you anywhere.”  The Leader of the Opposition is on a dead horse and he is flogging it with his questions about local government and electoral - The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister will address the question now that he has completed his preamble. Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
(2) If so, can he give examples of any such local authorities and advise what he expects those authorities to do as a result of this new policy? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) I am reminded of the old Dakotan Indian phrase: “When you have a dead horse, you are better off getting off rather than flogging it and expecting it to get you anywhere.”  The Leader of the Opposition is on a dead horse and he is flogging it with his questions about local government and electoral - The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister will address the question now that he has completed his preamble. Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) I am reminded of the old Dakotan Indian phrase: “When you have a dead horse, you are better off getting off rather than flogging it and expecting it to get you anywhere.”  The Leader of the Opposition is on a dead horse and he is flogging it with his questions about local government and electoral - The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister will address the question now that he has completed his preamble. Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
(1)-(2) I am reminded of the old Dakotan Indian phrase: “When you have a dead horse, you are better off getting off rather than flogging it and expecting it to get you anywhere.”  The Leader of the Opposition is on a dead horse and he is flogging it with his questions about local government and electoral - The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister will address the question now that he has completed his preamble. Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister will address the question now that he has completed his preamble. Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I understand that the Local Government Advisory Board will be drawing to my attention about 63 examples of councils that face this challenge. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you provide that list to the Opposition? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon TOM STEPHENS:  I will ask the board when it will be making its report. Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon N.F. Moore:  Will you make it available to us? Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon TOM STEPHENS:  Of course!  I will do for the Leader of the Opposition what he always did for members on this side when we were in opposition.  He gave us anything we asked for willingly, freely and generously.  I will replicate the generous courtesy and kindness he extended during the eight years that he ruled in this House. The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
The LGAB has been in discussions with a number of Murchison councils.  I am pleased that those discussions coincided with a visit to the region by the Leader of the Opposition.  An ambulance was sent out because it was thought there must have been an emergency for him to be in his electorate. Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Hon N.F. Moore:  You have told us that joke before. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.
The PRESIDENT:  Order!  The minister obviously mistook question time in this place for question time in another place, and he should not do so again.

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