❓ Question regarding the government's response to the crisis in Halls Creek, specifically addressing allegations of delayed intervention and lack of unanimous support within the cabinet. The Premier denies the allegations and criticizes the opposition's sudden interest in Aboriginal issues.
AnsweredQoN 51Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HALLS CREEK - SOCIAL ISSUES
I refer to the crisis which is being experienced by the Halls Creek Aboriginal community and which is being contributed to by the state government’s lack of effective commitment to Aboriginal people. It has been reported that the horrific situation at Halls Creek was discussed by the state cabinet last Monday. (1) Is it true that not all ministers backed immediate intervention in the town’s crisis, despite figures showing that children as young as two years old have been treated for sexually transmitted diseases, which indicates that serious crimes have been committed? (2) Given that the member for Kimberley has openly called this child rape, has the Premier asked these ministers how they can justify any delay that leaves infants and children subject to continuing abuse? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
I refer to the crisis which is being experienced by the Halls Creek Aboriginal community and which is being contributed to by the state government’s lack of effective commitment to Aboriginal people. It has been reported that the horrific situation at Halls Creek was discussed by the state cabinet last Monday. (1) Is it true that not all ministers backed immediate intervention in the town’s crisis, despite figures showing that children as young as two years old have been treated for sexually transmitted diseases, which indicates that serious crimes have been committed? (2) Given that the member for Kimberley has openly called this child rape, has the Premier asked these ministers how they can justify any delay that leaves infants and children subject to continuing abuse? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
(1) Is it true that not all ministers backed immediate intervention in the town’s crisis, despite figures showing that children as young as two years old have been treated for sexually transmitted diseases, which indicates that serious crimes have been committed? (2) Given that the member for Kimberley has openly called this child rape, has the Premier asked these ministers how they can justify any delay that leaves infants and children subject to continuing abuse? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
(2) Given that the member for Kimberley has openly called this child rape, has the Premier asked these ministers how they can justify any delay that leaves infants and children subject to continuing abuse? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
(1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
(1) Is it true that not all ministers backed immediate intervention in the town’s crisis, despite figures showing that children as young as two years old have been treated for sexually transmitted diseases, which indicates that serious crimes have been committed? (2) Given that the member for Kimberley has openly called this child rape, has the Premier asked these ministers how they can justify any delay that leaves infants and children subject to continuing abuse? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
(2) Given that the member for Kimberley has openly called this child rape, has the Premier asked these ministers how they can justify any delay that leaves infants and children subject to continuing abuse? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
Welcome back to the member for Nedlands. I am sure the Parliament is the better for her presence on the front bench. However, let me answer the question. (1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
(1)-(2) The member asked a question about whether there was unanimous support for action in cabinet. I am amazed at where this research comes from. I think I recall reading an assertion to that effect in The West Australian newspaper, which today, after all its efforts in Halls Creek, still could not get the name of the chief executive officer of the council right. I would seriously advise any member of the house to not take at face value anything that is asserted as a fact in The West Australian , even to the point that I would cross-reference the football scores if I were a member opposite. Member for Nedlands, it is not the practice for governments to disclose what is or is not said in cabinet. However, I can tell the member that the assertion on which that question is based is totally false. I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
I want to be brief. We are going through one of those very strange periods in politics in Western Australia in which members of the Liberal Party are actually taking up the issue of abuse of children and issues related to the Aboriginal community as though they were the champions in this area. It is farcical. Anybody who has been following the tide of political debate in Western Australia over a period of years could only be sitting there and shaking his or her head at this pious approach that the Liberal Party is taking. Was it not prominent members of the Liberal Party who attacked us for wanting to shut down the Swan Valley camp? Was it not the people in the Liberal Party who told us that Robert Bropho was an outstanding citizen and that we should leave him alone? Was that not the same group of people? It has been an incredible couple of weeks in state politics. We have seen the political assassination of a leader. We have heard the commentary that has gone backwards and forwards between members who are now sitting next to each other but who refuse to make eye contact with each other. However, perhaps just as incredible as any of that, we are now seeing this false, holier-than-thou attitude emerging from the Liberal Party towards the government. I find it amazing. We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
We have a major challenge on our hands, as we have had throughout our time in government, addressing the issues that impact negatively on Aboriginal communities. It is a challenge that, as the government, we will take up, as we did under the previous Premier when he instituted the Gordon inquiry, and the outcomes of that inquiry, and as we did when we acted against Robert Bropho at the Swan Valley Nyungah camp, against the protestations of the Liberal Party. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Not upstairs, though. We are the government; we take responsibility for what we can do, and we will do whatever we can to address the issues in the Halls Creek community.
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