❓ Question regarding government policy on increasing Perth CBD population to address homelessness, violence, and drug abuse. Premier deflects, focusing on perceived inconsistencies in the opposition's stance on related issues.
AnsweredQoN 765Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH —
HOMELESSNESS, VIOLENCE AND DRUG ABUSE
765. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
I refer to last night's
insightful Flashpoint program titled —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Let me
hear the question, please.
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : I refer to last night's
insightful Flashpoint program titled ''City in Crisis''.
Given the member for Perth identified the need to quadruple the population
within the CBD to address the issues of homelessness, violence and drug abuse,
can the Premier confirm whether this is official government policy, when it
will be implemented and how much state funding will be provided to implement
this initiative?
HOMELESSNESS, VIOLENCE AND DRUG ABUSE
765. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
I refer to last night's
insightful Flashpoint program titled —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Let me
hear the question, please.
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : I refer to last night's
insightful Flashpoint program titled ''City in Crisis''.
Given the member for Perth identified the need to quadruple the population
within the CBD to address the issues of homelessness, violence and drug abuse,
can the Premier confirm whether this is official government policy, when it
will be implemented and how much state funding will be provided to implement
this initiative?
AnswerView source ↗
I was at a China National Day
function last night celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the establishment
of the People's Republic of China, so I did not see the Flashpoint program, but I did have one report provided to me about it. The report I had
was that the member for Perth absolutely thrashed the member for Carine, and
that he was the standout star of the program.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for
Perth has a lot of fans out there. The truth is that the member for Perth is
devoted to the future of the City of Perth and the inner city. This morning, he
and I, along with the Minister for Education, were touring Bob Hawke College.
People actually want to live in the inner city so that they can attend the new
school that we are building in the heart of the electorate of the member for
Nedlands. We are providing more for the people of the inner city and the member
for Nedlands' electorate than the Liberal Party ever did when it was in
office. The member for Perth has championed all the issues of enlivening and
strengthening the City of Perth. Some of the things he has taken up, in
conjunction with the commissioners, include additional options for dealing with
homelessness issues confronting the inner city. Those homelessness issues, by
the way, have been there for decades, but the member is working constructively
with the City of Perth on that initiative.
Although I did not see the show last
night, I understand that the member for Carine said that the Perth parking levy
should be abolished, and I am interested in knowing whether that is Liberal
Party policy.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : He did not
say that.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, he did.
Is that Liberal Party policy?
Considering that the member is
asking, I believe, like the member for Perth, that we should have more people
living in the inner city, and I would like to see more opportunities for people
to live there. I am not afraid of higher density living if it is done right,
and the Minister for Planning, the member for Perth and I all agree with that.
But the member for Carine said the Perth parking levy should be abolished. Is
that the opposition's policy?
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : There he goes!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The other
thing the member for Carine had to say last night was that homeless people —
Mr A. Krsticevic : I thought
you didn't even watch it!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have heard a
lot about it this morning. I have heard a lot about the member for Carine's performance running down the inner city.
That seems to be the member's modus operandi—run it down. That
is what the member does—to make a political point, he tries to destroy
the place. We are working to improve the inner city and the City of
Perth. The other thing the member said was that we should take homeless people
from the streets of Perth and place them into the old Princess Margaret
Hospital for Children site. Is that the opposition's policy?
Mr A. Krsticevic : The ones
that have mental health and health issues need help.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, but is
that your policy? That is what you said should happen.
The SPEAKER : Premier, through
the Chair, please.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are two
high schools there, so I just ask the question: does the member for Carine
stand by that statement? I have agreed with the member for Perth that we need
far more people, and I agree with more people living in the inner city. I am
just asking the member if he stands by what he said last night—that the
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children should be open for homeless people to
live in.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Now the member
is backtracking. The member for Perth has it all over him. He has the member
for Carine shot to pieces on every count—intellectually, work capacity,
commitment and devotion.
Mr J.N. Carey : Looks?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I was not
going to mention looks, but I think that is pretty plain. The member for Perth
has it all over the member for Carine in every aspect, and that was shown
pretty comprehensively last night.
function last night celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the establishment
of the People's Republic of China, so I did not see the Flashpoint program, but I did have one report provided to me about it. The report I had
was that the member for Perth absolutely thrashed the member for Carine, and
that he was the standout star of the program.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for
Perth has a lot of fans out there. The truth is that the member for Perth is
devoted to the future of the City of Perth and the inner city. This morning, he
and I, along with the Minister for Education, were touring Bob Hawke College.
People actually want to live in the inner city so that they can attend the new
school that we are building in the heart of the electorate of the member for
Nedlands. We are providing more for the people of the inner city and the member
for Nedlands' electorate than the Liberal Party ever did when it was in
office. The member for Perth has championed all the issues of enlivening and
strengthening the City of Perth. Some of the things he has taken up, in
conjunction with the commissioners, include additional options for dealing with
homelessness issues confronting the inner city. Those homelessness issues, by
the way, have been there for decades, but the member is working constructively
with the City of Perth on that initiative.
Although I did not see the show last
night, I understand that the member for Carine said that the Perth parking levy
should be abolished, and I am interested in knowing whether that is Liberal
Party policy.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : He did not
say that.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, he did.
Is that Liberal Party policy?
Considering that the member is
asking, I believe, like the member for Perth, that we should have more people
living in the inner city, and I would like to see more opportunities for people
to live there. I am not afraid of higher density living if it is done right,
and the Minister for Planning, the member for Perth and I all agree with that.
But the member for Carine said the Perth parking levy should be abolished. Is
that the opposition's policy?
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : There he goes!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The other
thing the member for Carine had to say last night was that homeless people —
Mr A. Krsticevic : I thought
you didn't even watch it!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have heard a
lot about it this morning. I have heard a lot about the member for Carine's performance running down the inner city.
That seems to be the member's modus operandi—run it down. That
is what the member does—to make a political point, he tries to destroy
the place. We are working to improve the inner city and the City of
Perth. The other thing the member said was that we should take homeless people
from the streets of Perth and place them into the old Princess Margaret
Hospital for Children site. Is that the opposition's policy?
Mr A. Krsticevic : The ones
that have mental health and health issues need help.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, but is
that your policy? That is what you said should happen.
The SPEAKER : Premier, through
the Chair, please.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There are two
high schools there, so I just ask the question: does the member for Carine
stand by that statement? I have agreed with the member for Perth that we need
far more people, and I agree with more people living in the inner city. I am
just asking the member if he stands by what he said last night—that the
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children should be open for homeless people to
live in.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Now the member
is backtracking. The member for Perth has it all over him. He has the member
for Carine shot to pieces on every count—intellectually, work capacity,
commitment and devotion.
Mr J.N. Carey : Looks?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I was not
going to mention looks, but I think that is pretty plain. The member for Perth
has it all over the member for Carine in every aspect, and that was shown
pretty comprehensively last night.
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