❓ Premier Gallop defends the Legislative Council's role in WA's bicameral system but criticizes its productivity and calls for reform, highlighting the Liberal Party's internal divisions and perceived obstructionism.
AnsweredQoN 1030Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ABOLITION
Does the Premier support the abolition of the Legislative Council? Dr GALLOP
Does the Premier support the abolition of the Legislative Council? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
Is it not strange the way in which history works? If we had come into this Parliament 30 to 40 years ago, we would have heard the leader of the state Parliamentary Labor Party advocating the abolition of the Legislative Council. However, in today’s Parliament, I am the only parliamentary party leader in this Chamber who supports the Legislative Council. The leaders of the Liberal Party and the National Party are on the record for abolition of the Legislative Council. Every member knows my very strong view for a bicameral system. I so much support the Legislative Council in its role in our political system that I want to see it work better than it is currently working. Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our Government has introduced a great deal of legislation to this Parliament. Only four pieces of government legislation have passed through the Council this year; until yesterday it was only two. I believe the Council passed another two pieces of government legislation last night. The Legislative Council must come into the modern world; it must examine how other upper Houses are operating and it must ensure that it has a proper process for dealing with legislation. I will give this Parliament a simple statistic that will reveal the problem we have today. The Legislative Assembly sat for 642 hours over 78 days since 1 May 2001. The Legislative Council sat for 481 hours over 84 days since 1 May 2001. That is six more sitting days but 161 fewer hours than the Legislative Assembly. We need a better performance from the Legislative Council in the way that it considers matters. Very important legislation has been brought to this Parliament that is crucial to the future of Western Australia. We want a better performance from the Legislative Council. I know that members on our side of the House in the Legislative Council are doing their best to make it work. However, two issues need to be resolved. The first issue concerns the leadership of the Liberal Party. It is a problem that the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, who is resident in this Chamber, obviously has no influence on what happens to his party in the Legislative Council. Secondly, some members in the Legislative Council have not got the message that the public of Western Australia wants them to do a good job. I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
Dr GALLOP replied: Is it not strange the way in which history works? If we had come into this Parliament 30 to 40 years ago, we would have heard the leader of the state Parliamentary Labor Party advocating the abolition of the Legislative Council. However, in today’s Parliament, I am the only parliamentary party leader in this Chamber who supports the Legislative Council. The leaders of the Liberal Party and the National Party are on the record for abolition of the Legislative Council. Every member knows my very strong view for a bicameral system. I so much support the Legislative Council in its role in our political system that I want to see it work better than it is currently working. Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our Government has introduced a great deal of legislation to this Parliament. Only four pieces of government legislation have passed through the Council this year; until yesterday it was only two. I believe the Council passed another two pieces of government legislation last night. The Legislative Council must come into the modern world; it must examine how other upper Houses are operating and it must ensure that it has a proper process for dealing with legislation. I will give this Parliament a simple statistic that will reveal the problem we have today. The Legislative Assembly sat for 642 hours over 78 days since 1 May 2001. The Legislative Council sat for 481 hours over 84 days since 1 May 2001. That is six more sitting days but 161 fewer hours than the Legislative Assembly. We need a better performance from the Legislative Council in the way that it considers matters. Very important legislation has been brought to this Parliament that is crucial to the future of Western Australia. We want a better performance from the Legislative Council. I know that members on our side of the House in the Legislative Council are doing their best to make it work. However, two issues need to be resolved. The first issue concerns the leadership of the Liberal Party. It is a problem that the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, who is resident in this Chamber, obviously has no influence on what happens to his party in the Legislative Council. Secondly, some members in the Legislative Council have not got the message that the public of Western Australia wants them to do a good job. I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
Is it not strange the way in which history works? If we had come into this Parliament 30 to 40 years ago, we would have heard the leader of the state Parliamentary Labor Party advocating the abolition of the Legislative Council. However, in today’s Parliament, I am the only parliamentary party leader in this Chamber who supports the Legislative Council. The leaders of the Liberal Party and the National Party are on the record for abolition of the Legislative Council. Every member knows my very strong view for a bicameral system. I so much support the Legislative Council in its role in our political system that I want to see it work better than it is currently working. Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our Government has introduced a great deal of legislation to this Parliament. Only four pieces of government legislation have passed through the Council this year; until yesterday it was only two. I believe the Council passed another two pieces of government legislation last night. The Legislative Council must come into the modern world; it must examine how other upper Houses are operating and it must ensure that it has a proper process for dealing with legislation. I will give this Parliament a simple statistic that will reveal the problem we have today. The Legislative Assembly sat for 642 hours over 78 days since 1 May 2001. The Legislative Council sat for 481 hours over 84 days since 1 May 2001. That is six more sitting days but 161 fewer hours than the Legislative Assembly. We need a better performance from the Legislative Council in the way that it considers matters. Very important legislation has been brought to this Parliament that is crucial to the future of Western Australia. We want a better performance from the Legislative Council. I know that members on our side of the House in the Legislative Council are doing their best to make it work. However, two issues need to be resolved. The first issue concerns the leadership of the Liberal Party. It is a problem that the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, who is resident in this Chamber, obviously has no influence on what happens to his party in the Legislative Council. Secondly, some members in the Legislative Council have not got the message that the public of Western Australia wants them to do a good job. I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our Government has introduced a great deal of legislation to this Parliament. Only four pieces of government legislation have passed through the Council this year; until yesterday it was only two. I believe the Council passed another two pieces of government legislation last night. The Legislative Council must come into the modern world; it must examine how other upper Houses are operating and it must ensure that it has a proper process for dealing with legislation. I will give this Parliament a simple statistic that will reveal the problem we have today. The Legislative Assembly sat for 642 hours over 78 days since 1 May 2001. The Legislative Council sat for 481 hours over 84 days since 1 May 2001. That is six more sitting days but 161 fewer hours than the Legislative Assembly. We need a better performance from the Legislative Council in the way that it considers matters. Very important legislation has been brought to this Parliament that is crucial to the future of Western Australia. We want a better performance from the Legislative Council. I know that members on our side of the House in the Legislative Council are doing their best to make it work. However, two issues need to be resolved. The first issue concerns the leadership of the Liberal Party. It is a problem that the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, who is resident in this Chamber, obviously has no influence on what happens to his party in the Legislative Council. Secondly, some members in the Legislative Council have not got the message that the public of Western Australia wants them to do a good job. I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
Dr GALLOP replied: Is it not strange the way in which history works? If we had come into this Parliament 30 to 40 years ago, we would have heard the leader of the state Parliamentary Labor Party advocating the abolition of the Legislative Council. However, in today’s Parliament, I am the only parliamentary party leader in this Chamber who supports the Legislative Council. The leaders of the Liberal Party and the National Party are on the record for abolition of the Legislative Council. Every member knows my very strong view for a bicameral system. I so much support the Legislative Council in its role in our political system that I want to see it work better than it is currently working. Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our Government has introduced a great deal of legislation to this Parliament. Only four pieces of government legislation have passed through the Council this year; until yesterday it was only two. I believe the Council passed another two pieces of government legislation last night. The Legislative Council must come into the modern world; it must examine how other upper Houses are operating and it must ensure that it has a proper process for dealing with legislation. I will give this Parliament a simple statistic that will reveal the problem we have today. The Legislative Assembly sat for 642 hours over 78 days since 1 May 2001. The Legislative Council sat for 481 hours over 84 days since 1 May 2001. That is six more sitting days but 161 fewer hours than the Legislative Assembly. We need a better performance from the Legislative Council in the way that it considers matters. Very important legislation has been brought to this Parliament that is crucial to the future of Western Australia. We want a better performance from the Legislative Council. I know that members on our side of the House in the Legislative Council are doing their best to make it work. However, two issues need to be resolved. The first issue concerns the leadership of the Liberal Party. It is a problem that the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, who is resident in this Chamber, obviously has no influence on what happens to his party in the Legislative Council. Secondly, some members in the Legislative Council have not got the message that the public of Western Australia wants them to do a good job. I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
Is it not strange the way in which history works? If we had come into this Parliament 30 to 40 years ago, we would have heard the leader of the state Parliamentary Labor Party advocating the abolition of the Legislative Council. However, in today’s Parliament, I am the only parliamentary party leader in this Chamber who supports the Legislative Council. The leaders of the Liberal Party and the National Party are on the record for abolition of the Legislative Council. Every member knows my very strong view for a bicameral system. I so much support the Legislative Council in its role in our political system that I want to see it work better than it is currently working. Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our Government has introduced a great deal of legislation to this Parliament. Only four pieces of government legislation have passed through the Council this year; until yesterday it was only two. I believe the Council passed another two pieces of government legislation last night. The Legislative Council must come into the modern world; it must examine how other upper Houses are operating and it must ensure that it has a proper process for dealing with legislation. I will give this Parliament a simple statistic that will reveal the problem we have today. The Legislative Assembly sat for 642 hours over 78 days since 1 May 2001. The Legislative Council sat for 481 hours over 84 days since 1 May 2001. That is six more sitting days but 161 fewer hours than the Legislative Assembly. We need a better performance from the Legislative Council in the way that it considers matters. Very important legislation has been brought to this Parliament that is crucial to the future of Western Australia. We want a better performance from the Legislative Council. I know that members on our side of the House in the Legislative Council are doing their best to make it work. However, two issues need to be resolved. The first issue concerns the leadership of the Liberal Party. It is a problem that the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, who is resident in this Chamber, obviously has no influence on what happens to his party in the Legislative Council. Secondly, some members in the Legislative Council have not got the message that the public of Western Australia wants them to do a good job. I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our Government has introduced a great deal of legislation to this Parliament. Only four pieces of government legislation have passed through the Council this year; until yesterday it was only two. I believe the Council passed another two pieces of government legislation last night. The Legislative Council must come into the modern world; it must examine how other upper Houses are operating and it must ensure that it has a proper process for dealing with legislation. I will give this Parliament a simple statistic that will reveal the problem we have today. The Legislative Assembly sat for 642 hours over 78 days since 1 May 2001. The Legislative Council sat for 481 hours over 84 days since 1 May 2001. That is six more sitting days but 161 fewer hours than the Legislative Assembly. We need a better performance from the Legislative Council in the way that it considers matters. Very important legislation has been brought to this Parliament that is crucial to the future of Western Australia. We want a better performance from the Legislative Council. I know that members on our side of the House in the Legislative Council are doing their best to make it work. However, two issues need to be resolved. The first issue concerns the leadership of the Liberal Party. It is a problem that the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, who is resident in this Chamber, obviously has no influence on what happens to his party in the Legislative Council. Secondly, some members in the Legislative Council have not got the message that the public of Western Australia wants them to do a good job. I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
I woke up this morning and heard the Leader of the Liberal Party on ABC news saying - . . . the longer you make us sit, the longer it will take to pass the legislation; it’s as simple as that. Mr Barnett: Who are you referring to? Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
Dr GALLOP: I am referring to Hon Norman Moore on ABC news this morning. It is that sort of attitude that puts this Parliament into disrepute. We need a good upper House, but we want an upper House that functions properly. I call upon members opposite who have some influence on the Legislative Council to make sure that it works properly. The productivity performance of the upper House is less than satisfactory. My members in that House are trying to do something about it. Let us hope that the members of the Liberal Party will come into the twenty-first century and reform that House so that it can play a proper role in our political system.
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.