❓ Mrs. O'Malley asks the Minister for Local Government for an update on the Local Government Act review consultation process and if anyone is struggling to understand it. The Minister provides an update and criticises the Member for Carine's understanding of the review.
AnsweredQoN 863Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT —
REVIEW
863. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Local
Government:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to acknowledge the Y Striders over-50s walking and running group of
Attadale who are here in the gallery today.
I refer to the review of the Local
Government Act that is currently underway.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the consultation process that is being undertaken
as part of this review?
(2) Is the
minister aware of anyone who is struggling to comprehend the process that is
being undertaken and cannot understand what the review involves?
REVIEW
863. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Local
Government:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to acknowledge the Y Striders over-50s walking and running group of
Attadale who are here in the gallery today.
I refer to the review of the Local
Government Act that is currently underway.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the consultation process that is being undertaken
as part of this review?
(2) Is the
minister aware of anyone who is struggling to comprehend the process that is
being undertaken and cannot understand what the review involves?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(2) There
is someone who is struggling, but I will mention them shortly. First of all, we
need to understand that the second phase of the McGowan government's
reform of local government through the reform of the Local Government Act—an
act that the previous government, through the previous Minister for Local Government,
said did not need amending; that was not good, but that is what its view was—is
progressing well. I am pleased that discussion papers on the next stage of the
local government reform process were released on 19 September and now we have a
number of community forums and workshops that are currently underway. I understand
they have been well attended. We are getting survey responses back steadily,
which is great, and people are of course taking the opportunity to write to the
department with regard to those responses. Up until 26 October the following
have been undertaken: there have been elected-member workshops in Carnarvon,
Narrogin, Cottesloe, Cranbrook, Geraldton, Merredin, Victoria Park, Mundaring
and Moora. There are officer workshops in Brookton, Carnarvon, Geraldton,
Katanning, Bruce Rock and Gingin. There are community forums and drop-in
sessions in Carnarvon, Katanning, Bruce Rock and Gingin. Engagement with the
Ministerial Youth Advisory Council is continuing. There is engagement with
seniors through Be Connected online. There is engagement with the WA Sports
Federation. Consultation does not stop in person, because I certainly encourage
members to talk to their local communities and encourage their local
communities to have a say. There seems to be strong support and there seems to
be a strong understanding of this process except —
The SPEAKER : Through the
Chair, minister.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Except, of
course, there is one person who is struggling.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The member
for Carine is struggling!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : He is. I only
need to point to this question that he asked me on 25 October —
(a) for what
reasons has the Minister or his department not included council procurement
processes as a key topic in the second phase of the review �
The member really has to start
listening in this place because he should have known that exactly a week before
I was asked a question about the review process and I specifically said —
As members know, we have commenced
the process of the second phase � will look at the legislation that underpins
the operation of local government in Western Australia. Included in the second
phase is this whole issue around procurement.
The member for Carine is starting to
look like that character in Little Britain. Does the member know the
character? If we popped a blonde wig on his head and a bit of lipstick, he
would be the Vicky Pollard of this place, because he comes in here and says, ''Yeah,
but then we're doing that. Yeah, but no but oh; I saw that and someone
told me this, but yeah but no but.''
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : That is
how the member for Carine is behaving now. He does not understand the concept
of the review. He does not have a concept of what we are trying to achieve. I fundamentally
think he does not support the process, because he does not seem to be able to
grapple with the fact that we are undergoing a significant reform of an act
that needs reform. It is 20-plus years old.
Mrs A.K. Hayden : It is not
relevant.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : It is not
relevant to this. It is not relevant to the current way that local governments
need to operate in the future.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Therefore,
we are encouraging the community of Western Australia to have its say. The
member's approach in this place, and he did it again last night in his
contribution to the private members' debate, is just all over the
place.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : He is not
listening. He does not listen to answers, he does not do anything of that
nature, and he is really starting to look like that character. For Christmas, I
am going to buy him a blonde wig, because I would love to see him wearing it.
That is what the member is trying to do.
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The member
for Carine has to understand this process and make sure that this is a significant
reform of local government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Everyone calm
down. Minister, end your answer now.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The member
for Carine needs to understand that the community is embracing the opportunity
to have its say. He needs to get involved, rather than coming in here and
throwing cliches and ideas around that demonstrate his lack of understanding of
the process.
(1)–(2) There
is someone who is struggling, but I will mention them shortly. First of all, we
need to understand that the second phase of the McGowan government's
reform of local government through the reform of the Local Government Act—an
act that the previous government, through the previous Minister for Local Government,
said did not need amending; that was not good, but that is what its view was—is
progressing well. I am pleased that discussion papers on the next stage of the
local government reform process were released on 19 September and now we have a
number of community forums and workshops that are currently underway. I understand
they have been well attended. We are getting survey responses back steadily,
which is great, and people are of course taking the opportunity to write to the
department with regard to those responses. Up until 26 October the following
have been undertaken: there have been elected-member workshops in Carnarvon,
Narrogin, Cottesloe, Cranbrook, Geraldton, Merredin, Victoria Park, Mundaring
and Moora. There are officer workshops in Brookton, Carnarvon, Geraldton,
Katanning, Bruce Rock and Gingin. There are community forums and drop-in
sessions in Carnarvon, Katanning, Bruce Rock and Gingin. Engagement with the
Ministerial Youth Advisory Council is continuing. There is engagement with
seniors through Be Connected online. There is engagement with the WA Sports
Federation. Consultation does not stop in person, because I certainly encourage
members to talk to their local communities and encourage their local
communities to have a say. There seems to be strong support and there seems to
be a strong understanding of this process except —
The SPEAKER : Through the
Chair, minister.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Except, of
course, there is one person who is struggling.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The member
for Carine is struggling!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : He is. I only
need to point to this question that he asked me on 25 October —
(a) for what
reasons has the Minister or his department not included council procurement
processes as a key topic in the second phase of the review �
The member really has to start
listening in this place because he should have known that exactly a week before
I was asked a question about the review process and I specifically said —
As members know, we have commenced
the process of the second phase � will look at the legislation that underpins
the operation of local government in Western Australia. Included in the second
phase is this whole issue around procurement.
The member for Carine is starting to
look like that character in Little Britain. Does the member know the
character? If we popped a blonde wig on his head and a bit of lipstick, he
would be the Vicky Pollard of this place, because he comes in here and says, ''Yeah,
but then we're doing that. Yeah, but no but oh; I saw that and someone
told me this, but yeah but no but.''
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : That is
how the member for Carine is behaving now. He does not understand the concept
of the review. He does not have a concept of what we are trying to achieve. I fundamentally
think he does not support the process, because he does not seem to be able to
grapple with the fact that we are undergoing a significant reform of an act
that needs reform. It is 20-plus years old.
Mrs A.K. Hayden : It is not
relevant.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : It is not
relevant to this. It is not relevant to the current way that local governments
need to operate in the future.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Therefore,
we are encouraging the community of Western Australia to have its say. The
member's approach in this place, and he did it again last night in his
contribution to the private members' debate, is just all over the
place.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : He is not
listening. He does not listen to answers, he does not do anything of that
nature, and he is really starting to look like that character. For Christmas, I
am going to buy him a blonde wig, because I would love to see him wearing it.
That is what the member is trying to do.
The SPEAKER : Minister!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The member
for Carine has to understand this process and make sure that this is a significant
reform of local government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Everyone calm
down. Minister, end your answer now.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : The member
for Carine needs to understand that the community is embracing the opportunity
to have its say. He needs to get involved, rather than coming in here and
throwing cliches and ideas around that demonstrate his lack of understanding of
the process.
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