❓ Mr. Simpson asks about the government's storm season preparedness following significant storm damage in Perth and the southwest. Mr. Johnson details the government's awareness campaign and acknowledges the SES volunteers.
AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PREPARATION FOR STORM SEASON
Last year Perth and the south west were hit by storms and tornadoes, which caused a lot of damage to many residents’ homes and businesses. Four tornadoes were recorded during the season, which caused significant damage to areas, including Roleystone in my electorate. What is the Liberal-National government doing to ensure people are better prepared this year for the onset of the storm season? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
Last year Perth and the south west were hit by storms and tornadoes, which caused a lot of damage to many residents’ homes and businesses. Four tornadoes were recorded during the season, which caused significant damage to areas, including Roleystone in my electorate. What is the Liberal-National government doing to ensure people are better prepared this year for the onset of the storm season? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question and his very genuine concern about storms, particularly in the area he resides in and represents. Mr J.N. Hyde : Did you find your ladder—the one you lost on the weekend—for central Perth? The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question and his very genuine concern about storms, particularly in the area he resides in and represents. Mr J.N. Hyde : Did you find your ladder—the one you lost on the weekend—for central Perth? The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
I thank the member for some notice of this question and his very genuine concern about storms, particularly in the area he resides in and represents. Mr J.N. Hyde : Did you find your ladder—the one you lost on the weekend—for central Perth? The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Did you find your ladder—the one you lost on the weekend—for central Perth? The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question and his very genuine concern about storms, particularly in the area he resides in and represents. Mr J.N. Hyde : Did you find your ladder—the one you lost on the weekend—for central Perth? The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
I thank the member for some notice of this question and his very genuine concern about storms, particularly in the area he resides in and represents. Mr J.N. Hyde : Did you find your ladder—the one you lost on the weekend—for central Perth? The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Did you find your ladder—the one you lost on the weekend—for central Perth? The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : Order! I ask the minister to take a seat, please. I do not mind the member for Perth’s interjections most of the time but that one was entirely inappropriate. I call him formally to order for the first time. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. It seems very strange that we should even be thinking of storms at the moment given we are having such fantastic weather for this time of the year. But it is important that we prepare for storms because they can come any time, anywhere. Last Friday I visited the home of Ken and James Smith in Rockingham to launch this year’s storm awareness campaign. In June last year two-thirds of the Smith family home was destroyed when a tornado swept through their street. Their dining room, bedrooms and garage, which contained his new car and boat, were completely destroyed. The Smiths spent approximately eight months with a tarp on their roof and stakes in their backyard. Their story not only highlights the danger of storms but the aftermath, which can drag on for many months. Each year from May to October, which is the storm season, severe storms, including tornadoes, thunder, lightning, hailstones, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major disruption to the southern half of Western Australia, from Kalbarri to Albany. Indeed, Perth was battered by eight severe storms, which tore off roofs, flattened homes and brought down power lines and trees onto cars, fences and homes. A severe storm also lashed the south west and the great southern, causing significant damage. Some of these things can be avoided. The awareness campaign is to try to get people to do whatever they can to ensure that they do not suffer too adversely when these storms, tornadoes and flooding occasions take place. What they should be doing and what we have asked them to do is to check their roofs and gutters for damage, and to clear the gutters and downpipes of leaves and blockages. They should trim the branches near their homes and hire a contractor to clear trees from the powerlines. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Can you guarantee you’ll have enough ladders? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Can the member for Perth guarantee to stay in Western Australia and not go to Thailand every five minutes to carry on his business activities, and other activities? Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! The minister has the call. Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr T.G. Stephens : He’s going to call you into the corner now! The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : I might be tempted to do so, member for Pilbara. I urge the minister to stick with the topic and the question he was asked by the member for Darling Range. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I apologise for being sidetracked by the member for Perth; what a tragic event that is! People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
People need to prepare for these storms. They need to not only check all the things around their homes and make sure there are no loose items, and ensure that, of course, that they have an emergency plan in case they are affected by severe weather. Last year more than 1 800 dedicated State Emergency Service volunteers helped the people in this state who were seriously affected by the storms. Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Good people they are, too! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Absolutely good people—top class; first-class! They are all volunteers who give up their time and leave their families on some of the worst days and nights of the year, including Christmas and other holiday times, to help people severely affected by adverse weather conditions such as storms and flooding. I take my hat off and say a word of thanks and praise to all those SES volunteers—all volunteers—who help with that effort. The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The time is coming upon us for the storm season; it could be any moment, any time, any day. Our SES volunteers throughout WA do a fantastic job, as do our firefighters. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr F.M. Logan : If you want to do this, do a ministerial statement. You’re unbelievable! The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cockburn to order! Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr F.M. Logan : The criticism we got from you when we used to do this! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! We will have a full question time today, and I am sure both sides of the house are looking forward to that, including the member for Cockburn. The minister has the call. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They would be very disappointed with the member for Cockburn, back in Croydon, where he comes from! Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr J.C. Kobelke : Can I congratulate you on what is a timely warning to people of their responsibilities; it’s almost as good as the statement I made at the same time last year! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Really? It just goes to show that there is always an appropriate time to warn people when there could be bad news. I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
I will conclude by talking about what the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia will do during this season. The member for Perth thinks he is being clever by talking about some silly little ladder which was a set-up job. Our firefighters in the metropolitan area, and all the other areas throughout WA, are well equipped and have all the length of ladders they need to do the job. People should not listen to the union when it starts scaremongering. Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Can they get to every fire hydrant? Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : They can get to every fire hydrant that they could get to while the former Labor government was in power for eight years. If there has been any problem, it was when Labor was in government, not while we have been in government.
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