❓ A National Party MP questions the Premier about service cuts in regional WA following the reduction of regional parliamentary seats. The Premier defends the government's record and accuses the Nationals of hypocrisy, highlighting their past actions while in government.
AnsweredQoN 510Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COUNTRY REGIONS, REMOVAL OF SERVICES
Given that the Government has removed over 50 staff from regional offices of the Department of Agriculture, has removed police from wheatbelt towns and transferred them to the city, has closed specialist services in rural hospitals, has declined to fund the rural surgical service, has thrown hundreds of timber workers onto dole queues and has cancelled key country road projects worth over $120 million, all in the 10 months since it was elected, does the Premier still maintain that country people will not suffer further losses after the Government rips eight Legislative Assembly seats out of regional WA and puts them in the city? Dr GALLOP
Given that the Government has removed over 50 staff from regional offices of the Department of Agriculture, has removed police from wheatbelt towns and transferred them to the city, has closed specialist services in rural hospitals, has declined to fund the rural surgical service, has thrown hundreds of timber workers onto dole queues and has cancelled key country road projects worth over $120 million, all in the 10 months since it was elected, does the Premier still maintain that country people will not suffer further losses after the Government rips eight Legislative Assembly seats out of regional WA and puts them in the city? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
Am I hearing things from the leader of a party that was in government in Western Australia from 1993 to 2001? It introduced the gold royalty, removed the uniform electricity tariff, slashed the patient assisted travel scheme, and privatised Westrail and some of the major activities conducted by Main Roads Western Australia. Then, as the baby of all contributions to rural and regional Western Australia, it supported the introduction of the goods and services tax. Yet, the Leader of the National Party gets up in this Parliament and talks about the record of the Labor Party. Let us look at the proportion of the budget that is spent on health in rural Western Australia as opposed to that spent in the city. As the Minister for Health has just indicated, the commitment that we have given is greater than proportional to the population of rural and regional Western Australia. It is a similar story with the budget of the Department of Education and the capital works budget. More people are working for the Government and living in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were in June 2000. Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Dr GALLOP replied: Am I hearing things from the leader of a party that was in government in Western Australia from 1993 to 2001? It introduced the gold royalty, removed the uniform electricity tariff, slashed the patient assisted travel scheme, and privatised Westrail and some of the major activities conducted by Main Roads Western Australia. Then, as the baby of all contributions to rural and regional Western Australia, it supported the introduction of the goods and services tax. Yet, the Leader of the National Party gets up in this Parliament and talks about the record of the Labor Party. Let us look at the proportion of the budget that is spent on health in rural Western Australia as opposed to that spent in the city. As the Minister for Health has just indicated, the commitment that we have given is greater than proportional to the population of rural and regional Western Australia. It is a similar story with the budget of the Department of Education and the capital works budget. More people are working for the Government and living in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were in June 2000. Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Am I hearing things from the leader of a party that was in government in Western Australia from 1993 to 2001? It introduced the gold royalty, removed the uniform electricity tariff, slashed the patient assisted travel scheme, and privatised Westrail and some of the major activities conducted by Main Roads Western Australia. Then, as the baby of all contributions to rural and regional Western Australia, it supported the introduction of the goods and services tax. Yet, the Leader of the National Party gets up in this Parliament and talks about the record of the Labor Party. Let us look at the proportion of the budget that is spent on health in rural Western Australia as opposed to that spent in the city. As the Minister for Health has just indicated, the commitment that we have given is greater than proportional to the population of rural and regional Western Australia. It is a similar story with the budget of the Department of Education and the capital works budget. More people are working for the Government and living in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were in June 2000. Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Let us look at the proportion of the budget that is spent on health in rural Western Australia as opposed to that spent in the city. As the Minister for Health has just indicated, the commitment that we have given is greater than proportional to the population of rural and regional Western Australia. It is a similar story with the budget of the Department of Education and the capital works budget. More people are working for the Government and living in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were in June 2000. Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Dr GALLOP replied: Am I hearing things from the leader of a party that was in government in Western Australia from 1993 to 2001? It introduced the gold royalty, removed the uniform electricity tariff, slashed the patient assisted travel scheme, and privatised Westrail and some of the major activities conducted by Main Roads Western Australia. Then, as the baby of all contributions to rural and regional Western Australia, it supported the introduction of the goods and services tax. Yet, the Leader of the National Party gets up in this Parliament and talks about the record of the Labor Party. Let us look at the proportion of the budget that is spent on health in rural Western Australia as opposed to that spent in the city. As the Minister for Health has just indicated, the commitment that we have given is greater than proportional to the population of rural and regional Western Australia. It is a similar story with the budget of the Department of Education and the capital works budget. More people are working for the Government and living in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were in June 2000. Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Am I hearing things from the leader of a party that was in government in Western Australia from 1993 to 2001? It introduced the gold royalty, removed the uniform electricity tariff, slashed the patient assisted travel scheme, and privatised Westrail and some of the major activities conducted by Main Roads Western Australia. Then, as the baby of all contributions to rural and regional Western Australia, it supported the introduction of the goods and services tax. Yet, the Leader of the National Party gets up in this Parliament and talks about the record of the Labor Party. Let us look at the proportion of the budget that is spent on health in rural Western Australia as opposed to that spent in the city. As the Minister for Health has just indicated, the commitment that we have given is greater than proportional to the population of rural and regional Western Australia. It is a similar story with the budget of the Department of Education and the capital works budget. More people are working for the Government and living in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were in June 2000. Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Let us look at the proportion of the budget that is spent on health in rural Western Australia as opposed to that spent in the city. As the Minister for Health has just indicated, the commitment that we have given is greater than proportional to the population of rural and regional Western Australia. It is a similar story with the budget of the Department of Education and the capital works budget. More people are working for the Government and living in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were in June 2000. Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Several members interjected. Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Dr GALLOP: Yes, there are. Next week I will bring into Parliament a report to show just that. This Government is auditing what it does in rural and regional Western Australia. As a result of the commitments of this Government, more people are working in rural and regional Western Australia today than there were 12 months ago. There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
There are two aspects of this question that interest me: first, the rank hypocrisy of the National Party, which, as the Deputy Premier said earlier, laid down and allowed itself to be rolled by the Liberal Party on significant issues for rural and regional Western Australia. The second interesting aspect of this question is the view that National Party backsides on seats are more important than a fair voting system in Western Australia. What we want in Western Australia is equality for all our citizens. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Dr GALLOP: The member for Kalgoorlie does not have time to comment on these matters; he is too busy trying to arrange One Nation preferences for the Liberal Party. A fair voting system that guarantees equal rights for all Western Australians is the same philosophy that underpins our commitment to fair hospitals, a fair education system, a fair distribution of the capital works, and a fair distribution of government employment to rural and regional Western Australia. In the past decade in this State, only one party stood up for rural and regional Western Australia. Who voted against the privatisation of Westrail? Who voted against the privatisation of AlintaGas? Who voted against the privatisation of Main Roads services? Who voted against the uniform electricity tariff being compromised? It was the Australian Labor Party. We are proud of our commitment to rural and regional Western Australia. We are so proud of it that we are properly auditing our commitments and we will make statements in Parliament that indicate our support for those people. The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
The notion that we should have an electoral system that treats some voters differently from others is anathema to the Labor Party; it is anathema to democratic principles. Every person in Western Australia, no matter the colour of their skin, where they live, their preferences or their religion, will have an equal voting right under this Labor Government.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.