❓ Question regarding the Leader of the National Party's agreement with statements made by a Nationals Senate candidate about the WA government's shark drum line program. The Leader affirms state-level support for the policy while acknowledging diverse views and defending the candidate's right to express personal opinions.
AnsweredQoN 196Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SHARK DRUM
LINE PROGRAM — SHANE VAN STYN
196. Mr D.J. KELLY to the
Leader of the National Party:
Does the Leader of the National Party agree with the
following statements made by the number one candidate for the Nationals in
Saturday's Senate election, Shane Van Styn, to a forum on Sunday
organised by the Nosharkcullwa group that —
(a) he does not support the Western Australian government's
policy to kill sharks;
(b) the money would be better spent on cancer research;
(c) the policy ignores residents of
the north west; and
(d) the policy is indicative of us
living in a nanny state?
Point of Order
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I just want your confirmation, firstly, that
it is appropriate to ask a question of the leader of a party. I think that
probably is okay. Secondly, the question appears to be seeking an opinion, in
asking whether the Leader of the National Party agrees with something. I do not
believe that is within the standing orders.
The
SPEAKER : I think it is up to the Leader of the National Party as to
whether he wants to answer the question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
LINE PROGRAM — SHANE VAN STYN
196. Mr D.J. KELLY to the
Leader of the National Party:
Does the Leader of the National Party agree with the
following statements made by the number one candidate for the Nationals in
Saturday's Senate election, Shane Van Styn, to a forum on Sunday
organised by the Nosharkcullwa group that —
(a) he does not support the Western Australian government's
policy to kill sharks;
(b) the money would be better spent on cancer research;
(c) the policy ignores residents of
the north west; and
(d) the policy is indicative of us
living in a nanny state?
Point of Order
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I just want your confirmation, firstly, that
it is appropriate to ask a question of the leader of a party. I think that
probably is okay. Secondly, the question appears to be seeking an opinion, in
asking whether the Leader of the National Party agrees with something. I do not
believe that is within the standing orders.
The
SPEAKER : I think it is up to the Leader of the National Party as to
whether he wants to answer the question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
AnswerView source ↗
Thanks for the question, member for Bassendean. I will make
the point that the Nationals at a state level support the government's
policy settings. That was clearly discussed around the cabinet table as far as
the actions around sharks are concerned. Indeed, my own electorate fronts onto
a lot of the coast in the south west, so there is no concern about our
position. I know that there are different views that sit there. Some are slightly
softer than others on the outcome. But as far as National Party policy is
concerned, we are in support of the government position and we have been out
there articulating that view.
The good thing about the Nationals at the federal level is
that they are prepared to stand up for the issues that they feel strongly
about. Shane Van Styn has every right—he is entitled to do so—to
stand up and put a particular view that he has if he thinks that will best
represent the area that he is seeking to represent, which in this case is
Western Australia in the Senate.
I will tell the member one other
thing. There is one position on which the Labor Party has been very quiet, and
that is the GST in Western Australia. In the media, the Labor Party's
federal counterparts —
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Leader of the National Party, this question was on sharks, not revenue, so let
us stick to that.
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I seek your latitude on the point that
is being made, and that is the right of a member of Parliament, or someone
seeking to be a member of Parliament, to stand up for what he believes in. I
think that the Nationals in Western Australia have demonstrated their capacity to
do that, particularly around the GST. Members opposite know that Western
Australia is getting done over on that, and the Nationals have stood up on that
issue. That is a very good example of him being prepared to stand up for
Western Australia.
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the first time.
the point that the Nationals at a state level support the government's
policy settings. That was clearly discussed around the cabinet table as far as
the actions around sharks are concerned. Indeed, my own electorate fronts onto
a lot of the coast in the south west, so there is no concern about our
position. I know that there are different views that sit there. Some are slightly
softer than others on the outcome. But as far as National Party policy is
concerned, we are in support of the government position and we have been out
there articulating that view.
The good thing about the Nationals at the federal level is
that they are prepared to stand up for the issues that they feel strongly
about. Shane Van Styn has every right—he is entitled to do so—to
stand up and put a particular view that he has if he thinks that will best
represent the area that he is seeking to represent, which in this case is
Western Australia in the Senate.
I will tell the member one other
thing. There is one position on which the Labor Party has been very quiet, and
that is the GST in Western Australia. In the media, the Labor Party's
federal counterparts —
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Leader of the National Party, this question was on sharks, not revenue, so let
us stick to that.
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I seek your latitude on the point that
is being made, and that is the right of a member of Parliament, or someone
seeking to be a member of Parliament, to stand up for what he believes in. I
think that the Nationals in Western Australia have demonstrated their capacity to
do that, particularly around the GST. Members opposite know that Western
Australia is getting done over on that, and the Nationals have stood up on that
issue. That is a very good example of him being prepared to stand up for
Western Australia.
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the first time.
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