❓ Mr Rundle questions the Premier's inaction regarding a proposal to use Bladin Village for skilled agricultural workers to address labour shortages. The Premier deflects responsibility to the federal government, criticising the opposition's understanding of jurisdictional powers and suggesting they lobby their federal counterparts.
AnsweredQoN 492Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — SKILLED AGRICULTURAL WORKERS —BLADIN
VILLAGE, NORTHERN TERRITORY
492. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to the massive skill
shortage impacting the grain sector's ability to manage a record
harvest, and the multiple approaches to the government by concerned
stakeholders across the agricultural sector in Western Australia. Why has the
Premier failed to lodge a formal proposal for the use of Bladin Village to the
Prime Minister, as backed by his Chief Medical Officer and industry, as is the
process agreed to by national cabinet?
VILLAGE, NORTHERN TERRITORY
492. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to the massive skill
shortage impacting the grain sector's ability to manage a record
harvest, and the multiple approaches to the government by concerned
stakeholders across the agricultural sector in Western Australia. Why has the
Premier failed to lodge a formal proposal for the use of Bladin Village to the
Prime Minister, as backed by his Chief Medical Officer and industry, as is the
process agreed to by national cabinet?
AnswerView source ↗
I explained to the member yesterday
that international borders are a matter for the federal government. Apparently the member for Roe has got to 60 years of age and
he does not understand that the international borders are controlled by the commonwealth, not the state. The state does
not control them. Honestly, no wonder there are only six of you ! You do
not even understand that international borders are controlled by the federal
government. I do not control who comes into Australia from outside; the
commonwealth government does. The Leader of the Liberal Party sits there
sniping away whenever I explain the most basic of things to him, because he
does not understand it either. We do not control the international borders. The
Minister for Agriculture and Food has put a proposition to the commonwealth
government that perhaps it could use these facilities to bring in workers for
the grains harvest, in particular people skilled at operating farm equipment.
It is a matter for the commonwealth as to whether or not it wants to allow
that. Why is it that opposition members cannot understand that? Why do they try
to blame the state government for that? Are they next going to blame the state
government for what is going on in the Middle East? Is that something the state government should do something about? Will
they be asking why I am not doing something about that? Seriously, they
need to actually understand what each level of government is responsible for.
We have put a proposition to the
commonwealth. It has not taken it up. We do what we can to assist the
commonwealth when required. For instance, we had 100 people come in from
Afghanistan last night. That is because we work with the commonwealth, and we
met its requests in relation to these sorts of things.
Perhaps the member for Roe could go
to his National Party colleagues federally and take up the case. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition could go and see Barnaby
Joyce and take up the case. Mr Joyce is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. The National Party has made Barnaby
Joyce the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia! Think about that ! Barnaby
Joyce will act as Prime Minister when Scott Morrison is away. He will act as
Prime Minister. That is your choice. That is who you promoted. If you have
something to add on these matters, you should take it up with your good friends
in Canberra.
that international borders are a matter for the federal government. Apparently the member for Roe has got to 60 years of age and
he does not understand that the international borders are controlled by the commonwealth, not the state. The state does
not control them. Honestly, no wonder there are only six of you ! You do
not even understand that international borders are controlled by the federal
government. I do not control who comes into Australia from outside; the
commonwealth government does. The Leader of the Liberal Party sits there
sniping away whenever I explain the most basic of things to him, because he
does not understand it either. We do not control the international borders. The
Minister for Agriculture and Food has put a proposition to the commonwealth
government that perhaps it could use these facilities to bring in workers for
the grains harvest, in particular people skilled at operating farm equipment.
It is a matter for the commonwealth as to whether or not it wants to allow
that. Why is it that opposition members cannot understand that? Why do they try
to blame the state government for that? Are they next going to blame the state
government for what is going on in the Middle East? Is that something the state government should do something about? Will
they be asking why I am not doing something about that? Seriously, they
need to actually understand what each level of government is responsible for.
We have put a proposition to the
commonwealth. It has not taken it up. We do what we can to assist the
commonwealth when required. For instance, we had 100 people come in from
Afghanistan last night. That is because we work with the commonwealth, and we
met its requests in relation to these sorts of things.
Perhaps the member for Roe could go
to his National Party colleagues federally and take up the case. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition could go and see Barnaby
Joyce and take up the case. Mr Joyce is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. The National Party has made Barnaby
Joyce the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia! Think about that ! Barnaby
Joyce will act as Prime Minister when Scott Morrison is away. He will act as
Prime Minister. That is your choice. That is who you promoted. If you have
something to add on these matters, you should take it up with your good friends
in Canberra.
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