❓ Hon Simon O'Brien questions the Minister for Local Government regarding a lack of consultation with local councils concerning the south west metropolitan railway project. The Minister denies any pattern of arrogance and highlights ongoing consultation efforts.
AnsweredQoN 314Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the minister aware of a meeting which took place on or about 25 July, chaired by Councillor Ian Mickel, President of the Western Australian Municipal Association, and attended by representatives of the councils of Belmont, Victoria Park, South Perth, Armadale, Canning, Gosnells, Melville and Rockingham to consider the alleged lack of consultation with local governments affected by the south west metropolitan railway? (2) Is the minister also aware that the finding and announcement following the meeting was to the effect that all of these councils and the WAMA president were seriously critical of the failure by the Gallop Government to consult with local government before making its announcement about the railway, and that this was indicative of a pattern that all these local government representatives were seeing as part of their dealings with the State Government? (3) If the minister accepts that criticism, what steps will he take with his cabinet colleagues to try to get them to curb their arrogant approach towards local government consideration? The PRESIDENT: Order! That question may be leading in a number of respects, but the minister will have an opportunity to answer the relevant sections. Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
(2) Is the minister also aware that the finding and announcement following the meeting was to the effect that all of these councils and the WAMA president were seriously critical of the failure by the Gallop Government to consult with local government before making its announcement about the railway, and that this was indicative of a pattern that all these local government representatives were seeing as part of their dealings with the State Government? (3) If the minister accepts that criticism, what steps will he take with his cabinet colleagues to try to get them to curb their arrogant approach towards local government consideration? The PRESIDENT: Order! That question may be leading in a number of respects, but the minister will have an opportunity to answer the relevant sections. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
(3) If the minister accepts that criticism, what steps will he take with his cabinet colleagues to try to get them to curb their arrogant approach towards local government consideration? The PRESIDENT: Order! That question may be leading in a number of respects, but the minister will have an opportunity to answer the relevant sections. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
The PRESIDENT: Order! That question may be leading in a number of respects, but the minister will have an opportunity to answer the relevant sections. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
(1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
(2) Is the minister also aware that the finding and announcement following the meeting was to the effect that all of these councils and the WAMA president were seriously critical of the failure by the Gallop Government to consult with local government before making its announcement about the railway, and that this was indicative of a pattern that all these local government representatives were seeing as part of their dealings with the State Government? (3) If the minister accepts that criticism, what steps will he take with his cabinet colleagues to try to get them to curb their arrogant approach towards local government consideration? The PRESIDENT: Order! That question may be leading in a number of respects, but the minister will have an opportunity to answer the relevant sections. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
(3) If the minister accepts that criticism, what steps will he take with his cabinet colleagues to try to get them to curb their arrogant approach towards local government consideration? The PRESIDENT: Order! That question may be leading in a number of respects, but the minister will have an opportunity to answer the relevant sections. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
The PRESIDENT: Order! That question may be leading in a number of respects, but the minister will have an opportunity to answer the relevant sections. Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
(1)-(3) I am able to answer the member in the following way. I first became aware at about 3.35 pm today that a meeting took place on 25 July, when Hon Simon O’Brien advised this House during the urgency debate. I thank the member for drawing our attention to that meeting. I have no reason to doubt that that meeting took place, but I have no other independent advice on whether it took place or otherwise. However, I have not had drawn to my attention - other than by Hon Simon O’Brien - what are said to be the expressed views of those councils about that matter. Does the minister accept the view that this is some sort of serial pattern of arrogance on the part of ministers of this Government? Of course not; the contrary is the case. I will demonstrate exactly how the contrary is the case. Last night I took the opportunity to attend the south metropolitan zone meeting held at the City of Rockingham at which there were representatives from - The PRESIDENT: I trust that this part of the answer is relevant to some part of the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Absolutely. The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
The PRESIDENT: The minister should be concise, then. Many people are waiting to ask a question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Last night I took the opportunity at the meeting of the relevant and affected local government bodies to raise the issues and the decisions made by Cabinet for this railway. I advised the zone meeting that the master plan to develop the proposal from a concept to a final stage will involve each local community, and that local communities will be involved through the local governments and in close consultation with the community at large. I understand that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is meeting with the City of Melville on these issues. I am assured that there will be plenty of additional opportunities for the master plan to be discussed in detail, so that any of the difficulties that may arise or are highlighted will be taken on board by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
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