❓ Mr Grylls questions the Premier about delays in signing bilateral agreements for the national action plan on salinity and water quality, suggesting WA is losing funding to eastern states. The Premier accuses the Nationals and Liberals of undermining the state's interests in negotiations with the Commonwealth.
AnsweredQoN 334Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a media release by the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about the national action plan on salinity and water quality, which reads - I cannot understand why WA would choose to risk not only the opportunity for Commonwealth funding, but also risk further damage to the environment and loss of community enthusiasm. (1) Is the Premier aware that money allocated to Western Australia is already being claimed by eastern States’ government agencies and land care groups? (2) Given that both the Premier and the Minister for the Environment and Heritage keep telling the Western Australian land care community that the Government is almost ready to sign off on the bilateral agreements, something that has been happening since I first came into this place in December 2001, when will the Premier come clean with regional Western Australia and confirm that he has no intention of signing off on the bilateral agreement? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) It is very interesting to be Premier of Western Australia when I take up the cudgels on behalf of the people and the taxpayers of Western Australia against the Governments based in Canberra and their bureaucracies. In Western Australian politics there has always been a tradition that when the Government of the day goes to Canberra on behalf of the people and taxpayers of Western Australia to seek a better deal, we all work together. When the last coalition Premier did that we supported him, but there has been a change. When this Government goes to Canberra, it is white-anted by the Nationals and the Liberals. They do not stand for the people of Western Australia; they stand for petty politicking. That is why they are on that side of the House and we are on this side. My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
(2) Given that both the Premier and the Minister for the Environment and Heritage keep telling the Western Australian land care community that the Government is almost ready to sign off on the bilateral agreements, something that has been happening since I first came into this place in December 2001, when will the Premier come clean with regional Western Australia and confirm that he has no intention of signing off on the bilateral agreement? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is very interesting to be Premier of Western Australia when I take up the cudgels on behalf of the people and the taxpayers of Western Australia against the Governments based in Canberra and their bureaucracies. In Western Australian politics there has always been a tradition that when the Government of the day goes to Canberra on behalf of the people and taxpayers of Western Australia to seek a better deal, we all work together. When the last coalition Premier did that we supported him, but there has been a change. When this Government goes to Canberra, it is white-anted by the Nationals and the Liberals. They do not stand for the people of Western Australia; they stand for petty politicking. That is why they are on that side of the House and we are on this side. My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is very interesting to be Premier of Western Australia when I take up the cudgels on behalf of the people and the taxpayers of Western Australia against the Governments based in Canberra and their bureaucracies. In Western Australian politics there has always been a tradition that when the Government of the day goes to Canberra on behalf of the people and taxpayers of Western Australia to seek a better deal, we all work together. When the last coalition Premier did that we supported him, but there has been a change. When this Government goes to Canberra, it is white-anted by the Nationals and the Liberals. They do not stand for the people of Western Australia; they stand for petty politicking. That is why they are on that side of the House and we are on this side. My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
(1)-(2) It is very interesting to be Premier of Western Australia when I take up the cudgels on behalf of the people and the taxpayers of Western Australia against the Governments based in Canberra and their bureaucracies. In Western Australian politics there has always been a tradition that when the Government of the day goes to Canberra on behalf of the people and taxpayers of Western Australia to seek a better deal, we all work together. When the last coalition Premier did that we supported him, but there has been a change. When this Government goes to Canberra, it is white-anted by the Nationals and the Liberals. They do not stand for the people of Western Australia; they stand for petty politicking. That is why they are on that side of the House and we are on this side. My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
(2) Given that both the Premier and the Minister for the Environment and Heritage keep telling the Western Australian land care community that the Government is almost ready to sign off on the bilateral agreements, something that has been happening since I first came into this place in December 2001, when will the Premier come clean with regional Western Australia and confirm that he has no intention of signing off on the bilateral agreement? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is very interesting to be Premier of Western Australia when I take up the cudgels on behalf of the people and the taxpayers of Western Australia against the Governments based in Canberra and their bureaucracies. In Western Australian politics there has always been a tradition that when the Government of the day goes to Canberra on behalf of the people and taxpayers of Western Australia to seek a better deal, we all work together. When the last coalition Premier did that we supported him, but there has been a change. When this Government goes to Canberra, it is white-anted by the Nationals and the Liberals. They do not stand for the people of Western Australia; they stand for petty politicking. That is why they are on that side of the House and we are on this side. My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is very interesting to be Premier of Western Australia when I take up the cudgels on behalf of the people and the taxpayers of Western Australia against the Governments based in Canberra and their bureaucracies. In Western Australian politics there has always been a tradition that when the Government of the day goes to Canberra on behalf of the people and taxpayers of Western Australia to seek a better deal, we all work together. When the last coalition Premier did that we supported him, but there has been a change. When this Government goes to Canberra, it is white-anted by the Nationals and the Liberals. They do not stand for the people of Western Australia; they stand for petty politicking. That is why they are on that side of the House and we are on this side. My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
(1)-(2) It is very interesting to be Premier of Western Australia when I take up the cudgels on behalf of the people and the taxpayers of Western Australia against the Governments based in Canberra and their bureaucracies. In Western Australian politics there has always been a tradition that when the Government of the day goes to Canberra on behalf of the people and taxpayers of Western Australia to seek a better deal, we all work together. When the last coalition Premier did that we supported him, but there has been a change. When this Government goes to Canberra, it is white-anted by the Nationals and the Liberals. They do not stand for the people of Western Australia; they stand for petty politicking. That is why they are on that side of the House and we are on this side. My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
My Government is standing up for the interests of Western Australia to make sure that we get a fair deal. It would be a lot easier, when we did that, if we had the support of the Nationals and the Liberals. However, members opposite do not like this business of opposition; this business of being on the other side of the House. What do they do? They will do anything to try to undermine and wreck the position of the Government of Western Australia. They are wreckers undermining the interests of our State. The member for Merredin is a lap-dog of the commonwealth minister. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is out there and the little poodle going snap, snap is the member for Merredin. I wrote to the Prime Minister in August. Does the member for Merredin know when I got a reply? This week! That is the speed with which the Commonwealth operates in these matters. I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
I will give the member for Merredin a second chance. Will the member join with my Government and condemn the Commonwealth Government for a $23 million cut, from $30 million down to $7 million, in Natural Heritage Trust money? I tell you what, Mr Speaker; it is just as well the Labor Party stands up for Western Australia because we have the poodle of the federal minister on the National Party bench. Where is the Liberal Party on this? It is never to be seen supporting the Government in its battle against Canberra. As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
As the previous Premier, Hon Richard Court, and previous Deputy Premier, Hon Hendy Cowan, said when this issue was on the table, the activity and expenditure that has already been undertaken in Western Australia should be taken into account when federal money is distributed. As Premier, I stand behind what both Hon Richard Court and Hon Hendy Cowan said. Where are the National Party and the Liberal Party now? They are undermining the State of Western Australia. They are wreckers. If they are not wreckers, they are little poodles doing the job of the federal minister.
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