❓ Question regarding government intervention in a bare-knuckle fighting event in WA, met with a combative response from the Premier highlighting perceived hypocrisy of the Nationals party regarding community safety and gun laws.
AnsweredQoN 186Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Bare-knuckle fighting
186. Mr Peter Rundle to the Premier:
I have a
supplementary question. The Premier leads this government and he leads this
state, not the Combat Sports Commission. Will he show some leadership to
prevent this morally repugnant—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Peter Rundle: Will the Premier show some leadership
to prevent this morally repugnant event from taking place in Western Australia?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the government, the question
is to the Premier. The Premier is going to respond. The rest of you do not need
to. Leader of the Opposition, the question has been asked. Wait for the
response.
186. Mr Peter Rundle to the Premier:
I have a
supplementary question. The Premier leads this government and he leads this
state, not the Combat Sports Commission. Will he show some leadership to
prevent this morally repugnant—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Peter Rundle: Will the Premier show some leadership
to prevent this morally repugnant event from taking place in Western Australia?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the government, the question
is to the Premier. The Premier is going to respond. The rest of you do not need
to. Leader of the Opposition, the question has been asked. Wait for the
response.
AnswerView source ↗
As I said, it is
important that the Combat Sports Commission can make sure that we do not drive
combat sports underground. That is the reason it is important for it to provide
greater oversight. As I said, it is not my cup of tea but neither is the UFC. I
know it was not the opposition's cup of tea because it banned it. It banned
UFC. Since UFC has come to Western Australia, we have excelled. Jack Della
Maddalena is a world champion. We are very proud of his efforts.
There are all manner
of blows to the head in a whole range of sports, through elbows, through knees,
through kicks. Because of that, it is important that we are at least consistent
in the way we do it.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members.
Mr Paul Papalia interjected.
The Speaker: Minister.
Mr Roger Cook: I find it extraordinary that the Deputy
Leader of the National Party should get up in here and say that he is concerned
about community safety and he is concerned about people being injured when he,
along with his leader, is spearheading the campaign to make Western Australia a
less safe place. They are spearheading a campaign to dismantle gun laws. I will
be lectured by a whole range of people about community safety but not from the
National Party. I will never be lectured to by the National Party when it comes
to the issue of keeping people safe because what we
have seen is that for simple rank political advantage, it is prepared to put
Western Australians' lives at risk.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, minister, if
you want to have a conversation between yourselves, you are more than welcome
to take it outside. Premier, if you could conclude your remarks please.
Mr Roger Cook: The fact that they are prepared to
treat these sorts of issues like a circus by their constant interjecting and
behaviour is thoroughly disappointing. We are about keeping the community safe.
Keeping the community safe is about making sure that we have strong gun laws.
It is about making sure that we support victims of family and domestic
violence. It is about making sure that when people want to recreate in a
particular fashion, we do everything we can to keep them safe.
This is
extraordinary. We do not know what these people stand for. They bounce around,
depending on the critical whims of the day. One day they want everyone to have
a six-shooter and the next day they do not want people to have a punch-up. It
is just extraordinary. I have watched with some amusement the labels—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! You are getting beyond a bit of
a joke here, opposition members. The Premier is about to conclude his comments.
He cannot finish because you keep continually interjecting on him. The next
person who interjects, I am going to start calling.
Mr Roger Cook: As I said, I am surprised that the
Nationals are championing this. On gun laws, they are saying we should let rip
and now on combat sports, they say the government should intervene and stop
people from engaging in this behaviour. It is just weird. I have heard
expressions such "Zigzag Zempilas" and "Both ways Basil".
For once, the coalition has been led by the Liberal Party.
important that the Combat Sports Commission can make sure that we do not drive
combat sports underground. That is the reason it is important for it to provide
greater oversight. As I said, it is not my cup of tea but neither is the UFC. I
know it was not the opposition's cup of tea because it banned it. It banned
UFC. Since UFC has come to Western Australia, we have excelled. Jack Della
Maddalena is a world champion. We are very proud of his efforts.
There are all manner
of blows to the head in a whole range of sports, through elbows, through knees,
through kicks. Because of that, it is important that we are at least consistent
in the way we do it.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members.
Mr Paul Papalia interjected.
The Speaker: Minister.
Mr Roger Cook: I find it extraordinary that the Deputy
Leader of the National Party should get up in here and say that he is concerned
about community safety and he is concerned about people being injured when he,
along with his leader, is spearheading the campaign to make Western Australia a
less safe place. They are spearheading a campaign to dismantle gun laws. I will
be lectured by a whole range of people about community safety but not from the
National Party. I will never be lectured to by the National Party when it comes
to the issue of keeping people safe because what we
have seen is that for simple rank political advantage, it is prepared to put
Western Australians' lives at risk.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, minister, if
you want to have a conversation between yourselves, you are more than welcome
to take it outside. Premier, if you could conclude your remarks please.
Mr Roger Cook: The fact that they are prepared to
treat these sorts of issues like a circus by their constant interjecting and
behaviour is thoroughly disappointing. We are about keeping the community safe.
Keeping the community safe is about making sure that we have strong gun laws.
It is about making sure that we support victims of family and domestic
violence. It is about making sure that when people want to recreate in a
particular fashion, we do everything we can to keep them safe.
This is
extraordinary. We do not know what these people stand for. They bounce around,
depending on the critical whims of the day. One day they want everyone to have
a six-shooter and the next day they do not want people to have a punch-up. It
is just extraordinary. I have watched with some amusement the labels—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! You are getting beyond a bit of
a joke here, opposition members. The Premier is about to conclude his comments.
He cannot finish because you keep continually interjecting on him. The next
person who interjects, I am going to start calling.
Mr Roger Cook: As I said, I am surprised that the
Nationals are championing this. On gun laws, they are saying we should let rip
and now on combat sports, they say the government should intervene and stop
people from engaging in this behaviour. It is just weird. I have heard
expressions such "Zigzag Zempilas" and "Both ways Basil".
For once, the coalition has been led by the Liberal Party.
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