❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier regarding the rushed introduction and limited scrutiny of the Emergency Management Amendment Bill, while simultaneously cancelling sitting weeks. The Premier defends the timing, citing opposition demands to end the state of emergency and staffing challenges.
AnsweredQoN 546Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT (TEMPORARY COVID-19
PROVISIONS) BILL 2022
546. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I
have a supplementary question. Why does the Premier's government continue
to treat this Parliament with contempt , pushing through legislation with
minimal notice and limiting time for scrutiny while at the same time cancelling
sitting weeks that have been scheduled?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport and Minister for Health!
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : And not to be
left out, obviously, Minister for Water!
PROVISIONS) BILL 2022
546. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I
have a supplementary question. Why does the Premier's government continue
to treat this Parliament with contempt , pushing through legislation with
minimal notice and limiting time for scrutiny while at the same time cancelling
sitting weeks that have been scheduled?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport and Minister for Health!
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : And not to be
left out, obviously, Minister for Water!
AnswerView source ↗
As
I pointed out before, on 9 August, Hon
Nick Goiran demanded the end of the
state of emergency. On 14 June 2022 , the
Leader of the Opposition demanded the end of the state of emergency. The Leader
of the Liberal Party demanded it on 11 May 2022. We have been drafting
the law, in addition to a whole range of others things, in an environment, I might
add, in which it is difficult to get drafters. Like everyone else in Western Australia,
it is difficult to get employees because the economy is so strong. That is our
curse. We have created such a strong economy that it is now difficult to get
things done because there is so much demand out there. That is a problem, I suppose,
due to the fact we have run the economy in a way that has been so effective.
But the legislation was agreed to by cabinet yesterday. We are introducing it
as soon as we can. If we did not do that, members opposite would criticise us —
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on. If
we do not pass it, it means we cannot implement it. We want to implement it.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We could
introduce it in a month's time, then we would not be able to pass it,
and you are demanding we pass it now.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Liberal Party, this is not your question; please do not interject.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is hard to
deal with you, because no matter what we do, it is wrong in your books. We are
just doing it. The legislation is more benign than the existing state of
emergency legislation.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The opposition
is getting a briefing today, but we intend to deal with the issue, otherwise we
will have to extend this state of emergency for longer, which it will object
to.
I pointed out before, on 9 August, Hon
Nick Goiran demanded the end of the
state of emergency. On 14 June 2022 , the
Leader of the Opposition demanded the end of the state of emergency. The Leader
of the Liberal Party demanded it on 11 May 2022. We have been drafting
the law, in addition to a whole range of others things, in an environment, I might
add, in which it is difficult to get drafters. Like everyone else in Western Australia,
it is difficult to get employees because the economy is so strong. That is our
curse. We have created such a strong economy that it is now difficult to get
things done because there is so much demand out there. That is a problem, I suppose,
due to the fact we have run the economy in a way that has been so effective.
But the legislation was agreed to by cabinet yesterday. We are introducing it
as soon as we can. If we did not do that, members opposite would criticise us —
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on. If
we do not pass it, it means we cannot implement it. We want to implement it.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We could
introduce it in a month's time, then we would not be able to pass it,
and you are demanding we pass it now.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Liberal Party, this is not your question; please do not interject.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is hard to
deal with you, because no matter what we do, it is wrong in your books. We are
just doing it. The legislation is more benign than the existing state of
emergency legislation.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The opposition
is getting a briefing today, but we intend to deal with the issue, otherwise we
will have to extend this state of emergency for longer, which it will object
to.
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