❓ Question regarding WA's preparedness for a predicted severe fire season, focusing on resource allocation and community safety. The Minister's response highlights government actions and accuses the opposition of scaremongering.
AnsweredQoN 615Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE SEASON — PREPARATION
As the minister is well aware, parts of Western Australia experienced some of the driest winter conditions on record. Areas like my electorate, the Shire of Serpentine–Jarrahdale, have received some of the lowest rainfall on record for the April to September period. Given the current situation and the seasonal prediction of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority that we can expect a long, hot and challenging summer for WA’s firefighters and volunteer bush fire fighters, can the minister please explain what action the state government is taking to ensure the safety of communities, including what provisions the government will make for the aerial fleet, and outline what other resources will be made available in preparation for the season ahead? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
As the minister is well aware, parts of Western Australia experienced some of the driest winter conditions on record. Areas like my electorate, the Shire of Serpentine–Jarrahdale, have received some of the lowest rainfall on record for the April to September period. Given the current situation and the seasonal prediction of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority that we can expect a long, hot and challenging summer for WA’s firefighters and volunteer bush fire fighters, can the minister please explain what action the state government is taking to ensure the safety of communities, including what provisions the government will make for the aerial fleet, and outline what other resources will be made available in preparation for the season ahead? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question and, of course, his very genuine interest, as that area is not only where he lives but also part of his electorate. The member is quite right in saying that WA is facing one of its worst bushfire seasons in history after the state recorded one of its driest winters, so we are looking at some very possibly drastic times to come. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has advised me that the seasonal conditions are worse than was the case last year and that the bushfire season is already ahead by six weeks. Despite these predictions, I am assured by FESA that our communities and the state are better prepared than ever, with the support of our volunteers, FESA staff and the Department of Environment and Conservation. Of course, community safety is of utmost priority for all our fire management agencies — Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for his question and, of course, his very genuine interest, as that area is not only where he lives but also part of his electorate. The member is quite right in saying that WA is facing one of its worst bushfire seasons in history after the state recorded one of its driest winters, so we are looking at some very possibly drastic times to come. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has advised me that the seasonal conditions are worse than was the case last year and that the bushfire season is already ahead by six weeks. Despite these predictions, I am assured by FESA that our communities and the state are better prepared than ever, with the support of our volunteers, FESA staff and the Department of Environment and Conservation. Of course, community safety is of utmost priority for all our fire management agencies — Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
I thank the member for his question and, of course, his very genuine interest, as that area is not only where he lives but also part of his electorate. The member is quite right in saying that WA is facing one of its worst bushfire seasons in history after the state recorded one of its driest winters, so we are looking at some very possibly drastic times to come. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has advised me that the seasonal conditions are worse than was the case last year and that the bushfire season is already ahead by six weeks. Despite these predictions, I am assured by FESA that our communities and the state are better prepared than ever, with the support of our volunteers, FESA staff and the Department of Environment and Conservation. Of course, community safety is of utmost priority for all our fire management agencies — Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has advised me that the seasonal conditions are worse than was the case last year and that the bushfire season is already ahead by six weeks. Despite these predictions, I am assured by FESA that our communities and the state are better prepared than ever, with the support of our volunteers, FESA staff and the Department of Environment and Conservation. Of course, community safety is of utmost priority for all our fire management agencies — Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: I thank the member for his question and, of course, his very genuine interest, as that area is not only where he lives but also part of his electorate. The member is quite right in saying that WA is facing one of its worst bushfire seasons in history after the state recorded one of its driest winters, so we are looking at some very possibly drastic times to come. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has advised me that the seasonal conditions are worse than was the case last year and that the bushfire season is already ahead by six weeks. Despite these predictions, I am assured by FESA that our communities and the state are better prepared than ever, with the support of our volunteers, FESA staff and the Department of Environment and Conservation. Of course, community safety is of utmost priority for all our fire management agencies — Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
I thank the member for his question and, of course, his very genuine interest, as that area is not only where he lives but also part of his electorate. The member is quite right in saying that WA is facing one of its worst bushfire seasons in history after the state recorded one of its driest winters, so we are looking at some very possibly drastic times to come. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has advised me that the seasonal conditions are worse than was the case last year and that the bushfire season is already ahead by six weeks. Despite these predictions, I am assured by FESA that our communities and the state are better prepared than ever, with the support of our volunteers, FESA staff and the Department of Environment and Conservation. Of course, community safety is of utmost priority for all our fire management agencies — Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority has advised me that the seasonal conditions are worse than was the case last year and that the bushfire season is already ahead by six weeks. Despite these predictions, I am assured by FESA that our communities and the state are better prepared than ever, with the support of our volunteers, FESA staff and the Department of Environment and Conservation. Of course, community safety is of utmost priority for all our fire management agencies — Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — and they are ready to respond to major incidents when they come up. Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr M.P. Murray : Who is going to replace the 19 forest products workers who have been sacked? The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, it might be a good question to ask at another time whether it is in today’s sitting or a future sitting, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I will be very — Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Ms M.M. Quirk : The south west is exposed! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We are taking action in the south west to try to address those issues, and if the member wants to ask — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : If members want to ask me a separate question, give me a bit of notice and I will get them all the information. Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Like last season, this government is so very committed, and we have committed funding for the two type 1 water bombers. These were essential in fighting the Toodyay bushfires, as you would know, Mr Speaker. Our aerial fleet responded to 180 incidents last year and protected property worth $70 million. FESA is already planning to activate the fleet earlier than was the case last year. I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
I have to say this: unfortunately, members of the opposition have done nothing to educate the community about the bushfire season. Instead, they have sought to scaremonger and make misleading statements to alarm the community. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will tell members where it comes from! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Take a seat, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Thank you, Mr Speaker. A few weeks ago, the present temporary Leader of the Opposition, the member for Girrawheen and the then candidate, now member, for Armadale appeared on the front page of the Armadale Examiner , and were quoted on page 15 of Comment News stating that the member for Girrawheen had met with volunteers from a local bush fire brigade, which, in fact, was indeed refuted by them. They wondered when the member actually met with them because they said, “We never heard this. When did she come—in the middle of the night? Because we never met with her!” I must tell the member that Mr Fancote was so upset — Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : — at the comments made by the three members, including the Leader of the Opposition, that he wrote to the paper the following week to correct their misleading and alarmist statements that the state did not have the capacity or the capability to deal with major fires. Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr E.S. Ripper : That was in the FESA report! Get your own report corrected! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : But the members were talking about the local area. The Leader of the Opposition was trying to promote his local candidate then, when he did not even have an opposition member! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I just wonder whether members opposite were so worried that the Greens (WA) party might beat them in this by-election as well that they had to have this ill-conceived — Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I have the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the local newspaper and those of the member for Girrawheen. I have to tell members that the local bush fire volunteers are disgusted at what they have said. Members opposite are scaremongering and giving out alarmist news, yet what do we see in the picture in the newspaper? We see the member for Girrawheen, the Leader of the Opposition and, indeed, the new member for Armadale smiling, beaming like sunshine—they really are—while they are delivering devastating, misleading information. So I say shame on the Leader of the Opposition! Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : We see this sort of behaviour every time there is a by-election. Members opposite make promises about new police stations that are not necessary—and this time they are even worse: they are now scaremongering people in that particular area, and I say shame on members opposite!
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