Question regarding WA's reluctance to harmonise occupational health and safety laws with the rest of Australia, with accusations of right-wing ideology and a defensive response highlighting WA's success and independence.

AnsweredQoN 516Legislative Assembly
Asked
31 August 2011
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS — HARMONISATION
I have a supplementary question. Given that the New South Wales Liberal government made an election promise, and has in fact endorsed the model laws, why is the Premier so right wing? Why does the Premier fight it alone? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

I am west coast; not right wing! The Labor Party would hand it over, for example, to the crowd that could not even run the pink batts program! What does that say about occupational health and safety? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. That is just untrue. Why does Barry O’Farrell support it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Have we ever seen such ineptitude that cost three young men their lives? The ability of the commonwealth government to deal in some of these areas is just non-existent. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not think yelling across the chamber will achieve anything, either from the person asking the question or the person endeavouring to answer it. I give the call back to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I apologise for being a proud Western Australian; as members on this side of the house are. I apologise for the success of Western Australia in carrying the nation. We will simply not follow the “wave the white flag, hand it over” mentality of the Labor Party! If the Leader of the Opposition wants an update on what we agree with and what we do not agree with, I will be happy to provide that to him.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I am west coast; not right wing! The Labor Party would hand it over, for example, to the crowd that could not even run the pink batts program! What does that say about occupational health and safety? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. That is just untrue. Why does Barry O’Farrell support it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Have we ever seen such ineptitude that cost three young men their lives? The ability of the commonwealth government to deal in some of these areas is just non-existent. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not think yelling across the chamber will achieve anything, either from the person asking the question or the person endeavouring to answer it. I give the call back to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I apologise for being a proud Western Australian; as members on this side of the house are. I apologise for the success of Western Australia in carrying the nation. We will simply not follow the “wave the white flag, hand it over” mentality of the Labor Party! If the Leader of the Opposition wants an update on what we agree with and what we do not agree with, I will be happy to provide that to him.
I am west coast; not right wing! The Labor Party would hand it over, for example, to the crowd that could not even run the pink batts program! What does that say about occupational health and safety? Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. That is just untrue. Why does Barry O’Farrell support it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Have we ever seen such ineptitude that cost three young men their lives? The ability of the commonwealth government to deal in some of these areas is just non-existent. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not think yelling across the chamber will achieve anything, either from the person asking the question or the person endeavouring to answer it. I give the call back to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I apologise for being a proud Western Australian; as members on this side of the house are. I apologise for the success of Western Australia in carrying the nation. We will simply not follow the “wave the white flag, hand it over” mentality of the Labor Party! If the Leader of the Opposition wants an update on what we agree with and what we do not agree with, I will be happy to provide that to him.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That is wrong. That is just untrue. Why does Barry O’Farrell support it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Have we ever seen such ineptitude that cost three young men their lives? The ability of the commonwealth government to deal in some of these areas is just non-existent. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not think yelling across the chamber will achieve anything, either from the person asking the question or the person endeavouring to answer it. I give the call back to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I apologise for being a proud Western Australian; as members on this side of the house are. I apologise for the success of Western Australia in carrying the nation. We will simply not follow the “wave the white flag, hand it over” mentality of the Labor Party! If the Leader of the Opposition wants an update on what we agree with and what we do not agree with, I will be happy to provide that to him.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Have we ever seen such ineptitude that cost three young men their lives? The ability of the commonwealth government to deal in some of these areas is just non-existent. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not think yelling across the chamber will achieve anything, either from the person asking the question or the person endeavouring to answer it. I give the call back to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I apologise for being a proud Western Australian; as members on this side of the house are. I apologise for the success of Western Australia in carrying the nation. We will simply not follow the “wave the white flag, hand it over” mentality of the Labor Party! If the Leader of the Opposition wants an update on what we agree with and what we do not agree with, I will be happy to provide that to him.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I do not think yelling across the chamber will achieve anything, either from the person asking the question or the person endeavouring to answer it. I give the call back to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I apologise for being a proud Western Australian; as members on this side of the house are. I apologise for the success of Western Australia in carrying the nation. We will simply not follow the “wave the white flag, hand it over” mentality of the Labor Party! If the Leader of the Opposition wants an update on what we agree with and what we do not agree with, I will be happy to provide that to him.
The SPEAKER : I do not think yelling across the chamber will achieve anything, either from the person asking the question or the person endeavouring to answer it. I give the call back to the Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I apologise for being a proud Western Australian; as members on this side of the house are. I apologise for the success of Western Australia in carrying the nation. We will simply not follow the “wave the white flag, hand it over” mentality of the Labor Party! If the Leader of the Opposition wants an update on what we agree with and what we do not agree with, I will be happy to provide that to him.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I apologise for being a proud Western Australian; as members on this side of the house are. I apologise for the success of Western Australia in carrying the nation. We will simply not follow the “wave the white flag, hand it over” mentality of the Labor Party! If the Leader of the Opposition wants an update on what we agree with and what we do not agree with, I will be happy to provide that to him.

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