❓ Question regarding government action on rising food costs and related health issues (scurvy). Answer deflects, citing individual circumstances and highlighting existing cost-of-living support programs, while also attacking the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 731Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FOOD INSECURITY — COST OF LIVING
731. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
Mr Deputy Speaker —
Ms R. Saffioti : China! Sorry—I
forgot China!
Several members interjected.
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : I am looking
forward to it.
I refer to the recent report that a Perth
man has been treated for scurvy, a disease long left in the past, which health experts
have linked to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Scurvy, caused by vitamin C
deficiency, is now reportedly being seen more frequently as families struggle
to afford fresh food.
What is the Premier's
government doing to address the rising cost of essential food items to ensure
all Western Australians have access to proper nutrition?
731. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
Mr Deputy Speaker —
Ms R. Saffioti : China! Sorry—I
forgot China!
Several members interjected.
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : I am looking
forward to it.
I refer to the recent report that a Perth
man has been treated for scurvy, a disease long left in the past, which health experts
have linked to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Scurvy, caused by vitamin C
deficiency, is now reportedly being seen more frequently as families struggle
to afford fresh food.
What is the Premier's
government doing to address the rising cost of essential food items to ensure
all Western Australians have access to proper nutrition?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Obviously, when we see these reports in the media, it is important to do some
investigations first before we bring the issue into this place to take the
story forward in a manner that is not fully equipped with the facts. The fact
of the matter is that the gentleman in question here was a bariatric surgery
patient who had had gastric band surgery and had not been taking his
supplements in the way the doctors wished him to as part of his recovery. It
has nothing to do with the issues that the member raised.
But the question provides me with
the opportunity to talk about the importance of making sure we have policies
that focus on the cost-of-living pressures that Western Australian families and
people of low incomes are impacted by at the
moment, which is the reason why we have put so many resources, programs and
opportunities in place to ensure that we assist Western Australian families
with the cost of living. That includes the $700 household electricity credit,
which, in partnership with our friends in the commonwealth, we are providing to
every Western Australian household over the course of this year. The fact of
the matter is that we have provided over $2 000 worth of electricity credits for all households over four years—so substantial repeated
efforts to assist with the cost of living. We have our $75 million WA student
assistance payment providing extra money for those people who have kids, as
well as our $300 school clothing allowance for families in need.
We have capped regional airfares. I was
in Mandurah yesterday and I was able to remind the people of Mandurah that if
the Liberal Party and Nationals WA get into government next year, they can kiss
goodbye to their two-zone capped public transport fares and their free fares on
a Sunday, because those opposite have critiqued Metronet and our subsidies for
public transport fares all the way along. We can only assume that they will, to
their word, wind back those subsidies. That
means thousands of dollars for a daily commuter from Mandurah and Dawesville to
Perth . I think the people of Mandurah and Dawesville will be very
interested in that, as interested as they were in the Liberal candidate from
Mandurah's views on a range of issues.
We continue to make sure that we are doing everything we can.
There were the free Perth Royal Show and Perth Zoo opportunities. We have
doubled the KidSport subsidy from one of $150 to $300. There is free
electricity from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm for those doing it tough. We have laws to
ban rent bidding and limit rent increases. We reintroduced the seniors safety
and security rebate after those opposite axed it when they were in government.
We reinstated it after they axed it. In fact, seniors can anticipate more of
that should the Liberals and Nationals win government in March next year. Of
course, there is a whole range of measures, but perhaps none more powerful than
the opportunity for people to undertake TAFE courses and training, skilling
themselves for jobs free of charge, particularly after the appalling way that
the training system was treated by those opposite.
We know that there are still many
people who struggle to put food on their table, which is the reason we continue
to support great organisations that support people who are doing it tough and
have food insecurity. They are, of course, OzHarvest, SecondBite and Foodbank—great
organisations funded in part by us to make sure they can provide free fruit and
vegetables for families in need. I invite anyone who is struggling to put food
on the table to contact these organisations because they are great
organisations that can assist them with their food needs and make sure they get
a proper diet.
Obviously, when we see these reports in the media, it is important to do some
investigations first before we bring the issue into this place to take the
story forward in a manner that is not fully equipped with the facts. The fact
of the matter is that the gentleman in question here was a bariatric surgery
patient who had had gastric band surgery and had not been taking his
supplements in the way the doctors wished him to as part of his recovery. It
has nothing to do with the issues that the member raised.
But the question provides me with
the opportunity to talk about the importance of making sure we have policies
that focus on the cost-of-living pressures that Western Australian families and
people of low incomes are impacted by at the
moment, which is the reason why we have put so many resources, programs and
opportunities in place to ensure that we assist Western Australian families
with the cost of living. That includes the $700 household electricity credit,
which, in partnership with our friends in the commonwealth, we are providing to
every Western Australian household over the course of this year. The fact of
the matter is that we have provided over $2 000 worth of electricity credits for all households over four years—so substantial repeated
efforts to assist with the cost of living. We have our $75 million WA student
assistance payment providing extra money for those people who have kids, as
well as our $300 school clothing allowance for families in need.
We have capped regional airfares. I was
in Mandurah yesterday and I was able to remind the people of Mandurah that if
the Liberal Party and Nationals WA get into government next year, they can kiss
goodbye to their two-zone capped public transport fares and their free fares on
a Sunday, because those opposite have critiqued Metronet and our subsidies for
public transport fares all the way along. We can only assume that they will, to
their word, wind back those subsidies. That
means thousands of dollars for a daily commuter from Mandurah and Dawesville to
Perth . I think the people of Mandurah and Dawesville will be very
interested in that, as interested as they were in the Liberal candidate from
Mandurah's views on a range of issues.
We continue to make sure that we are doing everything we can.
There were the free Perth Royal Show and Perth Zoo opportunities. We have
doubled the KidSport subsidy from one of $150 to $300. There is free
electricity from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm for those doing it tough. We have laws to
ban rent bidding and limit rent increases. We reintroduced the seniors safety
and security rebate after those opposite axed it when they were in government.
We reinstated it after they axed it. In fact, seniors can anticipate more of
that should the Liberals and Nationals win government in March next year. Of
course, there is a whole range of measures, but perhaps none more powerful than
the opportunity for people to undertake TAFE courses and training, skilling
themselves for jobs free of charge, particularly after the appalling way that
the training system was treated by those opposite.
We know that there are still many
people who struggle to put food on their table, which is the reason we continue
to support great organisations that support people who are doing it tough and
have food insecurity. They are, of course, OzHarvest, SecondBite and Foodbank—great
organisations funded in part by us to make sure they can provide free fruit and
vegetables for families in need. I invite anyone who is struggling to put food
on the table to contact these organisations because they are great
organisations that can assist them with their food needs and make sure they get
a proper diet.
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