❓ Opposition questions the Premier on why WA missed out on Commonwealth funding for salinity and water quality, suggesting the government's sustainability strategy is mere rhetoric. The Premier blames the Commonwealth, highlights WA's existing investment, and calls for bipartisan support.
AnsweredQoN 1100Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Twice in the past two days the Premier has said that if the State had a sustainability strategy, salinity and the algal bloom crises would have been averted. (1) If the sustainability strategy is more than just Labor spin and rhetoric, why has the Premier deprived the community of $158 million in commonwealth funding under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, which would have allowed groups to combat water and salinity issues over the past two years? (2) If the Premier wants to demonstrate that this strategy is not just spin and rhetoric, will he guarantee that any agreement he may reach with the Commonwealth will commit the WA Government to the full $158 million and not one cent less? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
(1) If the sustainability strategy is more than just Labor spin and rhetoric, why has the Premier deprived the community of $158 million in commonwealth funding under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, which would have allowed groups to combat water and salinity issues over the past two years? (2) If the Premier wants to demonstrate that this strategy is not just spin and rhetoric, will he guarantee that any agreement he may reach with the Commonwealth will commit the WA Government to the full $158 million and not one cent less? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
(2) If the Premier wants to demonstrate that this strategy is not just spin and rhetoric, will he guarantee that any agreement he may reach with the Commonwealth will commit the WA Government to the full $158 million and not one cent less? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
(1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
(1) If the sustainability strategy is more than just Labor spin and rhetoric, why has the Premier deprived the community of $158 million in commonwealth funding under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, which would have allowed groups to combat water and salinity issues over the past two years? (2) If the Premier wants to demonstrate that this strategy is not just spin and rhetoric, will he guarantee that any agreement he may reach with the Commonwealth will commit the WA Government to the full $158 million and not one cent less? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
(2) If the Premier wants to demonstrate that this strategy is not just spin and rhetoric, will he guarantee that any agreement he may reach with the Commonwealth will commit the WA Government to the full $158 million and not one cent less? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
(1)-(2) Firstly, I am pleased that we have reached agreement with the Commonwealth on a portion of the money that it has allocated to the question of salinity. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Warren-Blackwood to order for the second time. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Secondly, I remind the member that the problem we have in getting this money from the Commonwealth lies with the Commonwealth. The member knows that the natural resource management groups throughout Western Australia, which are on the ground and have the good ideas, support the Government of Western Australia. Thirdly, the Minister for the Environment and I have recently had very fruitful discussions with Hon Wilson Tuckey about some of these matters. I am pleased that we have a dialogue on some of the issues relating to salinity, and we hope to get a more favourable response from the Commonwealth. Fourthly, the Western Australian Government has already committed enormous resources to tackling salinity, and it will contribute further resources to it in forthcoming budgets. Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
Rather than supporting the Commonwealth, for once the National Party could support the Government and the people of Western Australia when we go to Canberra to get a fair deal. We are very keen to get more money from the Commonwealth. As I said, the first round of moneys is coming through to Western Australia. We want more. We think the argument we put forward for a range of projects was very good - it had the support of the resource management groups - and we are now working closely with Wilson Tuckey to see whether we can get agreement on those issues. In fact we have had excellent meetings with him on the engineering issues associated with drainage proposals. We hope to progress those proposals in Western Australia. It would be much better if the member for Merredin would get in there and support the Government of Western Australia when it goes to Canberra to get a fair deal.
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