❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health's failure to ban solariums, alleging he was overruled by his party. The Minister defends his position, stating it's a government decision and he's working to address party concerns with expert consultation.
AnsweredQoN 905Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOLARIUMS
905. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's failure to ban solariums,
or tanning beds, as other states have done, therefore potentially risking the
lives of Western Australians.
(1) Is it not
the case, as reported by the ABC, that the minister was rolled by his party
room on his proposals on Tuesday?
(2) If the
minister cannot even convince the Liberal Party about this important lifesaving
measure, how can the minister continue as health minister?
905. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's failure to ban solariums,
or tanning beds, as other states have done, therefore potentially risking the
lives of Western Australians.
(1) Is it not
the case, as reported by the ABC, that the minister was rolled by his party
room on his proposals on Tuesday?
(2) If the
minister cannot even convince the Liberal Party about this important lifesaving
measure, how can the minister continue as health minister?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) A very good question!
Before I start—I know this is a bit unusual—when
I gave my brief ministerial statement earlier today, I omitted two things. One
was that for World Diabetes Day, Parliament will be lit up in blue as well to
recognise that. The second is that I failed to mention the other members from
both sides who are on that committee—Peter Watson, Wendy Duncan and
Graham Jacobs.
In answer to the question, I made a statement about the
banning of sun-tanning beds a long time ago, saying that I personally favoured
the banning of sun-tanning beds. But there was a process that I had to go
through.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No,
it is not a ministerial decision. It is a government decision, and we are a
government that comprises a lot of members—a lot more than the
opposition, I might add. I decided that the best way to have that position
agreed to was to take a proposal to cabinet and then to talk to our members
about that proposal. It is true that a lot of people expressed concerns at our
party meeting about the direction we were taking. They were not so much
concerns about people being affected, but about the extent to which we were to
become a state that tells people what they must do—that they must go
out in the sun and be exposed that way, as opposed to a tanning bed. As I have
said over and again, it is my view —
Several members interjected.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
do not know how many times I can say this without members interrupting me, but
it is my view, as I have said before, that I am personally opposed to the
continuation of tanning beds, and I will do everything within my power to do
that. This is not a dead issue; I am going to get all my health experts to meet
with members of our party room to discuss the issue.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
am a doctor, but I am not a dermatologist, a plastic surgeon or a public health
advocate. I am not an expert in those fields. Our members have areas of
concern, and I will take those experts to our members to discuss this issue at
length.
Before I start—I know this is a bit unusual—when
I gave my brief ministerial statement earlier today, I omitted two things. One
was that for World Diabetes Day, Parliament will be lit up in blue as well to
recognise that. The second is that I failed to mention the other members from
both sides who are on that committee—Peter Watson, Wendy Duncan and
Graham Jacobs.
In answer to the question, I made a statement about the
banning of sun-tanning beds a long time ago, saying that I personally favoured
the banning of sun-tanning beds. But there was a process that I had to go
through.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No,
it is not a ministerial decision. It is a government decision, and we are a
government that comprises a lot of members—a lot more than the
opposition, I might add. I decided that the best way to have that position
agreed to was to take a proposal to cabinet and then to talk to our members
about that proposal. It is true that a lot of people expressed concerns at our
party meeting about the direction we were taking. They were not so much
concerns about people being affected, but about the extent to which we were to
become a state that tells people what they must do—that they must go
out in the sun and be exposed that way, as opposed to a tanning bed. As I have
said over and again, it is my view —
Several members interjected.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
do not know how many times I can say this without members interrupting me, but
it is my view, as I have said before, that I am personally opposed to the
continuation of tanning beds, and I will do everything within my power to do
that. This is not a dead issue; I am going to get all my health experts to meet
with members of our party room to discuss the issue.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
am a doctor, but I am not a dermatologist, a plastic surgeon or a public health
advocate. I am not an expert in those fields. Our members have areas of
concern, and I will take those experts to our members to discuss this issue at
length.
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