❓ Question regarding support for the WA government's opposition to the Howard government's proposed industrial relations changes, highlighting divisions within the WA opposition on states' rights and unfair dismissal.
AnsweredQoN 638Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Given the Gallop government’s total opposition to the industrial relations changes proposed by the Howard government, can the minister explain what support for the state government’s position has come from other sources? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
Members are well aware that the Premier is very keen to defend this Parliament and the right of this state to legislate, particularly in the area of industrial relations. Therefore, the Premier and the government, through a number of people, have made it absolutely clear that we believe that the industrial relations jurisdiction that has worked well in this state for 100 years should be preserved. It is a very important part of the balances we have in our system, with the commonwealth having certain powers and clearly the state also having power. Therefore, we totally reject and fully oppose the move by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. It is very interesting that support for our view has come from a range of sources. The other states, with the exception of Victoria, also totally oppose the attempt by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. We also find support on the other side of politics here in Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore came out very forthrightly against the Howard government taking over the state jurisdiction. The Leader of the Opposition has also indicated that he opposes the takeover of the state industrial relations jurisdiction. It is thus very interesting that the member for Vasse, as the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, at the Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia conference in his own electorate, indicated that he really does not have a problem with the commonwealth taking over industrial relations. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: Members are well aware that the Premier is very keen to defend this Parliament and the right of this state to legislate, particularly in the area of industrial relations. Therefore, the Premier and the government, through a number of people, have made it absolutely clear that we believe that the industrial relations jurisdiction that has worked well in this state for 100 years should be preserved. It is a very important part of the balances we have in our system, with the commonwealth having certain powers and clearly the state also having power. Therefore, we totally reject and fully oppose the move by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. It is very interesting that support for our view has come from a range of sources. The other states, with the exception of Victoria, also totally oppose the attempt by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. We also find support on the other side of politics here in Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore came out very forthrightly against the Howard government taking over the state jurisdiction. The Leader of the Opposition has also indicated that he opposes the takeover of the state industrial relations jurisdiction. It is thus very interesting that the member for Vasse, as the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, at the Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia conference in his own electorate, indicated that he really does not have a problem with the commonwealth taking over industrial relations. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Members are well aware that the Premier is very keen to defend this Parliament and the right of this state to legislate, particularly in the area of industrial relations. Therefore, the Premier and the government, through a number of people, have made it absolutely clear that we believe that the industrial relations jurisdiction that has worked well in this state for 100 years should be preserved. It is a very important part of the balances we have in our system, with the commonwealth having certain powers and clearly the state also having power. Therefore, we totally reject and fully oppose the move by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. It is very interesting that support for our view has come from a range of sources. The other states, with the exception of Victoria, also totally oppose the attempt by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. We also find support on the other side of politics here in Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore came out very forthrightly against the Howard government taking over the state jurisdiction. The Leader of the Opposition has also indicated that he opposes the takeover of the state industrial relations jurisdiction. It is thus very interesting that the member for Vasse, as the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, at the Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia conference in his own electorate, indicated that he really does not have a problem with the commonwealth taking over industrial relations. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
It is very interesting that support for our view has come from a range of sources. The other states, with the exception of Victoria, also totally oppose the attempt by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. We also find support on the other side of politics here in Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore came out very forthrightly against the Howard government taking over the state jurisdiction. The Leader of the Opposition has also indicated that he opposes the takeover of the state industrial relations jurisdiction. It is thus very interesting that the member for Vasse, as the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, at the Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia conference in his own electorate, indicated that he really does not have a problem with the commonwealth taking over industrial relations. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: Members are well aware that the Premier is very keen to defend this Parliament and the right of this state to legislate, particularly in the area of industrial relations. Therefore, the Premier and the government, through a number of people, have made it absolutely clear that we believe that the industrial relations jurisdiction that has worked well in this state for 100 years should be preserved. It is a very important part of the balances we have in our system, with the commonwealth having certain powers and clearly the state also having power. Therefore, we totally reject and fully oppose the move by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. It is very interesting that support for our view has come from a range of sources. The other states, with the exception of Victoria, also totally oppose the attempt by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. We also find support on the other side of politics here in Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore came out very forthrightly against the Howard government taking over the state jurisdiction. The Leader of the Opposition has also indicated that he opposes the takeover of the state industrial relations jurisdiction. It is thus very interesting that the member for Vasse, as the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, at the Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia conference in his own electorate, indicated that he really does not have a problem with the commonwealth taking over industrial relations. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Members are well aware that the Premier is very keen to defend this Parliament and the right of this state to legislate, particularly in the area of industrial relations. Therefore, the Premier and the government, through a number of people, have made it absolutely clear that we believe that the industrial relations jurisdiction that has worked well in this state for 100 years should be preserved. It is a very important part of the balances we have in our system, with the commonwealth having certain powers and clearly the state also having power. Therefore, we totally reject and fully oppose the move by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. It is very interesting that support for our view has come from a range of sources. The other states, with the exception of Victoria, also totally oppose the attempt by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. We also find support on the other side of politics here in Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore came out very forthrightly against the Howard government taking over the state jurisdiction. The Leader of the Opposition has also indicated that he opposes the takeover of the state industrial relations jurisdiction. It is thus very interesting that the member for Vasse, as the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, at the Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia conference in his own electorate, indicated that he really does not have a problem with the commonwealth taking over industrial relations. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
It is very interesting that support for our view has come from a range of sources. The other states, with the exception of Victoria, also totally oppose the attempt by the Howard government to take over industrial relations. We also find support on the other side of politics here in Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore came out very forthrightly against the Howard government taking over the state jurisdiction. The Leader of the Opposition has also indicated that he opposes the takeover of the state industrial relations jurisdiction. It is thus very interesting that the member for Vasse, as the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, at the Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia conference in his own electorate, indicated that he really does not have a problem with the commonwealth taking over industrial relations. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr T.R. Buswell : Read the whole thing. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member said that a few people in the Liberal Party have a states’ rights thing but he is not really worried and he would really like to see a unitary system. Again we see a division in the opposition. Some members opposite recognise that upholding the interests and rights of the state of Western Australia is worth pursuing. However, in the area of industrial relations, their own spokesperson is not of that mind and actually sees that as something he would be willing to forgo. We do not see that on this side. I am also interested in his other comment that was related to me, that the Howard government’s attack on unfair dismissal rights does not go far enough. The opposition spokesperson for industrial relations, the member for Vasse, made the statement that he would remove the last vestiges of any unfair dismissal rights that might remain if the Howard government is not fully successful. Is that correct? Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr T.R. Buswell : No. I’ll give you the thing to read. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : So the comment by the member that he would remove the last vestiges of unfair dismissal provisions was not actually meant? Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr T.R. Buswell : That is exactly what I said. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : That is what I thought he said. I thank the member for Vasse for confirming that that is the view of the opposition spokesperson for industrial relations - that the opposition does not want to see any unfair dismissal provisions available to workers in Western Australia.
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