❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett about the Draft Mental Health Bill 2011, specifically regarding clauses allowing electroconvulsive therapy, psychosurgery, and sterilisation on 12-year-olds without parental consent. The Premier deflects, advising McGowan to address the question to the Minister for Mental Health.
AnsweredQoN 100Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DRAFT MENTAL HEALTH BILL 2011
100. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : The Leader of the Opposition is seeking a supplementary question.
I will give it to him. I just want some silence while the Leader of the
Opposition asks the question.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Does the Premier support clause 170 and other clauses in the
bill which permit 12-year-olds to have electroconvulsive therapy, psychosurgery
and sterilisation performed on them without parental consent?
100. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : The Leader of the Opposition is seeking a supplementary question.
I will give it to him. I just want some silence while the Leader of the
Opposition asks the question.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Does the Premier support clause 170 and other clauses in the
bill which permit 12-year-olds to have electroconvulsive therapy, psychosurgery
and sterilisation performed on them without parental consent?
AnswerView source ↗
Address the question to the Minister
for Mental Health.
Mr
M. McGowan : You are the Premier. It was all over the media this morning.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Address the question to the minister. If the Leader of the
Opposition has a view about it —
Mr
M. McGowan : She was on the radio and she said it is okay.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Not ''she''—the minister!
Mr
M. McGowan : On radio this morning the minister said it was okay. She was
completely supportive of this.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Leader of the Opposition should raise his concern with the minister.
Mr
M. McGowan : I have, on the radio this morning. I am now raising it with
you!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think I have a pretty good broad knowledge of public policy —
Mr M. McGowan :
That is what Parliament does—we raise issues with you!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : You may well do, but if the Leader of the Opposition wants me
to comment in detail on something in a draft bill out for circulation, then
give me some notice and I will provide comment. I do not pretend to be an
authority on every piece of legislation.
The
SPEAKER : I do not know if the Leader of the Opposition is able to hear the
answer to the question; I am certainly not. I suggest that in future, if people
want to hear the answer, they might suggest a few of their friends around this
place cease interjecting. I will give the call back to the Premier.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker —
Ms
M.M. Quirk : Go to cabinet!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : What is the point!
Mr
M.P. Whitely : It's pretty simple! If parents want to apply for
12-year-olds to have psychotherapy, it's pretty simple —
The
SPEAKER : It is a pretty simple call to order as well, member for
Bassendean. I instruct members in this place, if they wish to assist someone
answering a question or someone asking a question, the best way to do that is
to remain quiet.
for Mental Health.
Mr
M. McGowan : You are the Premier. It was all over the media this morning.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Address the question to the minister. If the Leader of the
Opposition has a view about it —
Mr
M. McGowan : She was on the radio and she said it is okay.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Not ''she''—the minister!
Mr
M. McGowan : On radio this morning the minister said it was okay. She was
completely supportive of this.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Leader of the Opposition should raise his concern with the minister.
Mr
M. McGowan : I have, on the radio this morning. I am now raising it with
you!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think I have a pretty good broad knowledge of public policy —
Mr M. McGowan :
That is what Parliament does—we raise issues with you!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : You may well do, but if the Leader of the Opposition wants me
to comment in detail on something in a draft bill out for circulation, then
give me some notice and I will provide comment. I do not pretend to be an
authority on every piece of legislation.
The
SPEAKER : I do not know if the Leader of the Opposition is able to hear the
answer to the question; I am certainly not. I suggest that in future, if people
want to hear the answer, they might suggest a few of their friends around this
place cease interjecting. I will give the call back to the Premier.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker —
Ms
M.M. Quirk : Go to cabinet!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : What is the point!
Mr
M.P. Whitely : It's pretty simple! If parents want to apply for
12-year-olds to have psychotherapy, it's pretty simple —
The
SPEAKER : It is a pretty simple call to order as well, member for
Bassendean. I instruct members in this place, if they wish to assist someone
answering a question or someone asking a question, the best way to do that is
to remain quiet.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.