❓ The Attorney General accuses the Deputy Leader of the Opposition of misleading the public and Parliament regarding the Electoral Commission's advertising plans for the retail shopping hours referendum, presenting evidence to the contrary.
AnsweredQoN 726Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the Attorney General advise the House of the exact nature of the Electoral Commission’s advertising for the referendum on retail shopping hours? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. On Tuesday this week the Liberal Opposition opposed giving the public a say on this very important question. It is against taking the public into our confidence because it wants to vote against a referendum on retail trading hours. Yesterday the Liberal Party refused to accept a majority outcome from the inevitable referendum. Today we have a further muddying of the waters on this important issue by an Opposition that is absolutely desperate to scuttle the referendum. On the Paul Murray program this morning the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated - Well the Electoral Commissioner has told me that the only plan at the moment is to have one advertisement in the newspaper telling people there’s going to be a referendum and putting some information about the yes and no case. Now that’s not a comprehensive information program. A little time later in Parliament, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition attributed comments to the Electoral Commissioner. He said that the Electoral Commissioner stated there would not be an educational campaign. He also stated that advice from the Electoral Commissioner was that the only thing that would be done would be to place a full-page advertisement in a newspaper and that nothing would be placed in people’s letter boxes. I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. On Tuesday this week the Liberal Opposition opposed giving the public a say on this very important question. It is against taking the public into our confidence because it wants to vote against a referendum on retail trading hours. Yesterday the Liberal Party refused to accept a majority outcome from the inevitable referendum. Today we have a further muddying of the waters on this important issue by an Opposition that is absolutely desperate to scuttle the referendum. On the Paul Murray program this morning the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated - Well the Electoral Commissioner has told me that the only plan at the moment is to have one advertisement in the newspaper telling people there’s going to be a referendum and putting some information about the yes and no case. Now that’s not a comprehensive information program. A little time later in Parliament, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition attributed comments to the Electoral Commissioner. He said that the Electoral Commissioner stated there would not be an educational campaign. He also stated that advice from the Electoral Commissioner was that the only thing that would be done would be to place a full-page advertisement in a newspaper and that nothing would be placed in people’s letter boxes. I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. On Tuesday this week the Liberal Opposition opposed giving the public a say on this very important question. It is against taking the public into our confidence because it wants to vote against a referendum on retail trading hours. Yesterday the Liberal Party refused to accept a majority outcome from the inevitable referendum. Today we have a further muddying of the waters on this important issue by an Opposition that is absolutely desperate to scuttle the referendum. On the Paul Murray program this morning the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated - Well the Electoral Commissioner has told me that the only plan at the moment is to have one advertisement in the newspaper telling people there’s going to be a referendum and putting some information about the yes and no case. Now that’s not a comprehensive information program. A little time later in Parliament, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition attributed comments to the Electoral Commissioner. He said that the Electoral Commissioner stated there would not be an educational campaign. He also stated that advice from the Electoral Commissioner was that the only thing that would be done would be to place a full-page advertisement in a newspaper and that nothing would be placed in people’s letter boxes. I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
Yesterday the Liberal Party refused to accept a majority outcome from the inevitable referendum. Today we have a further muddying of the waters on this important issue by an Opposition that is absolutely desperate to scuttle the referendum. On the Paul Murray program this morning the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated - Well the Electoral Commissioner has told me that the only plan at the moment is to have one advertisement in the newspaper telling people there’s going to be a referendum and putting some information about the yes and no case. Now that’s not a comprehensive information program. A little time later in Parliament, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition attributed comments to the Electoral Commissioner. He said that the Electoral Commissioner stated there would not be an educational campaign. He also stated that advice from the Electoral Commissioner was that the only thing that would be done would be to place a full-page advertisement in a newspaper and that nothing would be placed in people’s letter boxes. I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
. . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
. . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
[See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. On Tuesday this week the Liberal Opposition opposed giving the public a say on this very important question. It is against taking the public into our confidence because it wants to vote against a referendum on retail trading hours. Yesterday the Liberal Party refused to accept a majority outcome from the inevitable referendum. Today we have a further muddying of the waters on this important issue by an Opposition that is absolutely desperate to scuttle the referendum. On the Paul Murray program this morning the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated - Well the Electoral Commissioner has told me that the only plan at the moment is to have one advertisement in the newspaper telling people there’s going to be a referendum and putting some information about the yes and no case. Now that’s not a comprehensive information program. A little time later in Parliament, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition attributed comments to the Electoral Commissioner. He said that the Electoral Commissioner stated there would not be an educational campaign. He also stated that advice from the Electoral Commissioner was that the only thing that would be done would be to place a full-page advertisement in a newspaper and that nothing would be placed in people’s letter boxes. I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. On Tuesday this week the Liberal Opposition opposed giving the public a say on this very important question. It is against taking the public into our confidence because it wants to vote against a referendum on retail trading hours. Yesterday the Liberal Party refused to accept a majority outcome from the inevitable referendum. Today we have a further muddying of the waters on this important issue by an Opposition that is absolutely desperate to scuttle the referendum. On the Paul Murray program this morning the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated - Well the Electoral Commissioner has told me that the only plan at the moment is to have one advertisement in the newspaper telling people there’s going to be a referendum and putting some information about the yes and no case. Now that’s not a comprehensive information program. A little time later in Parliament, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition attributed comments to the Electoral Commissioner. He said that the Electoral Commissioner stated there would not be an educational campaign. He also stated that advice from the Electoral Commissioner was that the only thing that would be done would be to place a full-page advertisement in a newspaper and that nothing would be placed in people’s letter boxes. I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
Yesterday the Liberal Party refused to accept a majority outcome from the inevitable referendum. Today we have a further muddying of the waters on this important issue by an Opposition that is absolutely desperate to scuttle the referendum. On the Paul Murray program this morning the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated - Well the Electoral Commissioner has told me that the only plan at the moment is to have one advertisement in the newspaper telling people there’s going to be a referendum and putting some information about the yes and no case. Now that’s not a comprehensive information program. A little time later in Parliament, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition attributed comments to the Electoral Commissioner. He said that the Electoral Commissioner stated there would not be an educational campaign. He also stated that advice from the Electoral Commissioner was that the only thing that would be done would be to place a full-page advertisement in a newspaper and that nothing would be placed in people’s letter boxes. I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
I will table advice from the Electoral Commissioner that without a shadow of doubt demonstrates that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not been telling the truth to the public of Western Australia. He has misled this Parliament and he owes the Acting Electoral Commissioner an apology. I will read briefly from the document I intend to table. It is correspondence from the Acting Electoral Commissioner, and states - 1. The Electoral Commission has developed its advertising campaign for the State general election focussing on statutory advertisements and creative visuals with the message of ‘It’s best to be involved in the decision process’. . . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5. In other words, the plan of the Electoral Commissioner, which was advised to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition yesterday, was to have an educational campaign and to place information in every letterbox in the State and disseminate it in newspapers and on radio and television. He has misled the people of this State. He owes an apology to the Acting Electoral Commissioner. It is not good enough to have a person who is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this State misleading people and spreading demonstrably false information with one simple objective, which is to scuttle the ability of the people of Western Australia to have a say on this vital issue. [See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
. . . 3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
3. My intention in alerting electors to the referendum is to adjust the final ‘tag’ line with each advertisement (television, radio, print) advising of the State general election and the referendum. 4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
4. In bringing the referendum ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments to the attention of electors throughout the State, I intend publishing the arguments (each of no more than 2,000 words) in The West Australian . 5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
5. Subject to the timing of the submission of each ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ argument, preferably within 7 days of the writ, there is an opportunity depending on timing, to include the arguments in the State election guide which will be distributed to households in each district across the State in the two weeks before polling day. . . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
. . . Mr Dan Sullivan was advised of the early intention to adjust the State general election advertising campaign to draw attention to the referendum and then place the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments in newspapers, and possibly the election guide, as outlined in points 3, 4 and 5.
[See paper No 3053.] Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the Leader of the National Party and the member for Nedlands.
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Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.