❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister for Federal-State Relations regarding perceived failures of the Albanese government in border security and biosecurity, particularly in northern WA. The Minister defends the federal government's actions and suggests Mr. Love raise concerns directly with them.
AnsweredQoN 606Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BORDER
SECURITY — FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
606. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Federal–State
Relations:
Before I ask my question, I would like to acknowledge the
report today that the member for Mandurah is departing the scene in 2025 and I wish
him and his family all the very best into the future.
I refer to the troubling
developments and threats to our state security and biosecurity, with the
Albanese government overseeing a nearly 20 per cent drop in border
patrols, citing staffing challenges and significant emergent defects in the vessel fleet, and the discovery of foreign
fishing boats moored in Kuri Bay, with illegal immigrants wandering the
streets of Beagle Bay, and the Premier's own dismissal of these events
by saying that it is a very vast coastline.
(1) What is
the Premier doing to ensure that his federal counterparts in the Albanese
government are taking this threat seriously?
(2) What is the government doing to beef up
biosecurity protections in our north, given the federal government's failure to protect it?
SECURITY — FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
606. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Federal–State
Relations:
Before I ask my question, I would like to acknowledge the
report today that the member for Mandurah is departing the scene in 2025 and I wish
him and his family all the very best into the future.
I refer to the troubling
developments and threats to our state security and biosecurity, with the
Albanese government overseeing a nearly 20 per cent drop in border
patrols, citing staffing challenges and significant emergent defects in the vessel fleet, and the discovery of foreign
fishing boats moored in Kuri Bay, with illegal immigrants wandering the
streets of Beagle Bay, and the Premier's own dismissal of these events
by saying that it is a very vast coastline.
(1) What is
the Premier doing to ensure that his federal counterparts in the Albanese
government are taking this threat seriously?
(2) What is the government doing to beef up
biosecurity protections in our north, given the federal government's failure to protect it?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
and take the opportunity to also add my congratulations and thanks to the
member for Mandurah, the Leader of the House. We will have an opportunity to
farewell him in appropriate style as we look to undertake valedictories. I think
we all hope that the member for Mandurah will be partially singing his
valedictory!
(1)–(2) I
note that the member sought to verbal me in his question to the chamber. I observe
that that falls outside the standing orders, but that is the sort of standard
we expect from those opposite. I have never sought to dismiss or belittle
people's concerns with regard to Western Australia's
biosecurity and security or the protection of our borders in relation to our
fisheries rights and so on. I have noted on a number of occasions that
Operation Sovereign Borders, which began under the Morrison government, I think
it was, continues under the Albanese government. In that respect, things are
continuing as they were.
I have also made comment before that
the Australian Border Force is not only meeting all its scheduled requirements
in terms of surface vessel patrols, but also continuing to work in the same
manner I believe it did previously under the
previous Liberal–National government. That is what it is. I invite the
member, if he has concerns about the way the federal government is
operating, to take them up with the government concerned.
and take the opportunity to also add my congratulations and thanks to the
member for Mandurah, the Leader of the House. We will have an opportunity to
farewell him in appropriate style as we look to undertake valedictories. I think
we all hope that the member for Mandurah will be partially singing his
valedictory!
(1)–(2) I
note that the member sought to verbal me in his question to the chamber. I observe
that that falls outside the standing orders, but that is the sort of standard
we expect from those opposite. I have never sought to dismiss or belittle
people's concerns with regard to Western Australia's
biosecurity and security or the protection of our borders in relation to our
fisheries rights and so on. I have noted on a number of occasions that
Operation Sovereign Borders, which began under the Morrison government, I think
it was, continues under the Albanese government. In that respect, things are
continuing as they were.
I have also made comment before that
the Australian Border Force is not only meeting all its scheduled requirements
in terms of surface vessel patrols, but also continuing to work in the same
manner I believe it did previously under the
previous Liberal–National government. That is what it is. I invite the
member, if he has concerns about the way the federal government is
operating, to take them up with the government concerned.
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