❓ Mr. Krsticevic questions the Premier on the expected impact of new homelessness funding and criticizes the government's overall investment. The Premier defends the government's actions and attacks the opposition's record and rhetoric on homelessness.
AnsweredQoN 586Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESSNESS —
THE BEACON
586. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
How many homeless does the Premier
expect to help with today's funding announcement, and when is the
government going to start putting some serious money into tackling this
important issue?
The SPEAKER : Premier, you can
answer it, but it was not really a supplementary.
THE BEACON
586. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
How many homeless does the Premier
expect to help with today's funding announcement, and when is the
government going to start putting some serious money into tackling this
important issue?
The SPEAKER : Premier, you can
answer it, but it was not really a supplementary.
AnswerView source ↗
Today, Minister McGurk made an
announcement that, on top of the $89 million we spend each year in providing
homelessness services, we have extended the services provided by the Tranby
Centre in Northbridge to seven days a week and from seven to seven each day. I expect
many people will take advantage of this opportunity. The member for Carine has
come in and asked a question, in a critical tone, about this announcement—critical!
Members opposite never expanded these services. They did not provide this
additional support. They did nothing about
the issue. They wander around the place in their vacant way and say, ''Oh,
my goodness; there is homelessness out there'', like it has only
just happened. Let me give them the tip: during the last Barnett government,
there were people who were homeless. During the second Court government, there
were people who were homeless. During the first Court government, there were
people who were homeless. Those opposite have only just discovered it!
The reason members opposite have
feet of clay is that their leader, who is not here right now—she has
vacated question time—actually described these people as ''meth
zombies''. On the one hand, they are asking why we are not doing
something about it, when we are, and on the other hand, their leader is
demonising these people. A range of circumstances can lead to someone ending up
homeless. A book recently launched by the minister is very interesting to read.
There is an extraordinary array of circumstances for why people end up down on
their luck and in this position. The last thing people in this position need is
to be demonised by someone who is very senior in public life—that is
the last thing that they need. All it does is to promote people to look down
their noses at them and condemn them, or to fear them for that matter. Also,
all that the commentary of the Leader of the Liberal Party does is to run down
the CBD of Perth. We have a marvellous, beautiful CBD with wonderful shopping,
social and commercial opportunities and the like. With those two words, the
Leader of the Opposition has, firstly, diminished the CBD of Perth and all the
retail operators in it, and, secondly, demonised the most unfortunate people in
our community. Members opposite then have the gall to come in here and
criticise us in a question for expanding services to the homeless. Honestly!
The Liberal Party has come back from
the break and I do not know what has happened to its members, but it is pretty
bad. Whatever has gone on inside its ranks, it is pretty bad. I do not know
whether the member for Geraldton brought it on; I do not know whether it is all
his fault. It probably is, although I think he made a courageous move. I cannot
understand the Nationals WA accepting the member for North West Central and
knocking back the member for Geraldton! I cannot understand that at all. That
is one of the most inexplicable things I have ever heard, because the member
for Geraldton is a pretty decent guy. I will leave it at that, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
announcement that, on top of the $89 million we spend each year in providing
homelessness services, we have extended the services provided by the Tranby
Centre in Northbridge to seven days a week and from seven to seven each day. I expect
many people will take advantage of this opportunity. The member for Carine has
come in and asked a question, in a critical tone, about this announcement—critical!
Members opposite never expanded these services. They did not provide this
additional support. They did nothing about
the issue. They wander around the place in their vacant way and say, ''Oh,
my goodness; there is homelessness out there'', like it has only
just happened. Let me give them the tip: during the last Barnett government,
there were people who were homeless. During the second Court government, there
were people who were homeless. During the first Court government, there were
people who were homeless. Those opposite have only just discovered it!
The reason members opposite have
feet of clay is that their leader, who is not here right now—she has
vacated question time—actually described these people as ''meth
zombies''. On the one hand, they are asking why we are not doing
something about it, when we are, and on the other hand, their leader is
demonising these people. A range of circumstances can lead to someone ending up
homeless. A book recently launched by the minister is very interesting to read.
There is an extraordinary array of circumstances for why people end up down on
their luck and in this position. The last thing people in this position need is
to be demonised by someone who is very senior in public life—that is
the last thing that they need. All it does is to promote people to look down
their noses at them and condemn them, or to fear them for that matter. Also,
all that the commentary of the Leader of the Liberal Party does is to run down
the CBD of Perth. We have a marvellous, beautiful CBD with wonderful shopping,
social and commercial opportunities and the like. With those two words, the
Leader of the Opposition has, firstly, diminished the CBD of Perth and all the
retail operators in it, and, secondly, demonised the most unfortunate people in
our community. Members opposite then have the gall to come in here and
criticise us in a question for expanding services to the homeless. Honestly!
The Liberal Party has come back from
the break and I do not know what has happened to its members, but it is pretty
bad. Whatever has gone on inside its ranks, it is pretty bad. I do not know
whether the member for Geraldton brought it on; I do not know whether it is all
his fault. It probably is, although I think he made a courageous move. I cannot
understand the Nationals WA accepting the member for North West Central and
knocking back the member for Geraldton! I cannot understand that at all. That
is one of the most inexplicable things I have ever heard, because the member
for Geraldton is a pretty decent guy. I will leave it at that, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
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