❓ Mr. Barnett questions Premier Gallop on the WA government's support for the Cole Royal Commission, citing CFMEU misconduct. Dr. Gallop affirms cooperation, accuses the opposition of undermining the commission, and defends Labor's commitment to equality under the law.
AnsweredQoN 830Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the numerous instances of wilful disruption, standover tactics, blatant thuggery, illegal strike action and the alarming evidence given at the Cole royal commission that the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union imprisoned non-union workers on a building site to force them to join the union. (1) In the light of this evidence, will the Premier now give his full support and the Government’s full support to the Cole royal commission? (2) Does the Premier condone this kind of behaviour; and, if not, why does he allow the Labor Party to continue accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations each year from the CFMEU? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
(1) In the light of this evidence, will the Premier now give his full support and the Government’s full support to the Cole royal commission? (2) Does the Premier condone this kind of behaviour; and, if not, why does he allow the Labor Party to continue accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations each year from the CFMEU? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
(2) Does the Premier condone this kind of behaviour; and, if not, why does he allow the Labor Party to continue accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations each year from the CFMEU? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
(1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
(1) In the light of this evidence, will the Premier now give his full support and the Government’s full support to the Cole royal commission? (2) Does the Premier condone this kind of behaviour; and, if not, why does he allow the Labor Party to continue accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations each year from the CFMEU? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
(2) Does the Premier condone this kind of behaviour; and, if not, why does he allow the Labor Party to continue accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations each year from the CFMEU? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
(1)-(2) It is an interesting question from the Leader of the Opposition. It relates to a royal commission that has been set up by the federal Government. If one wanted to show respect for that royal commission one would allow it to complete its work and deliver its findings. This Opposition will not do that. I would have thought that respect for the royal commission involved waiting for its findings and then taking action as required by those findings. Let me go further and state that the Government of Western Australia has a very clear position on the Cole royal commission: it is cooperating fully with that commission of inquiry. Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Mr Barnett: Do you support it? Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Dr GALLOP: The Government has cooperated fully. Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Mr Barnett: Does it support it? Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Dr GALLOP: I would have thought that if one was cooperating with something, one would be supporting it! Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Mr Barnett: Semantics! Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
Dr GALLOP: The only semantics on this issue is whether the Government of Western Australia is cooperating with the royal commission. It is. The Cole royal commission has the Government’s full support in what it is doing, as indicated by the material the Government has provided and by its cooperation. The Leader of the Opposition represents a political party that, for eight years in this State, pushed through legislation and administered the law in this State in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of our democratic society. The then Minister for Labour Relations, the member for Kingsley, allowed departments in her Government to allow workers to be forced onto workplace agreements. Those workers were forced onto workplace agreements against the law of this State. Members opposite come into this Parliament and say that we are acting in a way contrary to the law. If there are any contraventions of the law in Western Australia they will be dealt with, which has been indicated by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection. There is one thing about the great Australian Labor Party that makes it different from the Liberal Party; that is, the Australian Labor Party believes in equality under the law. That equality applies to a vulnerable employee just as much as it applies to an employer in this State. We have had enough of the cavalier Government that allowed occupational health and safety regulations and environmental regulations to be undermined; that was the stewardship the previous Government gave to this State. This Government believes in equality under the law and that is how it will govern this State.
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