❓ Minister Kobelke responds to a claim that Harvey Norman intends to trade on Sundays, contrary to WA's retail trading laws, asserting the government's commitment to upholding the law and contrasting it with the previous Liberal government's alleged disregard for the rule of law.
AnsweredQoN 848Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
What is the minister’s response to the reported claim that the Harvey Norman chain will be trading on Sundays, contrary to Western Australia’s retail trading laws? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I treat it very seriously when people publicly state an intention to flout a law of this State. That is something we will take action against. It is also unfortunate that members of the last Liberal Government took a somewhat similar attitude, when they introduced changes to our retail trading hours directly contrary to clear legal advice that they had no power to do so. That is one of many instances of the last Liberal Government treating the laws of this State with contempt. This Government believes in the rule of law, it will uphold the law and it will prosecute where necessary; that is very different from the last Liberal Government that in countless cases did not believe in upholding the law. The first example I cite is the secret ballot provisions in industrial relations legislation. They were bad laws; the Government never upheld them, and it never had any intention of doing so. The next example was the law to strike out native title. Members of the last Liberal Government knew the legislation had no chance; it was struck down 7-0 in the High Court. The previous Government was happy to turn a blind eye to prostitution and allow people to go on breaking the law, and nothing was done about it. It did not fix the law. The Government sends a very clear message to Harvey Norman and everyone else that, although there may be problems with the law, it is the law of this State. It will be upheld and people are expected to comply with it. It does not matter whether they are wealthy or not - the laws will be upheld. The Gallop Government believes in the rule of law, and that is very different from the mob opposite when it was in government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I treat it very seriously when people publicly state an intention to flout a law of this State. That is something we will take action against. It is also unfortunate that members of the last Liberal Government took a somewhat similar attitude, when they introduced changes to our retail trading hours directly contrary to clear legal advice that they had no power to do so. That is one of many instances of the last Liberal Government treating the laws of this State with contempt. This Government believes in the rule of law, it will uphold the law and it will prosecute where necessary; that is very different from the last Liberal Government that in countless cases did not believe in upholding the law. The first example I cite is the secret ballot provisions in industrial relations legislation. They were bad laws; the Government never upheld them, and it never had any intention of doing so. The next example was the law to strike out native title. Members of the last Liberal Government knew the legislation had no chance; it was struck down 7-0 in the High Court. The previous Government was happy to turn a blind eye to prostitution and allow people to go on breaking the law, and nothing was done about it. It did not fix the law. The Government sends a very clear message to Harvey Norman and everyone else that, although there may be problems with the law, it is the law of this State. It will be upheld and people are expected to comply with it. It does not matter whether they are wealthy or not - the laws will be upheld. The Gallop Government believes in the rule of law, and that is very different from the mob opposite when it was in government.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I treat it very seriously when people publicly state an intention to flout a law of this State. That is something we will take action against. It is also unfortunate that members of the last Liberal Government took a somewhat similar attitude, when they introduced changes to our retail trading hours directly contrary to clear legal advice that they had no power to do so. That is one of many instances of the last Liberal Government treating the laws of this State with contempt. This Government believes in the rule of law, it will uphold the law and it will prosecute where necessary; that is very different from the last Liberal Government that in countless cases did not believe in upholding the law. The first example I cite is the secret ballot provisions in industrial relations legislation. They were bad laws; the Government never upheld them, and it never had any intention of doing so. The next example was the law to strike out native title. Members of the last Liberal Government knew the legislation had no chance; it was struck down 7-0 in the High Court. The previous Government was happy to turn a blind eye to prostitution and allow people to go on breaking the law, and nothing was done about it. It did not fix the law. The Government sends a very clear message to Harvey Norman and everyone else that, although there may be problems with the law, it is the law of this State. It will be upheld and people are expected to comply with it. It does not matter whether they are wealthy or not - the laws will be upheld. The Gallop Government believes in the rule of law, and that is very different from the mob opposite when it was in government.
The Government sends a very clear message to Harvey Norman and everyone else that, although there may be problems with the law, it is the law of this State. It will be upheld and people are expected to comply with it. It does not matter whether they are wealthy or not - the laws will be upheld. The Gallop Government believes in the rule of law, and that is very different from the mob opposite when it was in government.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I treat it very seriously when people publicly state an intention to flout a law of this State. That is something we will take action against. It is also unfortunate that members of the last Liberal Government took a somewhat similar attitude, when they introduced changes to our retail trading hours directly contrary to clear legal advice that they had no power to do so. That is one of many instances of the last Liberal Government treating the laws of this State with contempt. This Government believes in the rule of law, it will uphold the law and it will prosecute where necessary; that is very different from the last Liberal Government that in countless cases did not believe in upholding the law. The first example I cite is the secret ballot provisions in industrial relations legislation. They were bad laws; the Government never upheld them, and it never had any intention of doing so. The next example was the law to strike out native title. Members of the last Liberal Government knew the legislation had no chance; it was struck down 7-0 in the High Court. The previous Government was happy to turn a blind eye to prostitution and allow people to go on breaking the law, and nothing was done about it. It did not fix the law. The Government sends a very clear message to Harvey Norman and everyone else that, although there may be problems with the law, it is the law of this State. It will be upheld and people are expected to comply with it. It does not matter whether they are wealthy or not - the laws will be upheld. The Gallop Government believes in the rule of law, and that is very different from the mob opposite when it was in government.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I treat it very seriously when people publicly state an intention to flout a law of this State. That is something we will take action against. It is also unfortunate that members of the last Liberal Government took a somewhat similar attitude, when they introduced changes to our retail trading hours directly contrary to clear legal advice that they had no power to do so. That is one of many instances of the last Liberal Government treating the laws of this State with contempt. This Government believes in the rule of law, it will uphold the law and it will prosecute where necessary; that is very different from the last Liberal Government that in countless cases did not believe in upholding the law. The first example I cite is the secret ballot provisions in industrial relations legislation. They were bad laws; the Government never upheld them, and it never had any intention of doing so. The next example was the law to strike out native title. Members of the last Liberal Government knew the legislation had no chance; it was struck down 7-0 in the High Court. The previous Government was happy to turn a blind eye to prostitution and allow people to go on breaking the law, and nothing was done about it. It did not fix the law. The Government sends a very clear message to Harvey Norman and everyone else that, although there may be problems with the law, it is the law of this State. It will be upheld and people are expected to comply with it. It does not matter whether they are wealthy or not - the laws will be upheld. The Gallop Government believes in the rule of law, and that is very different from the mob opposite when it was in government.
The Government sends a very clear message to Harvey Norman and everyone else that, although there may be problems with the law, it is the law of this State. It will be upheld and people are expected to comply with it. It does not matter whether they are wealthy or not - the laws will be upheld. The Gallop Government believes in the rule of law, and that is very different from the mob opposite when it was in government.
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