❓ Mr Graham asks the Premier for a guarantee that Parliament won't be dissolved until bills addressing asbestos-related diseases, emergency services in cyclone-prone areas, and petrol pricing are dealt with. The Premier acknowledges the issues but doesn't commit to a guarantee, citing progress and complexities.
AnsweredQoN 370Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
For about 40 years, people dying from asbestos-related diseases have been denied legitimate compensation. I have brought a private member’s Bill before the House to remedy that situation. For about 10 years, people in the cyclone-prone north west of the State have been promised emergency services legislation. The cyclone season officially started three weeks ago. Independent petrol retailers want the so-called 50:50 legislation passed through this Parliament. (1) As the Government has agreed to the need for each of these pieces of legislation, will the Premier give a concrete undertaking that Parliament will not be dissolved until these three very important Bills are dealt with? (2) If the Premier is not in a position to give such an undertaking, will he explain the reasons for the lack of progress on these three Bills? Mr COURT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
(1) As the Government has agreed to the need for each of these pieces of legislation, will the Premier give a concrete undertaking that Parliament will not be dissolved until these three very important Bills are dealt with? (2) If the Premier is not in a position to give such an undertaking, will he explain the reasons for the lack of progress on these three Bills? Mr COURT replied: (1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
(2) If the Premier is not in a position to give such an undertaking, will he explain the reasons for the lack of progress on these three Bills? Mr COURT replied: (1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
Mr COURT replied: (1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
(1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago.
Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
(1) As the Government has agreed to the need for each of these pieces of legislation, will the Premier give a concrete undertaking that Parliament will not be dissolved until these three very important Bills are dealt with? (2) If the Premier is not in a position to give such an undertaking, will he explain the reasons for the lack of progress on these three Bills? Mr COURT replied: (1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
(2) If the Premier is not in a position to give such an undertaking, will he explain the reasons for the lack of progress on these three Bills? Mr COURT replied: (1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
Mr COURT replied: (1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
(1)-(2) In regard to asbestos-related diseases, I think the member for Pilbara is referring to the ability to take action after a person is deceased. The member for Yokine has been driving this issue in Cabinet. Draft legislation has been prepared, but it will not be ready to be introduced into Parliament in the next few weeks. The issue was discussed at some length in Cabinet this week. The Government has developed a system of responses to emergencies such as cyclones, which has been working exceptionally well. Unfortunately, it has been tested a number of times in recent years. The way in which the Exmouth cyclone and other emergencies were handled demonstrates that the emergency service is very effective. It can always be improved, but it has been tested quite severely in recent times. I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago. Dr Gallop: The Government caves in at the first whiff of grapeshot! Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
I appreciate the positive comment made by the member for Pilbara about petrol pricing, although he did make a negative comment as well. The member for Pilbara said it was a good piece of legislation and he was convinced that it would go a long way towards reducing prices. He was referring to the component about the transparency of pricing. The 50:50 issue is a difficult one. If the Government could introduce legislation that would provide more competition and bring down prices, it would have been something the Leader of the Opposition would have supported when the Labor Party was in Government. The then Government brought in that legislation but made a decision not to go ahead with it. The Government is prepared to develop legislation along those lines which provides more competition, if it can be made to work. The Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that the Government is prepared to put the interests of 500 refinery workers ahead of those of the motorists of this State. Both are achievable - a significant refining capacity can be retained in Western Australia, and a legislative framework that ensures transparency in pricing is a major step forward to create more competition. It is not an easy issue. If it were, it would have been addressed by State and Federal Governments years ago.
Mr COURT: Why, then, did the then Labor Government make a decision not to proceed? It was because it had advice not to proceed.
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