❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Premier about conflicting reports regarding safety inspections of the Army jetty on Rottnest Island, following an incident. The Premier acknowledges the issue, highlights past inaction, and announces an independent inquiry.
AnsweredQoN 846Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROTTNEST ISLAND — ASSET MANAGEMENT
846. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
On behalf of the opposition, I also extend condolences to the
Minister for Tourism and his family at this sad time.
I refer to reports on Channel Seven news on 25 October that a
safety inspection was conducted on the Army jetty five months ago. I refer to
the seemingly contradictory statement of the Rottnest Island Authority
chairman, John Langoulant, on 6PR on the same day that the last inspection he
could identify was conducted in 2015. When was the last safety inspection
actually conducted on the Army jetty, and will the Premier immediately commit
to tabling all structural and safety inspections conducted on the Army jetty?
846. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
On behalf of the opposition, I also extend condolences to the
Minister for Tourism and his family at this sad time.
I refer to reports on Channel Seven news on 25 October that a
safety inspection was conducted on the Army jetty five months ago. I refer to
the seemingly contradictory statement of the Rottnest Island Authority
chairman, John Langoulant, on 6PR on the same day that the last inspection he
could identify was conducted in 2015. When was the last safety inspection
actually conducted on the Army jetty, and will the Premier immediately commit
to tabling all structural and safety inspections conducted on the Army jetty?
AnswerView source ↗
The member keeps asking me about
things that other people have said that I am unaware of, and I am unaware of
what Mr Langoulant had to say.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
asked a question; listen.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : For members'
information, at that point in time I was in Karratha and Canberra. I did not
get to listen to 6PR or to see Channel Seven news, but I do know that it is a significant
issue. As I said yesterday, my sympathies
go to those three people who were a part of it. I understand that they are
recovering and I wish them all the
best on their recovery. Secondly, I want to re-emphasise what I had to say
yesterday—that is, the first responders did a magnificent job
and I think that we should all be very proud of the bystanders who assisted and
also the volunteers, the Rottnest staff and the first responders from the
police and the like who helped resolve the situation.
To the best of my knowledge, in 2010
a report into the Army jetty said that there were some issues with vehicles and
the like driving onto the Army jetty. The then government indicated that no
further vehicles would be going onto the jetty but that pedestrian access would
be allowed to continue. People continued to fish from the jetty, and had done so
up until last week. In the period from 2010 until now, no money has been spent
on the jetty. The Liberal Party in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and
2017—eight years—did nothing about the jetty. I also understand
there have been periodic inspections of the jetties and that some of them have
been conducted by the Rottnest Island Authority, or visual reviews by the
Rottnest Island Authority and the like that have been conducted periodically
over that period of time. There is going to be a full inquiry into what has
occurred—an independent inquiry; not a political inquiry—I
think with KPMG assisting. No doubt all those issues will be canvassed as part
of that inquiry. I, like everyone else, would like to get to the bottom of all
these issues.
things that other people have said that I am unaware of, and I am unaware of
what Mr Langoulant had to say.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
asked a question; listen.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : For members'
information, at that point in time I was in Karratha and Canberra. I did not
get to listen to 6PR or to see Channel Seven news, but I do know that it is a significant
issue. As I said yesterday, my sympathies
go to those three people who were a part of it. I understand that they are
recovering and I wish them all the
best on their recovery. Secondly, I want to re-emphasise what I had to say
yesterday—that is, the first responders did a magnificent job
and I think that we should all be very proud of the bystanders who assisted and
also the volunteers, the Rottnest staff and the first responders from the
police and the like who helped resolve the situation.
To the best of my knowledge, in 2010
a report into the Army jetty said that there were some issues with vehicles and
the like driving onto the Army jetty. The then government indicated that no
further vehicles would be going onto the jetty but that pedestrian access would
be allowed to continue. People continued to fish from the jetty, and had done so
up until last week. In the period from 2010 until now, no money has been spent
on the jetty. The Liberal Party in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and
2017—eight years—did nothing about the jetty. I also understand
there have been periodic inspections of the jetties and that some of them have
been conducted by the Rottnest Island Authority, or visual reviews by the
Rottnest Island Authority and the like that have been conducted periodically
over that period of time. There is going to be a full inquiry into what has
occurred—an independent inquiry; not a political inquiry—I
think with KPMG assisting. No doubt all those issues will be canvassed as part
of that inquiry. I, like everyone else, would like to get to the bottom of all
these issues.
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