The Leader of the Opposition questions the Labor government's refusal to endorse mandatory sentencing for assaults on police officers, suggesting it's politically motivated. The Premier denies this, stating he's open to good ideas from across the political spectrum.

AnsweredQoN 2Legislative Assembly
Asked
6 March 2006
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

POLICE OFFICERS - ASSAULTS
I have a supplementary question. Is it not true that the refusal to date by the Labor government to endorse mandatory sentencing for people who bash our cops has more to do with the fact that it has been proposed by the Liberal Party for the past two years, than with anything else? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

The Leader of the Opposition can give this whatever value he likes, but the answer to his question is, absolutely not. This is the first occasion on which I have risen to my feet as Premier. I will make a speech later, which may or may not engage people, but I will point out now one thing with which most members opposite will not disagree. I have never had the view that all wisdom resides on one side of the chamber. If good suggestions come from the other side of the chamber, the government should at least look at them. When I was in opposition, I often gave support to ministers of the day who were proposing or carrying forward good policy. My direct answer to the Leader of the Opposition is that I do not operate in the way he suggests. I have never operated that way, and I do not intend to operate that way.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: The Leader of the Opposition can give this whatever value he likes, but the answer to his question is, absolutely not. This is the first occasion on which I have risen to my feet as Premier. I will make a speech later, which may or may not engage people, but I will point out now one thing with which most members opposite will not disagree. I have never had the view that all wisdom resides on one side of the chamber. If good suggestions come from the other side of the chamber, the government should at least look at them. When I was in opposition, I often gave support to ministers of the day who were proposing or carrying forward good policy. My direct answer to the Leader of the Opposition is that I do not operate in the way he suggests. I have never operated that way, and I do not intend to operate that way.
The Leader of the Opposition can give this whatever value he likes, but the answer to his question is, absolutely not. This is the first occasion on which I have risen to my feet as Premier. I will make a speech later, which may or may not engage people, but I will point out now one thing with which most members opposite will not disagree. I have never had the view that all wisdom resides on one side of the chamber. If good suggestions come from the other side of the chamber, the government should at least look at them. When I was in opposition, I often gave support to ministers of the day who were proposing or carrying forward good policy. My direct answer to the Leader of the Opposition is that I do not operate in the way he suggests. I have never operated that way, and I do not intend to operate that way.

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