❓ Opposition MP Kirkup questions the Premier about perceived inconsistencies in WA's border arrangements. The Premier dismisses the question and defends the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to Kirkup's suspension from parliament.
AnsweredQoN 816Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — INTERSTATE BORDER
RESTRICTIONS
816. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I
have a supplementary question. How is the community meant to know what is
happening with WA's chaotic border arrangements if the Premier and the
health minister cannot even get their position straight within a 12-hour
period?
RESTRICTIONS
816. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I
have a supplementary question. How is the community meant to know what is
happening with WA's chaotic border arrangements if the Premier and the
health minister cannot even get their position straight within a 12-hour
period?
AnswerView source ↗
It
is a silly premise to a silly question. We have been clear about this the whole
way along. This issue goes back basically to the start of the year. According
to my recollection, the first case of COVID-19 was on 31 December 2019. It
started spreading around the world and we have had to deal with it and its
consequences since February. From memory,
that is when the issue started to become prominent. Over that time, we have had
to deal with multiple issues , sometimes on a daily basis. At times, I have
been very, very frightened about what could happen to the state and what could
happen to the people in this state. People could die in large numbers if
mistakes are made. Jobs could be lost in large numbers if mistakes are made. A
lot of these things along this route have been outside our control. Every day
we have to deal with new challenges. Every single day there are new challenges
along this road. Crises erupt every single day. In the last fortnight, two
ships, both off Port Hedland, have had serious issues onboard that we have had
to manage. The health minister and I work cooperatively to manage all those
issues every single day, week in, week out. Going back to February, every day,
seven days a week, we have had to deal with this.
We never know what is around the
corner, but thus far the state has done well. It has done as well as or better
than anywhere else in the world. Our state has performed. People in the state
have been absolutely magnificent in understanding what had to be done and in
participating and assisting us with what had to be done. The idea that every
single word in every single press conference needs to be analysed and raked
over to find fault or flaws or some sort of opportunity to criticise is just
ludicrous.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, you are on three. If I call you to order again, you are going home.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : Oh, well,
I need to go doorknocking.
Several members interjected.
Suspension of Member
The SPEAKER : Member for Dawesville,
I call you to order for the fourth time. As the member has been called to order
more than three times, I now suspend the member from the service of the house
until the adjournment of today's sitting.
[The member for Dawesville left the
chamber.]
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : The idea that
every single word on every single day should be raked over is offensive.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, do you have a comment to make?
Mrs L.M. Harvey : I was making
a comment on what the Premier was saying, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : No, you were
not. I heard what you said.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is a very,
very weak and juvenile opposition.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
is a silly premise to a silly question. We have been clear about this the whole
way along. This issue goes back basically to the start of the year. According
to my recollection, the first case of COVID-19 was on 31 December 2019. It
started spreading around the world and we have had to deal with it and its
consequences since February. From memory,
that is when the issue started to become prominent. Over that time, we have had
to deal with multiple issues , sometimes on a daily basis. At times, I have
been very, very frightened about what could happen to the state and what could
happen to the people in this state. People could die in large numbers if
mistakes are made. Jobs could be lost in large numbers if mistakes are made. A
lot of these things along this route have been outside our control. Every day
we have to deal with new challenges. Every single day there are new challenges
along this road. Crises erupt every single day. In the last fortnight, two
ships, both off Port Hedland, have had serious issues onboard that we have had
to manage. The health minister and I work cooperatively to manage all those
issues every single day, week in, week out. Going back to February, every day,
seven days a week, we have had to deal with this.
We never know what is around the
corner, but thus far the state has done well. It has done as well as or better
than anywhere else in the world. Our state has performed. People in the state
have been absolutely magnificent in understanding what had to be done and in
participating and assisting us with what had to be done. The idea that every
single word in every single press conference needs to be analysed and raked
over to find fault or flaws or some sort of opportunity to criticise is just
ludicrous.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, you are on three. If I call you to order again, you are going home.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : Oh, well,
I need to go doorknocking.
Several members interjected.
Suspension of Member
The SPEAKER : Member for Dawesville,
I call you to order for the fourth time. As the member has been called to order
more than three times, I now suspend the member from the service of the house
until the adjournment of today's sitting.
[The member for Dawesville left the
chamber.]
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : The idea that
every single word on every single day should be raked over is offensive.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, do you have a comment to make?
Mrs L.M. Harvey : I was making
a comment on what the Premier was saying, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : No, you were
not. I heard what you said.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is a very,
very weak and juvenile opposition.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
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