❓ Mr. Catania questions the Premier about supporting a defence base in the Pilbara, proposed by Nationals WA Senate candidate Nick Fardell. The Premier expresses support for increased defence assets in the north-west but dismisses Fardell's proposal.
AnsweredQoN 362Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PILBARA DEFENCE BASE
362. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Premier:
I refer to the announcement by
Nationals WA Senate candidate Nick Fardell, who has promised to establish an
800-strong defence base in the Pilbara should he be elected on Saturday.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr V.A. CATANIA : I ask —
(1) Dos the
Premier support an expanded Army or naval presence on Western Australia's
north west coast to provide greater border protection and security for our
state and country's most important asset?
(2) If yes, will
the Premier today agree to work with ''Big'' Nick Fardell in
order to secure this investment from the federal government regardless of who
the Prime Minister is come Saturday night?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I want
to hear this.
362. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Premier:
I refer to the announcement by
Nationals WA Senate candidate Nick Fardell, who has promised to establish an
800-strong defence base in the Pilbara should he be elected on Saturday.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr V.A. CATANIA : I ask —
(1) Dos the
Premier support an expanded Army or naval presence on Western Australia's
north west coast to provide greater border protection and security for our
state and country's most important asset?
(2) If yes, will
the Premier today agree to work with ''Big'' Nick Fardell in
order to secure this investment from the federal government regardless of who
the Prime Minister is come Saturday night?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I want
to hear this.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Mr Speaker —
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Water, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I can
honestly say that I have never heard of ''Big'' Nick Fardell. I do
not know who that is.
The SPEAKER : He is a big
man!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is ''Big''
Nick's policy the federal coalition policy?
Mr V.A. Catania : It is a Western
Australian policy.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Okay. So I am now being questioned by
an opposition National Party backbencher not about the state budget we handed
down on Thursday, but about a thought bubble by some guy I have never heard of
that is not national coalition policy. Is that the best you can do? I mean,
honestly!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do you have a
strategy group? Do you want me to come and write your questions? Please ask me
something about the budget! Please, I beg you to ask me about the budget!
As a former naval officer who knows
a little about defence, I am being questioned by someone whose loyalty, it
might be said, to the party that put him into Parliament is questionable.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Nationals WA, you are on two calls.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Members might
find, going back through my history in this place, that I have made a number of
statements about basing some of our naval assets in the north west of Western Australia.
We have some of our largest economic assets off the coast of the north west of Western
Australia, yet our patrol boat fleet in particular is based out of Darwin and
Cairns. I have said on a number of occasions that at least two of our patrol
boat fleets should be based in Karratha or Hedland.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The current
federal government's policy has put none there. Honestly!
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will come
back to the central point. The coalition has been in office for six years. How
many assets did it put up there over the last six years? None!
Mr V.A. Catania : That's
why we need ''Big'' Nick in Canberra.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have some
guy called ''Big'' Nick! He sounds like a used car salesman to
me. Some guy called ''Big'' Nick will apparently fix everything!
I mean, honestly.
The SPEAKER : Can we get to
the end of this question, Premier?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I support the
basing of further defence assets in the northern part of Western Australia. I think
that is sensible. I have advocated for it for a long time. I am not aware of ''Big''
Nick and his plans!
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Water, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I can
honestly say that I have never heard of ''Big'' Nick Fardell. I do
not know who that is.
The SPEAKER : He is a big
man!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is ''Big''
Nick's policy the federal coalition policy?
Mr V.A. Catania : It is a Western
Australian policy.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Okay. So I am now being questioned by
an opposition National Party backbencher not about the state budget we handed
down on Thursday, but about a thought bubble by some guy I have never heard of
that is not national coalition policy. Is that the best you can do? I mean,
honestly!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do you have a
strategy group? Do you want me to come and write your questions? Please ask me
something about the budget! Please, I beg you to ask me about the budget!
As a former naval officer who knows
a little about defence, I am being questioned by someone whose loyalty, it
might be said, to the party that put him into Parliament is questionable.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Nationals WA, you are on two calls.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Members might
find, going back through my history in this place, that I have made a number of
statements about basing some of our naval assets in the north west of Western Australia.
We have some of our largest economic assets off the coast of the north west of Western
Australia, yet our patrol boat fleet in particular is based out of Darwin and
Cairns. I have said on a number of occasions that at least two of our patrol
boat fleets should be based in Karratha or Hedland.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The current
federal government's policy has put none there. Honestly!
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will come
back to the central point. The coalition has been in office for six years. How
many assets did it put up there over the last six years? None!
Mr V.A. Catania : That's
why we need ''Big'' Nick in Canberra.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have some
guy called ''Big'' Nick! He sounds like a used car salesman to
me. Some guy called ''Big'' Nick will apparently fix everything!
I mean, honestly.
The SPEAKER : Can we get to
the end of this question, Premier?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I support the
basing of further defence assets in the northern part of Western Australia. I think
that is sensible. I have advocated for it for a long time. I am not aware of ''Big''
Nick and his plans!
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