❓ Opposition MP Love questions Premier Cook about Hon Darren West's comments likening 'no' voters in the Voice referendum to racists. Premier defends West's intent but acknowledges the comments were inappropriate and states he has counselled him.
AnsweredQoN 678Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
VOICE REFERENDUM —
HON DARREN WEST'S COMMENTS
678. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
My knees are suffering. I refer to
comments made in the Legislative Council and reiterated in the public forum by
member for Agricultural Region Hon Darren West, MLC, in which he likened those
considering a no vote in the upcoming Voice referendum to white supremacists,
racists and as those who will be voting with Nazis. I will also remind the Premier that he has called for
respectful and decent conversation on this matter. Will the Premier demand an apology from his member for the
despicable comments that he, a representative of the Premier's Labor
government who is clearly ignoring the Premier's call for
respect, has made?
HON DARREN WEST'S COMMENTS
678. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
My knees are suffering. I refer to
comments made in the Legislative Council and reiterated in the public forum by
member for Agricultural Region Hon Darren West, MLC, in which he likened those
considering a no vote in the upcoming Voice referendum to white supremacists,
racists and as those who will be voting with Nazis. I will also remind the Premier that he has called for
respectful and decent conversation on this matter. Will the Premier demand an apology from his member for the
despicable comments that he, a representative of the Premier's Labor
government who is clearly ignoring the Premier's call for
respect, has made?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question. I welcome the Speaker from the Cook Islands. I do not think you can
have too many countries named after Cook!
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : I am just
saying, Madam Speaker!
The characterisation that the
member made about Hon Darren West's comments was, of course, incorrect. Hon Darren West was drawing attention to the
fact that there are people who subscribe to those views who themselves have talked about the no campaign. He was making that association. However, it
is not appropriate to raise those issues in the context of this debate. I have
spoken to Hon Darren West. I said to him that the Voice campaign is an opportunity to unite the country, to step forward
in an act of reconciliation, to acknowledge our First Nations people and
to say that we recognise you and will continue to consult you on laws that
impact you. I think that is a very reasonable proposition. Does the member
opposite agree with that?
Mr R.S. Love : I am asking if
you will ask your member to make an apology.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr R.H. COOK : For the
benefit of the Leader of the Opposition, I am simply asking him whether he
thinks it is appropriate for us to acknowledge our First Nations people,
recognise them in the Constitution of the country and, in that process, consult
them on laws that will impact them?
Mr R.S. Love : Are you going
to ask your member to apologise for his outrageous —
Several members interjected.
Mr R.S. Love : Are you going
to make your member apologise?
Mr R.H. COOK : Member, you
were not paying attention, so I have already answered your question; I want you
now to answer mine.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Point of Order
Mr P.J.
RUNDLE : Point of order.
The SPEAKER : There is no
need for the point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
The SPEAKER : I just remind
the Premier that this is question time and the opposition ask the questions.
There is no compulsion on anyone to answer by way of interjection if they are
sitting opposite the Premier.
Mr R.H. COOK : Which is
unusual, because the other side is usually very fond of interjecting, yet they
are struck silent on this particular occasion—struck silent on the very
reasonable proposition that Australians should unite together to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as
our First Nations people, to acknowledge them in the Constitution and to consult them on laws and issues that impact
on them. I think that is a reasonable proposition . I think every
reasonable minded individual would agree with that. We have seen division and
fear wrought right across this debate. That is a frustration that I think the
whole community is feeling today, and a frustration that clearly Hon Darren West
felt. But Hon Darren West has clarified his comments. I have censured him and I
have counselled him in relation to his comments. He acknowledges that that has
distracted us from the very reasonable proposition of voting yes in the
referendum.
Again, I invite by way of
interjection, because as you know, Madam Speaker, the other side is very fond
of interjecting, the opposition to express an opinion about this very real
proposition.
The SPEAKER : Premier, you
already know that they are declining to answer your questions, which they are
entitled to do.
Mr R.H. COOK : On that, Madam
Speaker, I rest my case.
question. I welcome the Speaker from the Cook Islands. I do not think you can
have too many countries named after Cook!
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : I am just
saying, Madam Speaker!
The characterisation that the
member made about Hon Darren West's comments was, of course, incorrect. Hon Darren West was drawing attention to the
fact that there are people who subscribe to those views who themselves have talked about the no campaign. He was making that association. However, it
is not appropriate to raise those issues in the context of this debate. I have
spoken to Hon Darren West. I said to him that the Voice campaign is an opportunity to unite the country, to step forward
in an act of reconciliation, to acknowledge our First Nations people and
to say that we recognise you and will continue to consult you on laws that
impact you. I think that is a very reasonable proposition. Does the member
opposite agree with that?
Mr R.S. Love : I am asking if
you will ask your member to make an apology.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr R.H. COOK : For the
benefit of the Leader of the Opposition, I am simply asking him whether he
thinks it is appropriate for us to acknowledge our First Nations people,
recognise them in the Constitution of the country and, in that process, consult
them on laws that will impact them?
Mr R.S. Love : Are you going
to ask your member to apologise for his outrageous —
Several members interjected.
Mr R.S. Love : Are you going
to make your member apologise?
Mr R.H. COOK : Member, you
were not paying attention, so I have already answered your question; I want you
now to answer mine.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Point of Order
Mr P.J.
RUNDLE : Point of order.
The SPEAKER : There is no
need for the point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
The SPEAKER : I just remind
the Premier that this is question time and the opposition ask the questions.
There is no compulsion on anyone to answer by way of interjection if they are
sitting opposite the Premier.
Mr R.H. COOK : Which is
unusual, because the other side is usually very fond of interjecting, yet they
are struck silent on this particular occasion—struck silent on the very
reasonable proposition that Australians should unite together to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as
our First Nations people, to acknowledge them in the Constitution and to consult them on laws and issues that impact
on them. I think that is a reasonable proposition . I think every
reasonable minded individual would agree with that. We have seen division and
fear wrought right across this debate. That is a frustration that I think the
whole community is feeling today, and a frustration that clearly Hon Darren West
felt. But Hon Darren West has clarified his comments. I have censured him and I
have counselled him in relation to his comments. He acknowledges that that has
distracted us from the very reasonable proposition of voting yes in the
referendum.
Again, I invite by way of
interjection, because as you know, Madam Speaker, the other side is very fond
of interjecting, the opposition to express an opinion about this very real
proposition.
The SPEAKER : Premier, you
already know that they are declining to answer your questions, which they are
entitled to do.
Mr R.H. COOK : On that, Madam
Speaker, I rest my case.
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