❓ Question addresses WA's bushfire preparedness. The Premier outlines a $1.3 million plan including leased aircraft, criticising the federal government's national strategy and interjections from the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 268Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUSHFIRES, PREPAREDNESS BY STATE GOVERNMENT 268. Mr M.P. WHITELY to the Premier: Can the Premier outline what the State Government is doing to ensure that Western Australia is equipped for the coming bushfire season? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
As we know, the Commonwealth and the States agreed last January that we need a new and national approach to the question of firefighting in our country. A strategy was developed in consultation with the States and the Territories. We know what has happened with that strategy. Federal Minister Wilson Tuckey did two things: firstly, as he does with many of these issues, he played politics instead of sitting down and working out what was in the national interest; and secondly, he completely ignored the interests of Western Australia. Instead of implementing a proper national strategy, he proposed a strategy that was in the interests of only Victoria and New South Wales. We will not sit back and allow a situation in which our interests are not properly protected this summer. Therefore, we have announced that we will lease extra aircraft as part of a $1.3 million plan to bolster the State’s aerial firefighting operations this summer. We will lease two Dromader M18A fixed-wing aircraft, which will be stationed at Manjimup. We will also spend $900 000 on the potential to use two helicopters in and around the metropolitan area. Western Australia is facing an extremely hazardous - Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
BUSHFIRES, PREPAREDNESS BY STATE GOVERNMENT
Can the Premier outline what the State Government is doing to ensure that Western Australia is equipped for the coming bushfire season? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: As we know, the Commonwealth and the States agreed last January that we need a new and national approach to the question of firefighting in our country. A strategy was developed in consultation with the States and the Territories. We know what has happened with that strategy. Federal Minister Wilson Tuckey did two things: firstly, as he does with many of these issues, he played politics instead of sitting down and working out what was in the national interest; and secondly, he completely ignored the interests of Western Australia. Instead of implementing a proper national strategy, he proposed a strategy that was in the interests of only Victoria and New South Wales. We will not sit back and allow a situation in which our interests are not properly protected this summer. Therefore, we have announced that we will lease extra aircraft as part of a $1.3 million plan to bolster the State’s aerial firefighting operations this summer. We will lease two Dromader M18A fixed-wing aircraft, which will be stationed at Manjimup. We will also spend $900 000 on the potential to use two helicopters in and around the metropolitan area. Western Australia is facing an extremely hazardous - Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: As we know, the Commonwealth and the States agreed last January that we need a new and national approach to the question of firefighting in our country. A strategy was developed in consultation with the States and the Territories. We know what has happened with that strategy. Federal Minister Wilson Tuckey did two things: firstly, as he does with many of these issues, he played politics instead of sitting down and working out what was in the national interest; and secondly, he completely ignored the interests of Western Australia. Instead of implementing a proper national strategy, he proposed a strategy that was in the interests of only Victoria and New South Wales. We will not sit back and allow a situation in which our interests are not properly protected this summer. Therefore, we have announced that we will lease extra aircraft as part of a $1.3 million plan to bolster the State’s aerial firefighting operations this summer. We will lease two Dromader M18A fixed-wing aircraft, which will be stationed at Manjimup. We will also spend $900 000 on the potential to use two helicopters in and around the metropolitan area. Western Australia is facing an extremely hazardous - Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
As we know, the Commonwealth and the States agreed last January that we need a new and national approach to the question of firefighting in our country. A strategy was developed in consultation with the States and the Territories. We know what has happened with that strategy. Federal Minister Wilson Tuckey did two things: firstly, as he does with many of these issues, he played politics instead of sitting down and working out what was in the national interest; and secondly, he completely ignored the interests of Western Australia. Instead of implementing a proper national strategy, he proposed a strategy that was in the interests of only Victoria and New South Wales. We will not sit back and allow a situation in which our interests are not properly protected this summer. Therefore, we have announced that we will lease extra aircraft as part of a $1.3 million plan to bolster the State’s aerial firefighting operations this summer. We will lease two Dromader M18A fixed-wing aircraft, which will be stationed at Manjimup. We will also spend $900 000 on the potential to use two helicopters in and around the metropolitan area. Western Australia is facing an extremely hazardous - Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
BUSHFIRES, PREPAREDNESS BY STATE GOVERNMENT
Can the Premier outline what the State Government is doing to ensure that Western Australia is equipped for the coming bushfire season? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: As we know, the Commonwealth and the States agreed last January that we need a new and national approach to the question of firefighting in our country. A strategy was developed in consultation with the States and the Territories. We know what has happened with that strategy. Federal Minister Wilson Tuckey did two things: firstly, as he does with many of these issues, he played politics instead of sitting down and working out what was in the national interest; and secondly, he completely ignored the interests of Western Australia. Instead of implementing a proper national strategy, he proposed a strategy that was in the interests of only Victoria and New South Wales. We will not sit back and allow a situation in which our interests are not properly protected this summer. Therefore, we have announced that we will lease extra aircraft as part of a $1.3 million plan to bolster the State’s aerial firefighting operations this summer. We will lease two Dromader M18A fixed-wing aircraft, which will be stationed at Manjimup. We will also spend $900 000 on the potential to use two helicopters in and around the metropolitan area. Western Australia is facing an extremely hazardous - Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: As we know, the Commonwealth and the States agreed last January that we need a new and national approach to the question of firefighting in our country. A strategy was developed in consultation with the States and the Territories. We know what has happened with that strategy. Federal Minister Wilson Tuckey did two things: firstly, as he does with many of these issues, he played politics instead of sitting down and working out what was in the national interest; and secondly, he completely ignored the interests of Western Australia. Instead of implementing a proper national strategy, he proposed a strategy that was in the interests of only Victoria and New South Wales. We will not sit back and allow a situation in which our interests are not properly protected this summer. Therefore, we have announced that we will lease extra aircraft as part of a $1.3 million plan to bolster the State’s aerial firefighting operations this summer. We will lease two Dromader M18A fixed-wing aircraft, which will be stationed at Manjimup. We will also spend $900 000 on the potential to use two helicopters in and around the metropolitan area. Western Australia is facing an extremely hazardous - Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
As we know, the Commonwealth and the States agreed last January that we need a new and national approach to the question of firefighting in our country. A strategy was developed in consultation with the States and the Territories. We know what has happened with that strategy. Federal Minister Wilson Tuckey did two things: firstly, as he does with many of these issues, he played politics instead of sitting down and working out what was in the national interest; and secondly, he completely ignored the interests of Western Australia. Instead of implementing a proper national strategy, he proposed a strategy that was in the interests of only Victoria and New South Wales. We will not sit back and allow a situation in which our interests are not properly protected this summer. Therefore, we have announced that we will lease extra aircraft as part of a $1.3 million plan to bolster the State’s aerial firefighting operations this summer. We will lease two Dromader M18A fixed-wing aircraft, which will be stationed at Manjimup. We will also spend $900 000 on the potential to use two helicopters in and around the metropolitan area. Western Australia is facing an extremely hazardous - Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Is this not remarkable? When will this Opposition learn that when the Government of the day comes up with a good proposal, it should not immediately be negative, but should congratulate the Government? There are plenty of issues about which the two sides of Parliament disagree, but this is not one of them. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
The SPEAKER: Member for Warren-Blackwood! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Again, the member for Warren-Blackwood is being negative. Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Mr P.D. Omodei: They do not trust you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Two of these planes will be based in his electorate. Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Mr P.D. Omodei: I will hold you personally responsible for any losses from forest fires. Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: That is an intelligent comment from the member. Two of those planes will be based in his electorate.
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