❓ Mr. Kirkup questions the Minister for Health about budget allocation, implying climate change inquiry funding exceeds the regional Aboriginal sexual health budget. The Minister responds defensively, accusing Kirkup of divisive tactics from his past involvement with the previous government.
AnsweredQoN 840Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND BLOODBORNE
VIRUSES — REPORT
840. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Given these distressing
statistics, can the minister confirm that the government is spending more on
its climate change inquiry than on the entire regional Aboriginal sexual health
budget?
Several members interjected.
VIRUSES — REPORT
840. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Given these distressing
statistics, can the minister confirm that the government is spending more on
its climate change inquiry than on the entire regional Aboriginal sexual health
budget?
Several members interjected.
AnswerView source ↗
That is one of the most pathetic and offensive supplementary questions
I have heard.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr R.H. COOK : What it comes down to is that we are continuing
to clean up the mess left by our friend here, who was a staffer on the previous Premier's
team. Did you come up with the previous Premier's line? Did you go to
the Premier at the time and say, ''Look, Premier; look at these sexually
transmitted diseases. Why don't you use that to attack the
Aboriginal community? We can use that as an excuse to close down regional and
remote communities''?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Dawesville!
Mr R.H. COOK : Did you go to the Premier at the time
and say, ''Look, Premier; we can divide the community. We can spread
hatred in the community by pointing out all these horrible statistics in the
community''? Were you part of that divisive campaign? We know the form
of the member for Dawesville. We will continue to roll out public health
campaigns because we know that we have work to do, but that includes making
sure that we continue to respond to the health needs of the community today.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr R.H. COOK : I ask the
member: do you think climate change is real?
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : Absolutely!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr R.H. COOK : As tropical
diseases start to make their way down the west coast as we experience an
increase in climate change, do you think we should be responding to that? Do
you think we should be having plans around that? No, because you are too busy
digging up these grubby little questions—questions that go back to the
origins of your days in the Barnett government of saying, ''Mr Premier,
we can get out there and spread a bit of division. We can undermine the
Aboriginal community because we can go out with these nasty little statistics
to promote our policies to close remote communities.'' Thank God we are
in government now so that we can stop those nasty little policies!
I have heard.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr R.H. COOK : What it comes down to is that we are continuing
to clean up the mess left by our friend here, who was a staffer on the previous Premier's
team. Did you come up with the previous Premier's line? Did you go to
the Premier at the time and say, ''Look, Premier; look at these sexually
transmitted diseases. Why don't you use that to attack the
Aboriginal community? We can use that as an excuse to close down regional and
remote communities''?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Dawesville!
Mr R.H. COOK : Did you go to the Premier at the time
and say, ''Look, Premier; we can divide the community. We can spread
hatred in the community by pointing out all these horrible statistics in the
community''? Were you part of that divisive campaign? We know the form
of the member for Dawesville. We will continue to roll out public health
campaigns because we know that we have work to do, but that includes making
sure that we continue to respond to the health needs of the community today.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr R.H. COOK : I ask the
member: do you think climate change is real?
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup : Absolutely!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr R.H. COOK : As tropical
diseases start to make their way down the west coast as we experience an
increase in climate change, do you think we should be responding to that? Do
you think we should be having plans around that? No, because you are too busy
digging up these grubby little questions—questions that go back to the
origins of your days in the Barnett government of saying, ''Mr Premier,
we can get out there and spread a bit of division. We can undermine the
Aboriginal community because we can go out with these nasty little statistics
to promote our policies to close remote communities.'' Thank God we are
in government now so that we can stop those nasty little policies!
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