❓ Hon Dee Margetts questions the WA government's decision regarding exemptions for essential services under the AUSFTA, particularly concerning the lack of impact assessments and differing implications for government agencies. The government acknowledges deficiencies but supports the agreement.
AnsweredQoN 458Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question without notice number 260 regarding the Western Australian Government’s decision not to seek an exemption for health, welfare and education services for the Government’s procurement provisions of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement. (1) In the absence of a state-specific impact assessment or similar research, what source of advice informed the Government’s decision not to seek an exemption for health, welfare and education services from the Government’s procurement provisions of the AUSFTA? (2) Although the justification given by the Government for not exercising its option to exempt essential services was a desire for a uniform set of rules across the different government agencies, does the Premier agree there are clear differences in implications for each of the different government agencies and departments? (3) If yes to (2), does the Premier agree that the Government has clear public interest obligations to protect some agencies and departments from the pressures and commercial imperatives of free trade agreement procurement obligations? (4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(1) In the absence of a state-specific impact assessment or similar research, what source of advice informed the Government’s decision not to seek an exemption for health, welfare and education services from the Government’s procurement provisions of the AUSFTA? (2) Although the justification given by the Government for not exercising its option to exempt essential services was a desire for a uniform set of rules across the different government agencies, does the Premier agree there are clear differences in implications for each of the different government agencies and departments? (3) If yes to (2), does the Premier agree that the Government has clear public interest obligations to protect some agencies and departments from the pressures and commercial imperatives of free trade agreement procurement obligations? (4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(2) Although the justification given by the Government for not exercising its option to exempt essential services was a desire for a uniform set of rules across the different government agencies, does the Premier agree there are clear differences in implications for each of the different government agencies and departments? (3) If yes to (2), does the Premier agree that the Government has clear public interest obligations to protect some agencies and departments from the pressures and commercial imperatives of free trade agreement procurement obligations? (4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(3) If yes to (2), does the Premier agree that the Government has clear public interest obligations to protect some agencies and departments from the pressures and commercial imperatives of free trade agreement procurement obligations? (4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(1) In the absence of a state-specific impact assessment or similar research, what source of advice informed the Government’s decision not to seek an exemption for health, welfare and education services from the Government’s procurement provisions of the AUSFTA? (2) Although the justification given by the Government for not exercising its option to exempt essential services was a desire for a uniform set of rules across the different government agencies, does the Premier agree there are clear differences in implications for each of the different government agencies and departments? (3) If yes to (2), does the Premier agree that the Government has clear public interest obligations to protect some agencies and departments from the pressures and commercial imperatives of free trade agreement procurement obligations? (4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(2) Although the justification given by the Government for not exercising its option to exempt essential services was a desire for a uniform set of rules across the different government agencies, does the Premier agree there are clear differences in implications for each of the different government agencies and departments? (3) If yes to (2), does the Premier agree that the Government has clear public interest obligations to protect some agencies and departments from the pressures and commercial imperatives of free trade agreement procurement obligations? (4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(3) If yes to (2), does the Premier agree that the Government has clear public interest obligations to protect some agencies and departments from the pressures and commercial imperatives of free trade agreement procurement obligations? (4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(4) Does the Western Australian Government support the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement in its current form? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(1) The entity list that was submitted by the Western Australian Government for the government procurement chapter of the AUSFTA was agreed to by Cabinet following the usual cabinet processes. (2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
(2)-(3) It would be appreciated if the honourable member could explain what the “clear differences in the implications” are in the area of government procurement. The following annex II exemption taken out by Australia under “Cross-Border Trade in Services and Investment” states - Australia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with respect to the provision of law enforcement and correctional services, and the following services to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for a public purpose: income security or insurance, social security or insurance, social welfare, public education, public training, health, and child care. This exemption covers state and territory Governments as well as the Commonwealth. (4) Although recognising its deficiencies, the government supports AUSFTA.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.